HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
S)8 
scarcely lasts from fifteen to twenty years; and when the trees are become fruitless 
and perish, it cannot be renewed in the same spot, at least in this island, and fresh 
ground is required : a circumstance which sufficiently proves, that this tree greatly 
exhausts the ground in which it is planted. The inhabitants of the Isle of Bourbon, 
therefore, resolved to plant cotton, which grows in the old as well as in the new 
plantations. 
“ The nutmeg has been also brought into this island; but whatever attention may 
be paid to its cultivation, it will be very inferior in quality to that of the Molucca 
Islands. This nut requires an arid, spongy soil, composed of cinders, lavas, and 
volcanoes, with a very hot atmosphere and frequent rains. The Molucca Islands 
possess these qualities so necessary to the perfection of this tree, which, from a want 
of them, will not succeed in the Isle of France. 
ce It was brought there in the year 1770, in consequence of an expedition in which 
M. Veron was engaged, who died at his return. The nuts, however, which were 
then principally distributed among the inhabitants, were of the bastard kind, large 
and oblong, which are the growth of Manilla and the Philippines; and hence it is 
that the Spaniards boast of possessing the nutmeg in those islands: but this kind is 
not to be compared with that of the Moluccas, which is small and round, very few 
of which have been brought to the Isle of France. 
“ M. le Gentil however mentions, that the inhabitants of the Isle of France 
spared no labour or expence in the cultivation of this valuable spice, and that a 
subsequent expedition took place to the Moluccas, for the purpose of procuring 
more of the best kind. He also adds, that the nutmeg which was shewn at the 
Academy in the year 1773, as the produce of the Isle of France, was judged by the 
persons employed to examine it, to be the true commercial nutmeg. 
“ The cloves which were produced at the Academy, from the Isle of France, 
were smaller than those of the Moluccas. 
,s The Mangoustan (Garcinia, Linn. gen. No. 594) the first of fruits, in the opi¬ 
nion of all those who have tasted it, is a native of the eastern coast of India, from 
whence young plants were brought to the Isle of France in the years 1754 and 
1770, but in so bad a state, that it is not probable this tree will succeed in this 
colony. The soil in which it grows at Malacca is very rich and strong, as well as 
swampy, during three parts of the year. It is also very hot there, with heavy falls 
of rain; so that the mangoustan grows very quick, and in a superior form. On 
