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and also round the bee-hives, as food for the 
bees. 
The Sacaviro-ambou, or hog-ginger, (Zarumbet,) 
grows on the mountains : it is a kind of Zedoary. 
The cocoa-nut, (Cocos), is not indigenous in 
Madagascar. It was in fact unknown, till about one 
hundred and fifty years since, when accident drove 
some of them on the coast, by the waves, which pro¬ 
duced the first trees of the kind; they appear to thrive 
very well. 
The Indian saffron grows likewise on the island. 
Saracine resembles ginger in taste and its yellow 
colour: it is used to relish meat. 
Voatzarte grows upon small trees, with broad leaves : 
the fruit is gathered like onions, of the size of an 
egg, full of juice within, like the cocoa-nut; the peel, 
when dried, has an aromatic taste, and is eatable. The 
natives make ropes, mats, and baskets, of the leaves. 
The Achith is a plant that creeps on the ground 
like a vine; the leaves are round, pointed at the 
end, and dented like ivy. It is an evergreen, and 
its fruit, of the size of an unripe grape, ripens in 
December, January, and February. 
The Ambouton (Linaria) is a small plant, like 
flax, of a bitter styptic taste. The natives chew this 
plant to blacken the teeth, lips, and gums: it is cor¬ 
roborative, and, in times of famine, is eaten to 
support and preserve strength. 
The Lengou, (Noix-ventes), is the fruit of a creep¬ 
ing plant : it is the size of a nut, thick-shelled, and 
