134 VOYAGE TO MABAGASCAR. 



underftands the art of cultivating the earth 

 equally well, and knows how to prepare 

 fugar and indigo. Under his hand day 

 afliimes a variety of fingular forms ; and 

 the earthen-ware of India is even fought 

 for, and efteemed, in Europe. 



The Indian is no lefs expert than the Chi- 

 nefe in the lapidary art. To cut and pierce 

 the hardeft ftoncs he makes ufe of adaman- 

 tine fpar pulverifed, and moiilened with 

 oil. He employs this fubflance, which is 

 of very Httle value in India, for the fame 

 purpofes as diamond powder is employed 

 in Europe. The Indian knows, alfo, how 

 to render the bamboo ufeful in raanufadures. 

 He makes paper of it, and like wife furni- 

 ture, palanquins, and vefiTels for holding 

 water, This tree is a fpecies of large reed, 

 from the joints of which there diftils a kind 

 of fugar^ much cfteemed by the orientals* 

 This reed rifes fometimes to the height of 



an 



