340 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAIJ. 



perfed here and there on the declivities of 

 little hills, and are defended only by pali- 

 fades* They are agreeably fhaded by a 

 multitude of ufeful trees, fuch as the cocoa- 

 nut tree, bamboos, orange and lemon trees* 

 wild vines, and bananas, the frait of which 

 are fo much efteemed by the Europeans : 

 but the moft remarkable is the raven^ f» 

 kind of palm*tree known only in Mada- 

 gafcar. 



This tree, the top part of which is pre- 

 pared and eaten in the fame manner as that 

 of the cabbage-palm, rifes to a great height* 

 It is covered with a hard bark, and its wood, 

 which is fibrous and hard, is employed for 

 conftruding houfes. The walls and parti- 

 tions of thefe houfes are formed of the ribs 

 of its leaves, which have the folidity of 

 wood and the pliability of leather, and 

 which are faftened together in a very in- 

 genious 



