Wilhems Plains .] TERR A AUSTRALIS. 
the number of those trees found on its banks;* and taking its course 
northward, is the boundary between two series ,of plantations, until 
it joins the other branch at the foot of the Montague du Rempart 
and its name is lost. The Refuge was one of these plantations 
bounded by the R. des Papayes, being situate on its eastern bank, 
and receiving from it an^accession of value; for this arm does not 
dry up in the most unfavourable seasons, neither does it overflow in 
the hurricanes. 
The eastern arm bears the name of R. du Rempart throughout, 
from its source near the mare or lake to its embouchure. Its course 
is nearly parallel to that of the sister stream, the distance between 
them varying only from about half a mile to one hundred and 
twenty \aids, and the Refuge, as also the greater number of plan- 
tations on the' eastern, or right bank of the R. des Papayes, is divided 
by it into two unequal parts, and bridges are necessary to keep up 
a communication between them. Although the source of this arm 
be never dried up, jet much of its water is lost in the passage; and 
during five or six months of the year that nothing is received from the 
small branches, greater or less portions of its bed are left dry; there 
seems, however, to be springs in the bed, for at a distance from 
where the water disappears a stream is found running lower down, 
which is also lost and another appears further on. In the summer 
rains, more especially in the hurricanes, the R. du Rempart receives 
numberless re-enforcements, and its torrent then becomes impetuous, 
carrying away the bridges, loose rocks, and every moveable obstruc- 
tion ; its partial inundations do great damage lo the coffee trees, which 
cannot bear the water, and in washing off the best of the vegetable 
soil. During these times, the communication between those parts of 
the plantations on different sides of the river is cut off, until the waters 
* fe papaye, papaya, or papaw, is a tree well known in the East and West Indies, and 
is common in Mauritius; the acrid milk of the green fruit, when softened with an equal 
quantity of honey, is considered to be the best remedy against worms, with which the 
negroes and young children, who live mostly on vegetable diet, are much troubled. 
VOL. II. 3 I 
425 
1805. 
September. 
