30 
MESURIL. 
The scene was indeed completely Oriental and very much resem* 
bled the coasts of Ceylon, or some of the wilder parts of the 
Island of Bombay. On leaving the wood the view opened on a 
country planted over with manioca (Jatropha manihot Linn. J 
divided into squares by rows of cashew and mango trees, which, 
being in full bloom, filled the air with their perfume. The heat 
was great, but not so intemperate as to prevent our enjoying the 
morning's amusement, though the Governor and several of his 
officers, who had accompanied us, considered it too oppressive for 
them to take any part in our diversion. We saw very little game, 
but we met with a great variety of birds. Among them two 
species of merops, erythropterus and superciliosus, Latham's 
Ind. Orn. i. 271, were observed sweeping their course through 
the air; the certhias, famosa, Ind. Orn. \. 288, and senegalensis, 
Ind. Orn. i. 284, flew from plant to plant, their glossy plumage 
flickering in the sun, while the bright yellow of the oriolus 
monacha, Ind. Orn. i. 357, and galbula, Ind. Orn. i. 186, pro- 
duced an agreeable relief to the dark green foliage of the mango. 
Wherever an orange or papaw tree was seen, flights of the chat- 
tering colius striatus, Ind, Orn. i. 369, allured by the fruit, were 
sure to make their appearance, and occasionally were heard the 
shriller notes of the Bengal jay, (coracius bengalensis, Ind. Orn. i. 
168.) winging its way to some more distant plantation. 
After travelling about three miles we reached a building situ- 
ated in an inclosed area, which proved to be a manufactory of 
manioca, belonging to a Signior Montero, in which nearly an 
hundred slaves were busily engaged in preparing the roots for 
use. They are dug up and brought to the place on asses, and in 
