VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. I35 



an hundred feet and the hardnefs and 

 lightnefs of its wood caufe it to be employ ed 

 for a variety of ufes. 



Thofe men, who in Europe have ren- 

 dered themfelves eminent by a knowledge 

 of the mechanical arts, might teach thefe 

 Afiatics a great number of procefles, from 

 which they would derive great benefit* We 

 are not yet well acquainted with the origin 

 of borax. I was afTured at Pondicherry, 

 that tliis fait, fo necefiary for facilitating 

 tlie fufion of metals, is not an artificiaJ, but 

 a natural fait, and that it was procured from 

 the mines of Aurengabad. The late M» dc 

 Laflbnile, fir ft phyfician to the king, and 

 member of the Academy of Sciences, gave 

 me particular injundions to make every 

 refearch I poffibly could on this fubjed ; 

 but, notwithftanding all my care, my efforts 

 were attended with very little fuccefs, Fi- 

 lagree^work, in gold and filver, prove, 

 K 4 like- 



