chap. ii. REUNION AND MAURITIUS FROM THE SEA. 
49 
to preserve, but that he had not done so. A little attention 
which I had shown the poor fellow in a time of sickness had 
probably made him my friend, and saved my plants. 
Eighteen days after leaving Madagascar we saw the lofty 
volcanic land of Reunion. This island is much higher than 
Mauritius, more compact in form, and its scenery consequently 
less picturesque and beautiful. We were probably sixty 
miles distant when it was first seen, and though clouds rested 
on its higher portions, its summit and the greater part of its 
outline were often afterwards clearly visible. The coast of 
this island is much exposed in consequence of the absence of 
sheltering reefs and deep bays. While sailing along in sight 
of it, we were told by some on board with us that there were 
great numbers of tamarind and other fragrant trees, and that 
at certain seasons of the year the odours from the tamarind 
blossom and other flowers were wafted far over the ocean, 
perfuming the air, to the great enjoyment of those sailing 
near its coast. We were, however, beyond the reach of these 
odorous breezes, or the tamarind and other fragrant trees 
were not in blossom, for none of the perfume reached us, or 
we might have realised the truth of Milton’s lines— 
“ As when to them who sail 
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past 
Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow 
Sabean odours from the spicy shore 
Of Araby the Blest; with such delay 
Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league 
Cheer’d with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. ” 
On Sunday, the 28 th of August, we obtained our first sight 
of Mauritius, but wind and sea were against us, and two 
nights afterwards it blew a gale, which our ship, in its crippled 
condition with regard to rigging, was but ill able to bear. 
During the day we sailed as near the land as practicable, and 
at night stood out to sea. Nothing could surpass the beauty 
of the scenery of Mauritius as viewed from the sea. The 
E 
