VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. I47 



Jpart of this enormous weight is throxvn to 

 tbe centre, in order that the allien of the 

 balance wheel may be more uniform, 



I have entered into thefe details, becaufe 

 I think it a matter of fome importance to 

 make known the lateft improvements of 

 this ufeful machine, in order that it may be 

 HiOre generally employed, not only among 

 us, but in the colonies. Were this moving 

 force adopted by the planters, in their mills 

 for fqueezing the fugar-cane, how many 

 flaves, devoted to excefEve labour^ might be 

 relieved I 



The fu gar-cane is a fpecies of reed which 

 rifes to the height of ten feet. It is ufually 

 about three inches in circumference j and is 

 covered with a kind of bark, which contains 

 a fpongy fubftance. It is divided into joints 

 by knots placed at the diftance of five inches 

 firom each other j and on the top it bears a 

 L 2 number 



