48 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
The Chifont-fui. A beautiful shrub, whose trunk is straight and without any 
leaves, but those which adorn its round and tufted top. 
The Finguere. A kind of wild fig tree, which, on incision, yields a milky juice, 
that, on coagulation, forms an elastic rosin ; such as flows from the caout-choue. 
The Malegaches make torches, which burn without wicks, and afford a sufficient 
light, when they pursue their nocturnal fishery. Spirit of wine have no effect on 
this rosin, but it dissolves in ether or linseed oil; other fat and oily substances have 
also a considerable effect ori it. This tree rises to the height of twenty feet; its 
leaves are eight inches long and four broad, and its fruit resembles a round fig, 
which is full of small grains: the Malegaches eat it with pleasure, though it is sour 
and caustic. This elastic gum is well known in Europe, and when used as bandages, 
probes, &c. greatly facilitates certain chirurgical operations. 
The Bagnets. A plant, from which the true indigo is extracted at Madagascar: 
this the natives perform by a very simple operation; they lay the leaves and the stem 
to soak in water, when the plant begins to flower; after putrefaction, the water 
becomes of a violet colour; and when it has attained a deep tint, the leaves and 
stems are taken out of it, and a certain quantity of oil poured into it; when the 
sediment has subsided the water is poured off; and the deposit, being dried in the 
shade, produces a fine indigo. 
The Ravendrasis not a muscadier, but, in the opinion of M. de la Mark, a proper 
species. It is the Bagato phyllum. 
The Intchy, according to the same skilful botanist, is a basil hymenea. 
The Antafara also, in his opinion, is among the genera of the Tabernamontana 
species. 
The Filao is the Casuarina of Forster, and of Linnaeus junior. 
And, lastly, the Vua-tchirie is the Pandamus. 
In the enumeration which has been made of the plants and trees of Madagascar, 
no notice has been taken of the following fruits, &c. &c. 
The pine-apple, water melon, white pepper, and the banana; the saffron of the 
Indies, the great cardamum, the ginger, the veronica, the vesicaria, the pourpier, 
and the basil; the aster, the gentiliana, the bagnaudier, the veroche, and the papyrus 
of the ancients, called sanga-sanga, &c. &c. 
Ambergris is found in the Isles of France, Bourbon, Rodriguez, &c. and the 
shores of the former are covered with coral. 
