106 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR, 
CHAP. IV. 
in a conspicuous situation. Cinnamons of almost every kind, 
nutmegs and other spices, with the camphor tree, gum copal, 
india-rubber, tanghinia, and other trees, were growing as freely 
as in their native forests. There were also some specimens 
of teak from India, and bread-fruit trees from the South 
Sea Islands. 
The genius of St. Pierre has rendered the whole of this 
neighbourhood a sort of classic region. The wreck of the 
“ St. (reran,” in 1745, took place on the adjacent coast. The 
neighbouring bay is called the Bay of Tombs, because it is 
supposed that on its shores Paul and Virginia were buried. 
At Pamplemouses, in a small garden, are two brick and 
plaster pedestals supporting a couple of clay or coarse terra 
cotta urns, placed one on each side of a small oblong pond, 
and surrounded by light iron railings; these are called the 
tombs of Paul and Virginia. Each of these memorials stand¬ 
ing by the side of the water, is shaded by a clump of bamboos. 
When I went with Mr. Duncan to look at them, they ap¬ 
peared rather in a ruinous state, evidently modern, and 
entirely apocryphal. Nevertheless, sixpence is required of 
every visitor who enters the garden to see them. 
On the shores of the Bay of Tombs, and about ten miles 
from Port Louis, there is a branch missionary station, to 
which, during the month of January, I paid a visit in com¬ 
pany with M. Le Brun, jun. The population of this place 
is scattered, and consists chiefly of fishermen; but they have 
a neat native chapel, erected on a piece of ground near the 
sea, which was given by the government. On the Sabbath 
that I spent there it was well attended, though there was 
illness in several of the families, and I was pleased with the 
earnestness and simple piety of the people. There was an 
efficient master in the adjacent government school, which ap¬ 
peared to be a great blessing to the neighbourhood. The 
missionary station was at that time without a teacher; but an 
