572 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAlft* 



period when this plant flowers announces 

 tlie time of whale -iiHiing* It flowers int 

 June. The prows of the piroguas which 

 are intended for the whale-iifliery are orna^ 

 mented with large bunches of its flowers^ 



Akimena, Very beautiful fhrub with a 

 bufliy top. Its leaves are thick, and of a 

 bright green colour. It rifes to the height 

 of four feeE ; and its flowers exhale an ex- 

 ceeding fweet odour. 



"feukn-gouak. A flirnb tlic leaves of 

 which are odoriferous, and ferve the Male- 

 gaches to make pillows. It is about four 

 feet in height, and its fruit arc bitter, oiI)% 

 and aromatic. 



Foua-azigne. The ftraightefl and talleft 

 tree found in Madagafcar. It greatly fut- 

 pafles in height all the other trees of the 

 jfland. Its wood, which is yellow, hard, 

 and heavy, k employed for building houfes ; 

 but more commonly for making the keels 



of 



