98 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. IV. 
enjoyed the pleasure of feeling that I was no longer a 
stranger in the place. 
Beau Bassin derives its name from its good supply of 
water, contained in several capacious and somewhat orna¬ 
mental tanks or reservoirs. The house, though not mo¬ 
dern, is cool, spacious, and convenient. The number of 
pavilions in front, and of native huts in the rear, with cow¬ 
sheds, stables, and coach-houses, give to the establishment 
the appearance of a village. The plantation itself is said 
to be large; but around the house were extensive mango 
groves, with coffee and bananas growing beneath the trees, 
and an excellent kitchen-garden, amongst the curiosities 
of which was an apple-tree in blossom which had frequently 
borne excellent fruit. Several young trees, offshoots from 
the parent tree, were growing around. In front of the house 
were a number of flower-beds of varied form and size, one 
of the largest being surrounded with roses. The large 
clerodendron, apparently falcatum, was the most abundant 
amongst the plants. Of these there were hundreds, some 
large bushy plants exhibiting with great effect their tall 
spikes of dazzling red flowers. Mingled with these was the 
Larpenta capensis , and the purple lantana climbing over 
the verandah and trellis-work which shaded the rooms ad¬ 
joining the dwelling. I obtained a pleasant memorial of my 
visit in some photographic views of the house, and several 
portions of the gardens, as well as of a number of rare 
and well-grown trees. Among the latter was a luxuriant- 
growing Artocarpus integrifolia or Jack tree, with a number 
of enormous fruit hanging nearly ripe from different parts of 
the trunk and larger branches. This is a species of bread¬ 
fruit, and though the flavour is strong, the pulp is eaten by 
the Creoles; and the seeds, which are large and contain a 
fleshy kernel, are said, when baked or roasted, to be quite 
palatable. When I had fixed my camera, I asked one or 
