Negroes are very fond of it: it is given them on festivals, and they reckon their time by the course and number of Banana feasts. Its leaves resemble silk girdles; its cluster falls down for several feet, and its violet-coloured head resembles that of a serpent: this circumstance may have been the cause of its being called the fig tree of Adam. This fruit lasts all the year, and there are many kinds of it, some of the size of a plumb, and others as long as a man's arm. Linen may also be made of the fibres of this plant.'

Among the animals, the most singular is the great Bat:

It is about a foot in length, from its posterior extremity to its beak, and its wings stretch to about four feet; it has large canine teeth, consisting of four in the upper, and as many in the lower jaw. Its muzzle is black and sharp; its ears large and bare; its talons are hooked, large, and compressed: it has no tail. These bats are of different colours; some of a bright red, others brown, and some are almost black. They resemble the common bat in their interior conformation, the shape of their wings, and the manner of spreading them when they fly. When these animals repose, they cling to the tops of the highest trees, and hang with their heads downwards. At other times, they fix themselves upon animals, and even upon man himself. They feed indifferently on fruit, flesh, and insects. They are so fond of the juice of the palm tree, that they sometimes intoxicate themselves with it, so as to fall to the ground. Their horrid shrieks are heard, during the night, in the forests, at the distance of two miles, but they retire at the approach of day. Nothing is safe from the ravages of these destructive creatures; they equally destroy the wild and domestic birds, whenever they have an opportunity; and they will sometimes attack the human kind, by seizing and tearing the visage. It is very probable, as M. de Buffon has observed, that the ancients borrowed their idea of harpies, from these terrible animals. The Indians consider them as a palatable article of food, particularly in certain seasons of the year, when they are full of fat and even some of the French people, both in this island and the isle of Bourbon, have brought themselves, in this particular, to follow the Indian example. The negroes, however, hold them in the greatest horror; and no consideration whatever could induce them to have any other concern with these noxious creatures, but to destroy them; for which purpose they employ uncommon dexterity. It has often happened, that persons have been attacked, while asleep, and bled to death by them, as they are powerful and subtle bloodsuckers; so that it is really dangerous to slumber in the open air, or to let them enter into an house during the night.'

Dogs brought into this island are said to lose their hair and scent, but never go mad. In the kingdom of Congo, on the coast of Angola, European imported dogs also lose their sense of smelling. See Appendix to our xxxviith vol. (published with this Review) p. 456, 457.

In the list of marine productions, it is observed that all the univalves are turned from left to right; the shell being placed

on its mouth, and the point towards the person who regards it; and, moreover, that there may be ranked also among the shellfish, a shapeless, soft, and membraneous mass, in the centre of which is a single flat bone, somewhat bent. In this species the common order of things seems reversed, as the animal is without, and the shell within.'

The character of the female inhabitants of Mauritius is so pleasing and honourable, that it ought not to be omitted:

The women have but little colour, but they are well made, and, in general, handsome. Nature has given them a considerable portion of wit and vivacity; and if their education were not neglected, their society would be very agreeable: they are very fond mothers; and if they ever fail in fidelity to the marriage vow, it is too often owing to the indifference of their hushands, or to the Parisian manners which have been introduced among them. Their ordinary dress is fine muslin, lined with rose coloured taffetas.

As

They possess, in a great degree, the more estimable domestic qualities; they seldom or never drink any thing but water, and their cleanliness is extreme. Their children are never confined in swaddling clothes, but run about almost as soon as they are born; they are often bathed, and allowed to cat fruit at their own discretion. they are left entirely to themselves, and are uncontrolled by the su perintendance of education, they soon become strong and robust, and their temperament advances in proportion. The females are sometimes married at eleven years of age.'

We are not, however, pleased with the account given of the Blacks; though the piety which is forced on them, and the natural reluctance of their faith, excited a smile:

Their manner of life is as follows: At day-break, the smacking of a whip is the signal that calls them to their work; and they then proceed to the plantation, where they labour in a state of almost entire nakedness, and in the heat of the sun. Their nourishment is ground maize boiled in water, or loaves of the manioc; and a small piece of cloth is their only covering. For the least act of negligence, they are tied hand and foot to a ladder, when the overseer gives them a certain number of strokes on their back with a long whip; and with a three-pointed collar clasped round their necks, they are brought back to their work. It is not necessary to describe the severity with which these punishments, are sometimes inflicted. On their return to their habitations in the evening, they are compelled to pray to Got for the prosperity of their masters.

Religion is, indeed, sometimes employed to alleviate the evils of their situation. Some of them are occasionally baptised: they are then told that they are become the brethren of the white people, and that they will go into Paradise; but it is not an easy matter to persuade them, that the Europeans will ever prove their guides to heaven.'

To

To the history of the Mauritius are subjoined descriptions of the neighbouring isles of Bourbon and Rodriguez *. These are succeeded by the letters of Baron Grant (the author's father) respecting the isle of France, and the operations of M. de la Bourdonnais, including his capture of Madras, in the year 1746. Among the interesting particulars contained in these letters, is an anecdote of M. Greville de Forval, which we shall transcribe; not as being a second story of Inkle and Yarico, but as being more honourable to European sentiment and generosity, while on the part of the jetty female it is not less demonstrative of pure and dignified attachment. In both stories, the lady is the prominent figure; though Forval acted nobly, and not like the contemptible Inkle :

The want of slaves in our colonies renders expeditions necessary in order to procure them. Vessels, therefore, are equipped for the coasts of Africa and Madagascar, and a certain body of troops are sent with them, to favour or support the objects of these voyages.

Forval was ordered to command a detachment on a service of this nature, on the coast of Madagascar; and, being arrived on the eastern side of it, he disembarked his people, and encamped them on the small island of St. Mary, called by the natives Ibrahim, which is separated only from the principal island by a very narrow strait. Here the communications took place between the persons engaged in this expedition, and one of the petty princes of Madagascar, relative to the objects of the voyage.

Forval, however, was so entirely convinced of the good disposi tion of the people with whom he treated, that he yielded to the friendly solicitations of the king, to remain among them; and accordingly ordered some tents, and a small number of soldiers, to remove

Of this latter island, the following passage will sufficiently indicate the nature of the climate:

The air of Rodriguez is very pure and wholesome; and, as a proof of it, not one of us was sick during the two years we remained there, notwithstanding the great difference of climate and mode of nourishment. The worthy man whose remains we left behind us, lost his life in consequence of violent fatigue. The heats of the summer are very much moderated; as, at eight o'clock in the morning, a light north-east or north-west wind constantly rises, and gives such an agreeable freshness to the air, and such a temperature to the hottest season, that the whole year appears to be one continual spring or autumn; as it is never too cold to forbid the pleasure of bathing. The nights are mild and refreshing. It rains but very seldom; at least we never experienced rain but for a few weeks after the hurricane, in the months of January and February. Within an hour after the rain has fallen, the ground is sufficiently dry to admit of walking. The dews, which are abundant, supply the place of showers; and as for thunder, which is sometimes so tremendous in various parts of Europe, it is never heard in this tranquil abode.'

from

from the little island to the opposite coast. The king, who was called Adrian Baba, loaded him with caresses; and, having shewn him his head of cattle, demanded, in the pride of his heart, if the King of France was so great as him.

Forval, therefore, considered himself as in a perfect state of secu rity; and having entered into his tent, in order to pass the night, he received an unexpected visit from a most beautiful woman, a native of the island, who, after a short compliment of apology for her intrusion, expressed her concern that so fine a white man as himself should be massacred.

Forval, who was astonished at the visit, could not help taking notice of the danger which seemed to have produced it. The sooty lady, who appeared to interest herself so much in his welfare, was the daughter of a King, and known by the title of Princess Betsy. On being questioned as to the cause of this visit, she asked him in her turn, if he would wish to sacrifice her life to save his own. By no means," exclaimed Forval: "then," replied she, “ I will inform you of a plot formed against your life, if you will promise to take me with you, and make me your wife. I will sacrifice for you the throne of my father, which is my inheritance; I will abandon my country, my friends, my customs, and that liberty which is so dear to me. My relations, who will consider me as dishonoured, will detest me; and if you leave me to their vengeance, I shall be reduced to slavery, which, to me, would be a thousand times worse than death. Promise to grant what I have demanded; swear that your soldiers shall do no injury to my relations, and I will reveal what it is of the utmost importance for you to know." Forval immediately engaged to grant her request, if the intelligence she announced proved to be of the importance she had attached to it.

"Well then," said she, "at break of day my father will come here, under the pretext of a friendly visit; and if he breaks a stick which he will hold in his hand, that will be the signal of thy death: his guard will then enter with their hatchets, and will kill thee, and all thy people will be massacred with thee!"

Forval immediately conducted her to a place of safety. Nevertheless he was determined to wait till the morning, and ascertain the truth of her information. The princess had also added, that the signal the king would give for his attendants to retire would be to throw his hat towards them.

He accordingly ordered his soldiers to remain under arms during the night, and to keep within their tents. As for himself, he got ́ his arms in readiness, placed a couple of pistols under the covering of his table, and dozed by the side of it, with his hand on the pistols.

At length the King arrived, and soon after, having broke his stick, the guard was advancing to the front of the tent; but the King, terrified at the pistol which Forval held to his throat, cast his hat towards his attendants, who immediately departed. The small party of sold ers which Forval had with him were now drawn up in order of battle All the Negroes had disappeared; the king alone remained as a prisoner; nor was he enlarged, till the Princess was embarked with all the equipage; and Forval felt himself happy

in departing from this perfidious coast. Nor was he ungrateful: he solemnly espoused the Princess Betsy, in spite of all the remonstrances of his friends, and he lives happily with her. Her colour was certainly displeasing to the white people, and her education did not qualify her to be a companion to such a man as her husband; but her figure was fine, her air noble, and all her actions partook of the dignity of one who was born to command.

She was a real Amazon, and the dress she chose was that which has since received a similar name. She never walked out but she was followed by a slave, and armed with a small fowling-piece, which she knew how to employ with great dexterity, and would defend herself with equal courage if she were attacked. She was nimble as a deer, though stately in her demeanour; but with her husband as gentle and submissive as the most affectionate of his slaves. She behaved to her inferiors with equal dignity and kindness; and she never went to the most distant part of the island, to pay visits to her family, but on foot; she nevertheless adopted the elegances of behaviour with great facility, and her society is very pleasant and full of vivacity.

Some years after her marriage, the Princess Betsy, for she was seldom called Madame de Forval, gave her husband a new proof of her affection.

Her father at length died, the kingdom descended to her, and her people, who were ardently attached to the blood of their Kings, anxiously wished to see her on the throne of her ancestors. As soon as she was informed of this event, she requested permission of her husband to visit her country.

Though such an unexpected request astonished Forval, he did not hesitate to comply with it; and as she did not unfold the reason of such a desire on her part, he felt his pride mortified at her conduct, though he kept his chagrin to his own bosom, of which it was a painful inmate.

The first sentiments of Forval, respecting his Princess, had been instigated by honour and gratitude: but her demeanour towards him, her conduct towards others, and her personal charms, in which her colour was forgotten, had awakened in his heart the most faithful and tender affection.

The Queen Betsy, however, departed for her kingdom as soon as she had received permission of her own sovereign; while Forval was totally unable to reconcile the step she had taken to her former sentiments and past conduct. He accordingly waited with the utmost impatience for the return of the vessel which had taken her away; when, to his great astonishment his faithful wife returned in it, with an hundred and fifty slaves which she had brought him. "You had the generosity," she cried, on throwing herfelf into his arms," to marry me, in opposition to the wishes of your friends, and the preju dices of your country, when I had nothing to offer you but my person, whose charms, whatever they might have been considered in my own country, were calculated rather to disgust, than to please you. You will therefore add another proof of your kindness, by assuring me of your pardon, for having raised a single doubt in your mind respecting the affection and duty you so entirely deserve from me:

but