-/■ 2. oj/, c PRESENTED 1 2 DEC 1956- TRANSACTIONS OF THE- ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES MAURITIUS NEW SERIES.] ’ [VOL VI. MAURITIUS “ COMMERCIAL GAZETTE ” rBINIWG ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS NEW SERIES.] [YOL YI. MAURITIUS. l. channell’s steam printing establishment, foudriere street 1872. FROCKS- VERBAUX DE DE L’lLE MAURICE. STANCE DU MARl)l 25 AVRIL 1871. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DU DR. C. REGNAUD. Presents : MM. C. Bruce, Ii. C'. Descroizilles, N. Des- jardins, Ev. Dupont, lion. J. Eraser, M. P. Lemiere, Col. N. Pike, MM. F. Vandcrmeersch, C. VankeiYsbilck, et L. Bouton, Secretaire. L’kon. Emilien Ducray ct M. Victor Remono, proposes a la dernicre reunion, sont elus membres residents dc la Societe. M. C. Bruce, seconde du Dr. Regnaud, propose en cette meme qualite Phon. Swinburne Ward, Auditeur General. - 4 — Le Col. l’ike a bien voulu consentir a mettre a la dis- position de la Societe son travail “ Histoire naturelle des oiseaux dc Maurice” pour etre publie dans les procbaines Transactions de la Societe. La proposition faitc par le Secretaire, et sccondee par le Dr. C. Regnaud, de faire une rente dc £\ ou plus k la veuve d’Isidore Legentil, est, par un sous-amendemeut de l’hon. Fraser, referee au Comite des finances. Le Secretaire blonne communication des lettres sui- vantes : ]. Unc lettre du Dr. Gunther, cn date du 8 Mars, eu reponse a cellc qui lui avait etc ecritc par le Secretaire pour connaitre les 110ms scientifiques de quelques-uns des poissons veneneux de Maurice : “ British Museum, 8th March 1871. “ Dear Sir, 11 You must excuse me on account of numerous engagements for the delay of this note which I send off immediately after my having examined the dry specimens sent by you some time ago. “ You will find a list of their names on the other page of this note ; pray tell me whether the specimens should be returned to you. Most of them belong to species of which we have plenty of specimens, some of them will be useful for our col- lection. “I was glad to receive through Mrs. Morris vol. IV of the Transactions of tlic Royal Society of Mauritius, of which you kindly send me the preceding volume. However, I see that the part sent is destined for the Library of the British Mu- seum. As the Natural History Department is soon to bo se- parated from the Library, I should be very glad if you could spare a copy for our Zoological Library. “ Pray give my regards to Col. Pike, with my apologies for not having yet replied to his letter ; 1 trust I shall be able to do so very shortly. “ I remain, your’s faithfully, “ A. Gumher,” — 5 — LIST OF STAFFED FISH. 1. Giblot Mesoprion botiar (young). 2. Cheval de Bois. . Serranus salmonoicles. 8. Cuisimer Serranus gidtatus. 4. Croissant Serranus louti. 5. Giblot Mesoprion fulvi Jlamma. 6'. Anguille Mu menu picta. 7. Bontannc Diodon hystrix. S. Latte Scorpuma cirrhosa. 9. Latte Sysanceia verrucosa. Snakes : 1. Pclopldlus Madagascar ie-nsi s. 2 & 8. lletcrodon Madagascar tens is. 2. Unc Iettre dc l’hon. H. Jourdain, ecrite au moment de son depart, et a qui le Secretaire avait coutie des name- ros des Transactions pour etre remis a Londres : “ I take this opportunity to request you in my name and on my behalf to be good enough to bid adieu to the President, Council and members of the Royal Society, and I need hardly say I shall be most happy if I can be of any service in London where my address will be : care of Messrs. Blyth, Greene & Co.” Des remerciments sont votes a l’hon. H. Jourdain en retour des off'res bienveillantes qu’il fai t^ et dont la Societe profitera quand l’occasion s’en presenters. 3. Une Iettre de Mme Morris accompagnant le corapte des medailles d’argent demandees pour la prochaine Ex- position, lesquelles medailles n’ont pu etre embarquees sur la malle d’Avril, mais arriveront certainement par la malle de Mai prochain. Le compte pour 18 medailles d’argent, dont 6 grandes et 12 petites, s’eleve en tout a £19.10.9. La Societe reyoit de la part de Lady Fropier un exem- plaire dc VHistoire generate des homines remarquables, marts et vivants , du 19c siecle , ouvrage publie it Geneve par une Lociete d’ecrivains. Get extrait contient une no- 6 - tice sur Sir Gabriel Fropier, ecrite de son vivant, et se terminant au retour du voyage qu'il elFectua en 1860, quand ll f'ut charge par le Corps Agricole de soutenir ses interets pres du Ministere Anglais, et designe'par le Gou- vernement pour representer la Colonie au Congres Na- tional de Statistique qui devait se reunir cette raerae aunee h Londres. “ Ce voyage,” dit l’auteur de la Notice, “ qui crea de nou- veaux devoirs pour Sir Gabriel, lui permit, au moins, derevoir bien des pays qu’il n’avait pas visites depuis longtemps et d’en connaitre d’autres : l’Egypte, la France, 1’Angleterre, l’lrlande, l’Ecosse, l’ltalie, la Suisse et une partie de l’Alle- magne ajouterent aux conuaissances quo les voyages de sa jeunesse, daus l’Inde, en Afriquo et ailleurs lui avaient pro- cures et offrirent un vaste champ a ses investigations. “ De cette epoque datent pour Sir Gabriel Fropier une serie de malheurs de famille qui sont venus cruellemeut eprouver ses vieilles annees. Marie jeune et reste veuf de bonne lieure, il avait epouse, en secoudes noces, uno femme distinguee, veuve elle-meme d’un Naturaliste Mauricien d’uu certain re- nom. Cette circonstance permit a Lady Fropier de doter gratuitement son pays natal d’uue belle collection qui, sous le nom de Musee Desjardins, ferait honneur a une capitale plus importaute. “ Cette union fut longtemps heureuse. Cependant la perte d’enfants cheris vint successivemeut assombrir cetto existence utile, qui etait a son declin. Brise dans ses affections les plus cheres, mais sounds a la volonte de Dieu, cet liomme honora- ble, sans ambition des lors, et fidele a la voix du devoir, s’ef- force de donner l’exemple do la resignation chretienne. en remplissant les importantes fonctions de magistrature qui lui ont etc confiees, jusqu’a ce qu’il plaiso au Souverain Maitre do toutes clioses de le reunir a ccux qu’il a tant aimes.” Lc Secretaire jrlacc sous les ycux de la Societe un tres beau specimen de Eoussette ou Chauve-Souris, qui parait etre lc P ter opus edulis ou Edwardsi de Geoiiroy St-IIilaire. Cette Itousscttc a ete tuee au Government Survey Camp , 7 — Vacoa, le 4 Avril, par M. C. C. Fyers Brovvnrigg, et pre- sentee de sa part pour le Museum. Elle est de grande taille et mesure trois pieds trois pouces d’envergure (me- sure anglaise) ; le corps, depuis la tete jusqu’a Pextremite inferieure, mesure 9 pouces et 6 ligues. Elle devient, dit-on, de plus en plus rare, depuis le defrichement des forets, Le Colonel Pike a presente un specimen d’eponges du genre Desmacidon, et que le Professeur Bowerbank pense etre une espece nouvelle, qu'il a dediee au Colonel, sous le noffl de Desmacidon PiJcei. Lorsque cctte eponge est encore molle, le crabe veloute Dromia Rumphiv, que le Colonel presente egalement, y etablit un gite quand il est jeune, et s’enfonce dans le sable. Le Dr. Regnaud, en faisant voir des specimens d’un petit Cicada vert qu’il a rencontre au Mesuil, et dont le chant se fait entendre, contrairement h notre Cigale com- mune, pendant la nuit, a jete un coup-d’oeil retrospectif sur la classique antiquite, en rappelant toute l’admiration que les Grecs et les Romains professaient a Peudroit de la Cigale, et pour le chant melodieux, selon eux, qiFclle fai- sait entendre. L’embleme de la musique etait, dit-on, represente par une Cigale posee sur une lyre ou une harpe, et on poussait meme la chose it ce point d’etablir une sorte de concur- rence ou de rapprochement entre le chant de cet insecte et la voix humaine, en concluant que la voix harmonieuse de Pinsecte Pavait emporte en mainte circonstaucc sur la parole eloquente du meilleur orateur. Neanmoius, tout en payant ce tribut de louanges <\ la Cigale, les anciens estimaient dJune fa9on tout-a-fait diffe- rente le merite de cet insecte sous la forme de nymphes et de larves, et tout en faisant l’eloge du chant a Petat par- fait, les larves etaient recherchees et servies sur les meil- leures tables comme un mets ties delieat. Le Dr. Regnaud rapporte done que vers huit heures, 8 — un soir qu’il se promenait sous les arbres au Mesnil, il fut frappe du chant doux et agreable qu'il entendit, et quJil s’assura plus tard etre cehii de la Cigale verte presentee a la Societe. En tout cas, l’espece parait etre entierement differente des soixante-six especes de Cicada decrites par Olivier dans 1 ’Encyclopedic Mcthodique, et coustituerait alorsune espece tout-il-fait iuedite, qu’on pourrait appeler Cicada Vespertina, d’apres la suggestion du Dr. Regnaud. Le Dr. Regnaud a aussi appele ^attention sur un crabe, le Varuna litterala, connu depuis longtemps, il est vrai, mais dont les habitudes avaient jusqu’ici echappe aux au- teurs qui Pont ddcrit. Il parait qu'on le rencontre assez souvent dans les eaux douces, et qu'il remonterait alors le cours des rivieres qui se jettent dans la mer. On l’a peclie souveut a la riviere du Tombeau et des Calebasses et merae rencontre dans 1’etang isole de V Unite. Un specimen de Rosa, dit rose verte, place sous lesyeux des membres, etait deja connu de la plupart d’entre eux, — M. C. Vankeirsbilck le possedait depuis longtemps. — L’echantillou provient de M, C. Bourgault Ducoudray, il Flacq, lequel Pa re^-u directement de Vilmorin Andrieux, de Paris. C'est le resultat curieux d’une transformation que la rose a subie, en sens inverse de celle qui s’opere quand - elle devient dopble ; o’est-h-dire que dans la rose verte les petales, les sepales et meme les etamines se sont changes en autant de feuilles florales ou plutot de bractees, et que ce sont au contraire les sepales et les dtamines qui se changent en petales dans la rose double. Ces bractees, dans la rose en question, simuleut une sortc de rosette ou de petite cocardc verte posee h Pextre- mite de la tige ; les pistils se sont en quelque sortc obli- teres et out pris la forme de filaments setaces, rudes etdurs au toucher. Il parait que ce rosier est presque toujours couvert de — 9 — fleurs, si l’on peut donner ce nom de fleur an petit amas de folioles qui la remplacent, constituant aiusi une plante toute particulierc et n’ayant d’autre merite que le cachet d’originalite qui la distinguerait des autres plantes ses congeneres. Le Secretaire place sous les yeux de la Society la Note suivante qu’il a trouvee dans quelques papiers laisses par Lislet Geffroy, ct qui donne une idee de ce qu'etait Tile Plate en 1 790 : ILE PLATE. “ Cette ile est presque ronde et a 3000 toises de circuit. Dans le S.O. et tout li l’extremite s’olevo un piton forme par un volcan ; dans de certaines parties la lave parait assez re- cente, etc. “ L’ilot Gabriel est a i’Est de File Plate, et n’on est separe que par un petit bras de mer d’environ 200 toisos. Entre ces deux lies il y a un petit barachois dans lequel peuvent entrer de petites barques, l’entree regarde le Sud, le cote oppose est forme par des recifs qui s’etendent do part et d’autre et cou- vrent une partie de Pile Plato d’un cote et Pilot Gabriel de Pautre. “ II y a une grande quantity de Lataniers sur ces lies et quel- ques Veloutiers. (1) Ce sont les seals arbres qu’on y trouve, la plus grande partie de ces lies est couverte d’un roseau qui ressemble au Calamus aromaticus et quelque pen de pourpier. “ II y avait autrefois une grande quantite de couleuvres, mais le feu ayant passe plusieurs fois sur ces iles les a pres- que toutes detruites. J’en ai tue une de 28 a 30 p. de long que je conserve dans de Pesprit de vin. (2) — ( Lislet Geffroy Journal , Avril 1790.) (1) II n’j exiateplua de Lataniers. (2) Lea serpents ont egalement disparu do I’ll© Plate. — 10 — SEANCE DU JEUDI 25 MAI 1871. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DU DR. CH. REGNAUD. Presents : Le Dr. A. Edwards, MM. II. C. Descroizilles, P. Lemiere, et L. Bouton, Secretaire. Le Rapporteur du journal la Sentinelle de Maurice assiste h la reunion. Le President, en ouvrant la seance, prend communication des Reglements de la Societe, et donne connaissance de Particle 28 concernaut les etrangers admis aux seauces. Get article est ainsi con^u : Strangers may be introduced as visitors by any members “ at any ordinary or anniversary meeting, but they shall only “ bo allowed to take part in the discussions with the consent of “ the President on the demand of a member.” “ Les etrangers peuvent etre introduits connne visiteurs par un membre de la Societe et assister a une seance ordinaire ou annuolle ; mais il ne leur est perinis de prendre part aux de- liberations qu’avec le consentement du President et sur la de- mande d’un membre.” Partant de Pesprit de ces Reglements, il iPy aurait aucun empechement a admettre aux seances, sous les conditions ci-dessus enoncees, un visiteur quelconque, qu’il soit ou non membre de la presse. Mais il est a remarquer que le mot Presse n’est nullement mentionne dans les Reglements, et qu’il iPest seulement question que de visiteurs presentes par un membre de la Societe. Cependant le President fait observer que tous les mem- bres de la Societe ne partagent pas la meme opinion, et que quelques uns, lui out meme declare qiPils n’entendaient pas admettre la Presse aux seances de la Societe, lesquelles nc sont pas publiques. 11 ne se croit done pas autorise a trancher la question : mais il convoquera une seance spe- ciale a cet effet, dans le plus bref delai. En attendant, il n’a pas voulu interdire au membre de la Presse present, Pentree de la salle des deliberations. — 11 — Le Secretaire dit que, generalement parlant, il n'y a jamais eu grande insistance de la part de la Presse h etre representee aux reunions de la Societe — soit par indiffe- rence ou pour tout autre motif — que d'ailleurs il pense que les comptes-rendus des seances tiraitant de sujets scien- tifiques, et herisses le plus souvent de beaucoup de noms techniques, ne peuvent etre convenablement rediges que par des homines tout-a-fait speciaux. L’hon. Swinburne Ward, propose it la derniere seance, est elu membre resident. Le Dr. Cb. Regnaud, seconde par M. P. Lemiere, pro- pose en cette meme qualite, M. Charles Stapylton De Joux. Le Secretaire lit la lettre suivante : “ Mauritius, Colonial Secretary’s Office, “ 17th May 1871. “ To the President of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences. “ Sir, “ I am directed by His Excellency the Gfovernor to transmit herewith lor the information of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences a Report on Pisciculture in South Canara. “ I have the honor to be, “ Sir, “ Your most obedient servant, “ J. W. Mabsh, “ Assistant Colonial Secretary." Le Rapport sur la Pisciculture dans le Canara Sud, est le resultat d’un travail suggere par The Board of Revenue of Madras, offrant d’accorder uuc sorame de 3,000 roupies pour faire des essais pendant une annee sur la reproduction des poissous, l’introduction d’especes nouvelles, etc., et e’est ce travail que M. Thomas a preseute au Secretaire du Board et livre au public. Le Dr Regnaud est d’opinion que cet ouvrage contieut — 12 — d’utiles renseiguements, qui peuvent servir a ceux qui, places ici sur le bord do la raer ou aupres des embouchures de rivieres, voudraient s’occuper de pisciculture. Quant au Bulletin de nos collegues et amis de la Reunion, qui vient d’etre presente par le Dr. Le Siner, President de la Societe des Sciences et Arts, il contient comme d’ordi- naire,a cote d’articles serieux et d’une haute portee,soit sous le rapport d’economie agricole et quasi politique— comme V Immigration A fricaine, par M.Chatelain — soit sous le point de vue topographique et voyage — comme la Notice sur la Guyane Franc aise, par M. A. Deltcil— des esquisses legere- ment et liabilement tracees de nos vieilles legendes et tradi- tions creoles— telles quo le Passage da Bonhomme Picard, et une touchante imitation (Pune ballade de Goethe, le Roi des Aulncs — toutes productions ecrites de la main du Docteur A. Vinson, le spirituel etbien-aime correspondant de notre Societe. Differents specimens de Zoologie et de Mineralogie out ete presentes a la seance. Tels sont : Une cspece de'poissou du genre Orthagoriscus — VO.ob- longus Bl. qui se trouve dans les mers du Cap et que Pori prend quelquefois it Maurice. Les poissons qui represented ce genre sont remarquables en ce qu’ils out une queue si courte et si haute verticalc- ment, qu’ils ont Pair, (lit Cuvier, de poissons dont on aurait coupe la partie postericure ; cc qui leur donne une figure tres extraordinaire et bien suffisante pour les distinguer. Un Typhlops, serablable it ceux qu’on a deia trouves au bord de la mer et dans les lieux marecageux, a ete presente do la part de M. C. Descroizilles qui l’a pris au Dock — au bord du Bassin— e’est le T. jlavoterminatus , Peters, dont les specimens ont ete envoyes au Museum Britanniquc de Loudres et identifies par lc Dr. Giiuther. Le Dr A. Edwards a donne quelques reuseignemeuts au sujet d’une tortue qui a etc trouvee dans une des gondoles 13 — de la ville, et qui existe en assez grande quantite dans la mare de Beau Plan aux Pamplemousses. D’apres la des- cription donnee par le Dr. Edwards, cette tortue rentrerait dans la categorie des tortues dites : a boite, et dont le plas- tron est divise en deux battauts par une articulation mo- bile, et qui peuveut ferraer entierement leur carapace quaud leur tete et lcurs membres y sont retires. Les unes ont deux battauts qui se meuvent egalement, et les autres ont le battaut anterieur seulement mobile ; la tortue presentee fait partie de cette seconde division. Un specimen de Galeae, ou sulfure de plomb, provenaut de File Rodrigues, est place sous les yeux des membres presents par 1c Dr. A. Edwards. Ce mineral est cristallise cu cubes, et a ete analyse par le Dr. Edwards et M. Joseph Baissac, pharmacien. Les depots de Galeae, dit Beudant, sont abondants, mais inegalement repandus a la surface de la terre. Les ex- ploitations qui ont lieu en Angleterre, et surtout dans le Derbyshire et le Northumberland, s’elevent annuellement a 30 millions de francs, constituant plur; de la moitie de ce que donne F Europe. Le Dr. A. Edwards fait observer, avec raison, que si la presence du sulfure de plomb a Rodrigues pouvait donner * lieu h de grandes exploitations, cette petite lie atteiudrait bientot F apogee de sa fortune. M. H. C. Descroizillcs, cn offrant a la Societe un exemplaire tFuu travail sur la Serigene a Vile Maurice, suivi d’un precis de la culture du murier et de l’eleve des vers h soie, accompague de deux planches explicatives, s’adresse dans les termes suivants aux membres presents a la seance : “ Messieurs, “ J’ai le plaisir d’oflrir a la Societe des Arts et Sciences un exemplaire du petit travail que je vieus de publier sous lo titre “ La Serigene a File Maurice,” ainsi quo deux tableaux expli- catifs. — 14 — “ Je pense que co petit ouvrage presentera quelqu’interAt aux nouveaux edueateurs de vers a eoie. Son Excellence le Gouverneur a bienyeillammeut consenti a ce qu’il lui fut de- die. “ A ma derniere education de vers a soie, j’ai encore delivre un grand nombre d’eeufs, et ce, a des personnes excessivement serieuses. i- . tl D’un autre cote, je sais qu’il est decide de porter la plan- tation de Muriers de Barhhfs Asylum a 50 arpents : il y en a deja de 8 a 10 arpents de plantes, et des boutures mises en terre d’apres mes directions, il y a 8 et 9 mois, out deja 5 et 0 pieds et fournissent d’abondantes et excellentes feuilles : il est bon que les nouveaux edueateurs soient en presence de ces faits. Je conduis dans le moment une education qui me solu- ble reussir au-dela de toutes mes esperances, elevant surtout comme je le tais, e’est-a-dire force de mouiller mes feuilles (que je dois a la complaisance d’amis que je ne saurais trop remercier) pour les conserver et de les donner bumides, co que je proscris moi-meme dans ma metliode. Les cocons sont decidement plus beaux que ceux du tableau ou j’ai reproduit le type Eran^ais, pour des cocons produits au moyen d’educa- tions perfectionnees ; je pourrai, cette fois encore, mettre de bons oeufs a la disposition des edueateurs atm de les mettre a meme d’envoyer de bons cocons a 1’ Exposition proebaine. “ Au sujet de cette Exposition, Messieurs, je dirai quo j’ai vu avec beauc'oup de satisfaction la decision prise par la Municipalite de mettre a la disposition de noire Societc uno medaille de £5 pour la plus belle soie filee; maisje suis d’avis que nous devrions demander a la Municipalite de donner do preference 2 prix, d’une valcur totale equivalente, divises en- tre les plus beaux cocons jaunes et blancs ; il me semble quo ce serait piquer l’einulation des edueateurs, qui pourront etro nombreux, tandis que je pense qu il n’y aura quo pou de con- currents pour la plus belle soie filee et cablee convenabletncnt : Je pense que ma suggestion rencontrera l’approbation do la Societe. Dans le but de suivrelcs progres do l’lndustrie Serieicolc, jo me suis mis en rapport dircclcmout, ou par l’entremiso — 15 — d’amis, avec les points les plus interessants : la France,' lo Ja- pon, l’lnde, la Reunion etc. : M. le Directeur du Jardin Bota- nique de la Reunion me dit qu’ils out a Bourbon dans la famille des “ Morees,’’ savoir : Moms Alba , Australis, Loboda, Multi- caulis et Chinensis. “ Nous avons ici fort peu de Moras Alba, cependant il serait bon de multiplier cette espece puisqu’en France, c’est le plus estime ; le Rubra qui est lo merae que celui que je designe sous le nom de Nigra, est plus abundant et les vers s’en acco- modent aussi fort bien. Nous avons une variete du Chinensis, assez rare cependant; au reste, ce n’est que quand l’Industrie sera plus avancee, que nous pourrons nous arreter definitive- ment a telle ou telle espece ; mais si l’on plante, on ferait sa- gement d’introduire des a present les meilleures especes du Cap, de l’lnde, d’Australie et de France etc. “ II est a ma connaissance que le Rida Sanguin, dont M. Caldwell a rapporte de si belles sentences d’Australie, a deja reussi, et les plants produiront sans aucun douto des graines aussi belles, si on ne depouillc pas la plante reproductive de ses feuilles : un de mes amis m’en a envoye dimanche de raa« gnifiques ; mais mes JBombyx Mori les out completement de- daignees, les feuilles de cette plante ne pouvant convenir qu’a VAttacus Ricini, dont j’ai fait detna der des ceufs dans l’lnde, et dont j’ai suggere aussi l’eleve comme pouvant etre d’un rapport plus prompt que le3 vers du murier et d’une conversion (les cocons) plus domestique que ceile du eocon du Bombyx Mori, aLtendu que la soie se file au fuseau comme du coton, mais elle est inferieure. Par l’entremise d’une maison de com- merce, j’ai demande des oeufs directement au Japon ; aussitbt que je les recevrai, je suggererai probablement un mode au moyen duquel on pourrait tirer un parti excessivement profi- table des cocons, meme en quantites moderees, si Ton veut scrupuleusement elever : Je veur purler de la confection des ceufs du Japon et de la Californie : onen envoie pour les pays d’Europe, des quantites enormcs et representant des sommes considerables. II est vrai qu’il faut pour la confection des ceufs et leur expeditiou des soins tout-a-fait speciaux pour leur conservation, surtout pendant le voyage. E11 attendant qu’on ait ties muriers en assez grandes quantiles pour produire de la soie grfege, avantageusement, ceux qui sauront s’y prendre pourront elever dans ce but. “ Au point ou nous en eommes actuellement, Messieurs, jo crois que Ton commence enfin a envisager l’indus- trie que je preconise sous des couleurs plus favorables. Jo m’applaudirai doublement alors des efforts que j’ai faits, puisqu’ils ne seront pas tout-a-fait perdus ; j’ajouterai que je sais memo qu’il y a des Planteurs Sucriers qui font planter des muriers. Cela est au inieux, car l’industrie reussira, si Ton sait s’y prendre convenablement, et ellc viendra, un jour peu eloigne j’espere, s’ajouter a nos rares productions agri- coles, dont la plus grande, et jo puis dire la seule unique et importante, so trouve contiouellement obligee de lutter, non seulement contre des ennemis interieurs trop notnbreux, tels que borers, maladies diverses, vers, etc., etc., mais encore contre la concurrence des autres pays producteurs, au nombre des- quels vient s’ajouter maintenant l’Egypte pour un cbiffre im- portant. “ En dernier ressort la decision prise par I’Autoritd, d’eten- dre les plantations a Beau Bassin, mo semble etre bien encou- rageante pour ceux qui penscnt a laSerigene, qui est destinee, je crois aussi, ii determiner l’easai raisonne et l’implantation d’autres petites industries qui, quoiquo secondaires, pourront devenir excessivement avantageuses pour beaucoup de pet its proprietaires. “ H. C. D.” Le President adresse ses remerciements bien sinceres et ceux de de la Societe k M. Descroizilles sur le travail in- teressant qu’il vient de presenter; il felicite M. D. des louables tentatives qu’il ne cesse de faire dans lebut d’im- planter a Maurice line nouvelle industrie ne pouvant pas manquer d’etre doublement profitable il la colonie, taut pour les prod nits qu’elle peut presenter sur les marches d’Europe, quo pour l’assistance qu’elle est appelee a don- ner aux classes necessiteuses dont le nombre angmeute, parmi nous, dans de si tristes proportions. - 17 — Le Secretaire depose sur la table deux echantillons de reptiles provenant de Natal, et presentes de la part de M. James Hall, du Genie Civil. I/un est un Saurien, consti- tuaut une espece du genre Iguana. I/autre est un Opki- dien indetermine. Ces echantillons sont destines au Mu- seum, et des remerciements sont en consequence votes au donateur. Sur la proposition faite par le Dr. Edwards de creer un Comite pour se rendre corapte de la presence d’un insecte dans les champs de Cannes, particulierement a la Savane et aux Trois Ilots, ce Comite est immediatement nomme et se compose des Hon. Y. Naz et H. Pitot, des Drs. A. Edwards et W. Rogers, et de MM. A. Regnard et H. Finniss. Le Secretaire donne communication d’une lettre iuser^e dans le Gardener’s Chronicle du 18 Mars et adressee au redacteur de ce journal, par M. Decaisne, Directeur du Jardin des Plantes, h Paris. M. Decaisne signale tous les degats eprouves dans le iardin pendant le bombardement, et les effets produits par /explosion et la detonation des projectiles sur certaines especes de plantes. Chez les plantes monocotyledonees, les effets ont ete des plus singuliers et tout a fait diffe- rents dans certains cas ; ainsi les Pandanees , les Cyclan- thees et les Dracaenas ont eu leurs feuilles et leurs jeunes tiges dechirees et reduites en etoupe, en charpie, par /ex- plosion des bombes, tandis que les Bromeliacees n’ont souffert ni du froid ni des secousses occasionnees par les detonations, qui ont detruit taut d’autres plantes. Le Gardener’s Chronicle publie egalement une liste des plantes qui ont ete detruites dans le Jardin et que M. Des- caine desire remplacer. Le Secretaire en plafant cette liste sous les yeux des membres presents, dit avoir marque d’un signe, les plantes qu’il serait facile de se procurer h Maurice. — 18 — SEANCE DU SAM EDI 2 4 JUIN 1871. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DU DR. CH. REGNAUD. Preseuts : Le Col. N. Pike, Vice-President, Fhon. Em. Ducray, MM. A.Bestel, Ed. Bewslier, H. C. Descroizilles, H. Finniss, P. Lemiere, V. Robillard, Dr. W. Rogers, et L. Bouton, Secretaire. Apres la lecture du proces-verbal de la derniere reunion, on procede au scrutin de M. Charles Stapylton de Joux qui est .elu membre resident. Le Secretaire dit avoir pris des renseignements sur l’insecte ayant fait acte d’apparition a la Savane et aux Trois llots, et dont il a re£U des specimens it l’etat de larves, provenant de M. Constantin, et qui lui ont ete remis par le Dr. A. Edwards. Cet insecte est de l’ordre naturel des coleopteres, et ap- partient au genre Oryctes, Le Secretaire a rappele que feu M. W. Telfair lui a fait voir en 1864 ou 1865, des souclies de Cannes dont les racines avaient ete devorees par la larve de cc coleoptere. M. Cli. Wielie lui a envoye plus tard la tige d’une jeune canne dont la sommite avait ete mangee par Finsecte lui-meme dans l’etat parfait. Une lettre que le Secretaire a re5ue de Fhon. H. Pitot donne aussi quelques details a cc sujet : — II dit conmutre Finsecte depuis longtemps ; il depose ses oeufs datis les terres meubles et humides, ou ils eclosent et donnent nais- sance a la larve. L’hon. Pitot dit en avoir vu a St Aubin eta St Felix, et M A. Begnard dit en avoir egalement trouve il Riche Marre, ii Flacq. Le Dr. C. Regnaud conseillerait pour la destruction de Finsecte Femploi de la naphtaline melee ii la terre. Le Secretaire donne communication d’une lettre qu’il a reyue du Dr. Hooker en reponse & celle qu’il lui avait ecrite, lui demandant des renseignements sur Fespece de 19 Phaseolus dont il lui avait envoye des echantiillons, ct connue ici sous le nom de Pois d’Achery. Les pois mangeables et veneneux sont autant de varietes d’une seule et meme espece de plante, laquelle cst le Phaseolus lunatus, plante connue depuis longtemps et donnant des varietes dont quelques-unes peuvent etre mangees, quand d’autres sont de violents poisons. “ II en est egalement ainsi en Europe et au Bresil,” ajoute le Dr. Hooker,” et aussi, je crois, la meme chose dans l’lnde.” Le Dr. Hooker repond aux questions qui lui ont ete adressees au sujet d’une plante de la famille des Labiees que M. L. Bouton a vue pour la premiere fois, il y a deux ou trois ans, et qui se rencontre en assez grande quantite, au bord de la Riviere des Calebasses ; elle attcint une hau- teur de plusieurs pieds. Il est difficile de se rendre compte de son introduction, car elle est insignifiante comme plante de jardin ou d’ornement. C’est, d’apres l’autorite de Bentham, le Hyptis pectinata. Il existe au Jardin des Pamplemousses, Aux Rochers} et dans d’autres localites un arbre donnant un fruit d’une forme ovale, et d’un gout assez agreable ; on ne savait j us • qu’ici a quel genre attribuer cette plante, ct ce n’est qu’a- pres un assez long examen fait par le Dr. Hooker et M. Bentham qu’il vient d’etre enfin determine. Le paragraphe de la lettre datee de Kew concernant Y arbre cnquestion, est ainsi confu : “We have at last, I think, determined the curious chryso- balaneous fruit which you sent us, and which appears to be a cultivated form of the American Moquilcco tomentosa. Benth. You are no doubt aware that various fruits of that natural order are eatable.” M. Bewsher presente uue caisse contenant des specimens parfaitement prepares d’oiseaux, de coquilles terrestres et marines, de crustaces et d’autres objets d’histoire naturelle qu’il a recueillis pendant son sejour a Bourbon. — 20 Parmi les oiseaux propres it Pile Soeur, et dont quel- ques uns existent egalement it Maurice, se trouvent les suivants : Circus Maillardi — Papangue. Hypsipotes olivaceus — Merle. Pratincola Sib ilia — Tec -tee. Zosterops Borbonica— Oiseau Blanc. Z haesitata — Oiseau Vert. La collection de coquilles terrestres faite au Brule cle St-Denis et au Bassin du Diable se compose de 2G especes, et parmi elles il y en a deux qui paraissent nouvelles : uu Helix que M. Caldwell designe provisoirement sous le nom de H. Bewsheri, et un Pupa envoye a Londres it M. Adams pour etrc determine. U Helix Sindians atteint a la Reunion, dit M. Bewsher, de plusgrandcs dimensions qu’ici ; ses couleurs sont plus brillantes, et constituent line coquillc toute nouvelle qu’on appelle H. Borbonica bien qu’en comparant les spe- cimens provenant des deux lies, ils ne semblent constituer qu’une seule et meme espece. Parmi les coquilles maritimes recueillies a St. Gilles se trouvent plusieurs beaux specimens de Cyprcea gemmulata et le Scalaria perplex qu’on (lit etre propre it Bourbon, mais dont M. Bcwslier a trouve un ecliantillon a Pile aux Aigrettes, a la pointe d’Esnv, il y a peu de jours. La caisse contenait egalement une couleuvre, naturalisee a Bourbon {Ly codon aulicum) ct deux crustaces, le Scylla- rus Aeqidnoxialis et le Panina dentala, trouves sur les recifs it St. Gilles ; ce dernier crabe est assez commun a Bourbon oil on le mange. M. Bcwslier a cu aussi la bonne fortune de decouvrir deux fougeres, une au Brule et Pautrc it Salazie, et qui paraissent n’avoir pas etc decritcs — la premiere est une espece du genre Trichomanes et Pautrc un Jlymcnophyllum — des echantillons out etc adresses par la malic derniere au Prof. Baker, ii Kew, pour etrc determines. 21 M. Bewsher appelle ensuite Pattention des raembres sur une espece particuliere du genre Chiton qiPil a trouvee a Mahebourg et differant entieremcnt des especes figurees dans les ouvrages de Conchyologie. Parmi lesinsectes presentes se trouvaient deux specimens male et femelle du Monandroptera Spinigera de Bourbon, decrits par Lucas dans Pouvrage de Maillard ; le male qui est beaueoup plus petit que la femelle a des ailes qui se developpent avec Page, tandis que la femelle rPen a pas du tout. La planehe XXI, p. 2 des inscctes, represents dans Pouvrage de M. Maillard, donne la figure de Pinsecte femelle et selon la description la longueur serait de 2 poli- ces, tandis que les specimen* apportes par M. Bewsher mesurent de 5 a 6 pouces de long. Les habitants de Bourbon connaissent cet insecte sous le nom de “ Cliipec/’ il est particulier a cette lie et se trouve aux environs du Bride de St. Denis et paiticuliere- ment sur les filaos. M. Bewsher fait savoir aux membres presents quhl est dispose a faire des eclianges avec ceux qui voudraient lui donner en retour d'autrcs echantillons. Le Col. N. Pike lit le papier suivant, intitule holes on the Terrestrial Molluscs of Mauritius. Notes on the Terrestrial Molluscs of Mauritius. “ Soon after my arrival in Mauritius I sent home some land shells several of which reached America alive. A few of them fell into the hands of my friend Mr. S. Bland, who has made a particular study of the anatomy of molluscs, and especially of their dentition. His great forte is terrestrial molluscs ; those of America and the West Indies having been studied with great results, as is shewn by the various pamphlets he has published upon them. “ The land shells of Mauritius have ever possessed great interest for the eonchological world, and ns many of them were entirely new to Mr. Bland, it may well be imagined how eagerly he set to work on their examination. The shells that first attracted him were some Pupas known here as the Pupa palanga, (Lesson) and on dissecting the animals he found reason to believe that they did not belong to the genus Pupa, and instead of being vegetable eaters, he distinctly proved them carnivorous. He forwarded the results of his observa- tions to Prance, and he has kindly favoured me with some notes on them made by Messrs. II. Cross and P. Fischer in the Journal cle Gonchyologle 3rd Series, Vol. 9, No. 3, p. 213, July 1869, from which I take the following extracts : — “ They write thus, “ One of our honourable correspondents Mr. Thomas Bland of New York, having recently received some specimens of a species of land mollusc common in the Isle of Mauritius, the Pupa palanga (Lessou) and having been fortunate enough to extract from one of them the radula or lingual ribbon, has communicated to us the results. -He in- forms us that during his examination of the animal he was greatly surprised, at first, at not finding any trace of jaws, and at length he discovered that the lingual ribbon of this species in no particular resembled that of the ordinary species of Pupa , but that it appoachod rather those of the Testacella by the form of its teeth, We here give the results of the closo examination we have given to the radula in question. “ In the Pupa palanga, the lingual ribbon is elongated, rather large, sharp, and terminating in a lance shaped point at its extremity. They are arranged in extremely oblique rows. The denticula formula is 36.1, 36 and 67. “ The rachian tooth is elongated, slightly irregular unicus- pid, simple, and analogous to that of the American Qlandinas. The lateral teeth are similar to those of the StrepJiosfyla, Glanclina , Dandehardia, and other genera belonging to the fami- ly of the Testaccllidco. The marginal teeth are elongated, straight, and very near together. In presence of this organisation which denotes a carnivorous mollusc, the Pupa palanga can no longer remain either in the genus Pupa, or even in the family of llelicidce, because of its evident alliance to the Testaccllidw. It — 23 thus gives room to re-establish for it a subgenus now almost forgotten, proposed by Swainson in 1840 ( Treatise on Malaco- logy, p. 333) under the name of Gonospira, and characterised by this author but indifferently in other respects, in a concho- logical point of view. “ The number of rows of teeth (67 in each) could not be po- sitively ascertained as the lingual ribbon was not perfect when Mr Bland made his examination. The following description will show how we believe the genus Gonospira should be cha- racterized : — “ Genus Gonospira. “ Animal carnivorum. Maxilla nulla. Radula elongata, latiuscula lanceolata, seriebus valde obliquus con3tituta, Dens medianus elongatus, sub-irregularis unicuspidatus, simplex. Dentes laterales Glandinarum denribus similes ; Dentes mar- ginales elongate, graciles, conferti. Formula 36. 1. 36. et 67. Testa cylindrica, crassa, costulata, epidermide nitidula obduc- ta, Glandinarum more interdum lougitudinaliter strigata apice obtusa. Peristoma continuum, incrassatum, marginibus callo concolore junctis. Apertura subovata. “ Typus. Piipa palanga (Lesson.) “ The accompanying sketch gives the lingual plate and teeth natural size and magnified. The habits of the Gonospira are peculiar. I have never found them on grasses or plants, nor yet alive on the surface of the ground, but always amongst the debris of fallen leaves and decomposed vegetable matter at the roots of trees. “ It is supposed that many other molluscs new placed in the genus Pupa, and even in that of Gibbus, will be found on careful anatomical examination to belong to the carnivorous molluscs. It appears to me that the whole classification of the terrestrial shells of Mauritius requires revision and correc- tion. The study of the dentition of tho animals, combined with the peculiar characteristics of the shells and animals, will be of the highest importance in their proper classification, and will accurately define the position of many now doubtful genera. “ I sent some live shells at the beginning of this year to — 24 — Mr. Bland, and I am now collecting all the living specimens of the various land and fresh water shells I can procure to for- ward to him. I have no doubt that I shall have some interes- ting news of them to communicate to the Society at a future day. “ The tenacity of life into many of the land molluscs is so great, that 1 do not anticipate any difficulty in forwarding them alive into America, I had a quantity of the Helix rufa and Rufozonata, some of them crawled away and mounted on the paper of my walls. Seven months afterwards I found two of them still alive, about 8 feet from the ground, where they had remained motionless all that time, and consequently without food. “ I have had Papas laid awray for months, especially the P. Mauritiana , and on taking them out and placing them on my hand, I have been astonished to see thoir little orange colour- ed horns appear, and their speckled bodies begin to crawl out. Achatinas and Gydostomns will also remain alive without food for a considerable period.” Le Colonel Pike presente a la Societe les ouvrages sui- vants qu’il a reyus des differentes Societes Scientifiques des Etats dc PUnion — desirant se mettre en rapport avec celle de Maurice : 1. — Report of the Invertebrata of Massachussets, by A. Gould, M. D. ; 2. — Address delivered on the Centennial Anniversary of the birth of Alex. Yon Humboldt, by Louis Agassiz. (De la part du Departement de P Agriculture des Etats- Unis.); 3. — Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural His- tory, vol. XII. — Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture for 1868. (De la part de l’lnstitution Switli- sonienne.) 4. Annual Report of the Swdthsonian Society for 1868 ; Memoirs of the American Academy, new scries ; Proceed- ings of the American Academy ; Narrative of a journey to Musardu, the capital of the Western Mandingoe, by Benjamin Anderson, New York, 1870. — 25 — Le President adresse ses reraereiements au Col. Pike et le Secretaire est charge de transmettre ceux de la Societe aux Societes etrangeres qui sont si courtoisement entrees en rapport avec cellc de M aurice. Le Dr. Rogers a presente a la seance deux crust aces, le Scylarus equinoxialis , peche sur la cote de la Petite Riviere a 12 brasses et un specimen du Pencils cunaliculatus trouve a Caudan dans de la boue enlevee par la cure-mole. Le paragraphe suivant d’une lettre de Mme Morris est communique ii la seance : “ I take the opportunity of sending you the famous “ Mau- ritius Ensign ” which waved proudly at all the international Exhibitions in the Buildings with the flags of all nations, and was most particularly admired by II. E. II. the Prince of Wales and many others, and far more striking than most of the Colonial flags and was hoisted very high on a very long gilt rod with immense tassels, yellow and scarlet, and cords gracefully draped at each corner at top and smaller at the two ends. It is what is called a swallow-tailed standard which was reckoned the most effective. It may possibly do for some Exhibition in your Colony again, for it is the old one that has waved over the Colony in Europe. Also I send two smaller flags, Erench and English, over the Mauritius centre case in Paris Exhibition ; they may be also of service.” Cette banniere arrive it temps pour etre deployee a l’Ex- position que la Societe prepare pour le mois procliain. II est a croire qm’elle produira le meme effet qu’aux Exposi- tions de Londres et de Paris, ou elle a brille, nous dit Mme Morris, avec un si grand eclat. Le Secretaire fait savoir qu’il a regu de Sir Henry Bar- ldy un exemplaire du journal Cape Argus, contenant la remarquable adre-se que Son Excellence a prononcee au dernier anniversaire de la Bibliothequc Publique du Cap. Ce souvenir de la part de notre Honorable Patron a ete — 26 — apprecie a sa juste valeur. Le Secretaire ajoute qu’il a remis le papier a M. Cliannell et que la reproduction de l’adresse dans le Commercial Gazette aura procliainement lieu. Communication est faite d’une lettre de M. A. Rampant donnant sa demission de membre de la Societe. STANCE I)U SAMEDI, 29 JUILLET 1871. SOUS LA PRES1DENCE DU DR. E. LE JURE. Presents : MM. N. Desjardins, V. Robillard et L. Bouton, Secretaire. Apres la lecture du proces-verbal de la derniere seance, le Dr. E. Le Juge propose, seconde de M. L. Bouton, M. Aristide Sauzier, demeurant sur la propriete Constance , a Flacq, en qualite de membre resident. M. V. Robillard presente a la reunion un corps ossifie trouve a Rodrigues dans la t§te d’un scombre, la carangue ; le Dr. E. Le Juge attribue la presence de cette substance a une maladie de cerveau lequel a dit etre d’une dimen- sion assez grande. De Secretaire fait lecture d’une lettre du Dr. A. Vinson annoncant la mort de son cousin M. Emile Vinson, mem- bre correspondent, de la Societd ; il fait aussi parvenir une ndcrologie de cet bomme distingue, publide dans le Pro- gres Colonial, journal de la Reunion. Voici un extrait du journal it ce sujet : EMILE VINSON. ‘‘ Nous avons la douleur d’annoncer it nos lecteurs la mort d’un do nos collaborateurs aimes et 1’un dos plus distingues dans la redaction scientifique de notro journal : Emile Vinson a succombe samedi, 10 juin, it une tcrriblo affection, qui s’est decUiroo soudaineinent au milieu do la plus parfaite saute, de — 27 — l’exercice de toutes ses facultes et de la plenitude de Page. II meurt h 41 ana ! Einile Vinson etait un coeur et une intelli- gence d’elite : il possedait un savoir profond sous une appa- rence timide, aimable et modeste ! * “ No a Sainte-Suzanne, il commen9a son instruction a Saint- Denis, a la pension Christophe et au College Eoyal de notre ile. Il travailla ensuite a l’Hopital militaire de Saint-Denis comrne eleve en pharmacie : puis il partit pour la France. A Eennes, oil il sejourna quelque temps pour perfectionner ses etudes ; il suivit avec ardeur les cours du celebre chimiste Malagutti, se rendit h Paris, s’y fit recevoir bachelier et fit ses cours de pharmacie sou3 les plus celebres professeurs qui illustrbront cette Ecole : Gautier de Claubry, Chevallior, Sou- beiran, Guibourt. Gaudichaud, pharmacien en chef de la Marine, membre de l’lnstitut, lui portait une veritable afi'ec- tion : ses etudes furent de la sorte tres completes ; car il ai- mait la science pour elle-meme, s’y complaisait, y cherehait ses plus douces jouissances et ne se lassait jamais d’etendre ses connaissances et meme, dans sa sphere et selon ses moyens, d’ajouter aux connaissances acquises et generates quelques aper9us nouveaux et particuliers. Laureat et re9u de premiere classe a l’Ecole de Pharmacie de Paris, il revint parmi nous. “ La fortune aveugle et injuste no repondit pas a taut d’es- perances, de savoir, de qualites, do travail et d’efforts cons- tants ! Au milieu d’uue famille jeune et nombreuse qu’il ele- vait lui-meme, en meritant une vive sympathie, il subissait l’ingratitude du sort saus se plaindre. Il suivait la ligne in- flexible et droite du devoir. En quinze annces de labeur il n’a pas donne deux jours au repos ou au loisir : il a combattu sans trcve depuis le premier instant jusqu’a l’heure ou il est tombe pour rnourir ! Victime de la fortune adverse, celle-ci n’a pas reconnu pour l’epargner et lo favoriser meme, le me- rite modeste, l’homme de coeur, le savant reel, le bon pere de famille, l’epoux modele, l’ami sfir, le parent affcctueux. Tous ceux qui ont eonnu Emile Vinson de pres, n’ont pu se dero- ber a Pattrait de toutes ces vertus resumees daus sa personne. — Les seules compensations qu’il a eues dans sa vie, beaucoup trop courte pour nous, lui sont venues do son for interieur, — 28 du sanctuaire de la famille et do la science ; le bonheur qu’il en a re^u a rasserene par instaut son front et ont fait fuir bien souvent les ombres du souci et les nuages d’une pensee triste ou amere. Bien qu’Emi'e ne recherchat point l’eclat et qu’il n’aimat quo le bonheur cache, celui qui apparait dans l’intimite et l’isolement de l’etude, la solidite de ses travaux le denon9ait malgre lui. Une these parfaite sur l’emploi pliar- maceutique de plusieurs plantes de Bourbon et de Maurice fit eonnaitre d’abord le caractere de ses etudes : elles se por- taient sur la chimie, la botanique et la therapeutique : il y joignit bientot un cote agricole qui resultait de la direction qu’avaient imprimee a son esprit les lemons premieres re^es sous un chimiste-agriculteur de premier ordre. “ Les societes savantes ne devaient point laisser longtemps dans l’attente une intelligence aussi meditative, aussi labo- rieuse et eclairee. La premiere, la Societe des sciences et des arts (il faut lui rendro cette justice), l’alla chercher : il hesi- ta d’abord ; puis accepta ; et comine il fullait inaugurer sou entree par la lecture d’un travail inedit, Emilo Yinson choisit pour son sujet, l’histoiro d’un pharmacien et d’un botanisle, objet de ses sympathies, Il ecrivit d’uuo maniero charmante la vie de Philibeht Comhebson. C’etait en meme temps • qu’au pharmacien un liommage au botaniste qui avait etudid la floro de Bourbon, de Maurice et de Madagascar ; c’etait peut-etre aussi un pressentiment, car cot homme savant mou- rait au milieu de ses travaux. Emilo Yinson fit eonnaitre dans cette oeuvre remarquable toutes les qualites d’un style accompli, par sa facilite, son coloris, sa fraicheur et sa puretc. Il s’etait livre de bonne heure et par une revelation naturclle, artislique, au culte dudessin et de lapeinturo : pour un amant de la nature et de la science, c’etait un auxiliaire d’un prix inexprimable. Sa maniere d’ecriro, correcte et c loreo, sem- bla s’en ressentir : la plume sous ses doigts prit les allures du pinceau. La Societe des Sciences ct des Arts a public de lui un travail tres long sur les plantes economiques et mediciuah s de l’ile de la Eeuuion, une etude sur le Papayer ct sou emploi en medecine, une monographic tres belle et tres etendue sur les Euphorbes existant dans la Colonie, en sigunlant toujours 29 — leur emploi economique, industrial ou medicinal. Tous ces travaux out une valeur et une importance ties grandes qui ne peuvent etre perdues. Nous noterons particulierement qu’a la reception de son essai sur le Papayer, la Societe Royale des Sciences de Pile Maurice lui envoya en retour le Diplome de membre correspondant, honneur auquel n’ont ete appelees que trois ou quatre -personnes de notre iie. Le Museum d’Histoire Naturelle deSt-Denis le compta un moment parmi ses membres. La Societe d’Acclimatation avait teuu a 1’avoir dans son Comite, et la chambre d’ Agriculture do notre lie l’avait choisi coinme membre a cause de ses lumieres et de la specialite d’etudes dont il avait donne tant de preuves remarquables. “ Enfin toute la presse coloni de a rcproduit spontanement les etudes qu’Einile Vinson publiait dcrnierempnt ici meine, dans notre Journal, Futility du reboisement. Ces etudes, par la mort soudaine de notre collegue regrette, reeteront malheureusement inachevees 1 Aucuu n’avait apportd dans ces questions si vita- les pour notre lie une lumiere plus vive, une fa^on plus gra- cieuse, un sayoir mieux 1'onde, un style plus correct. La logi- que des f'aits, le choix des moyens, la persuation profonde, rien n’y manquait. Dans la forme comme dans le fond, c’etait une seduction reelle. “ La mort d’Emile Vinson est assurement un vide immense ouvt rt dans sa famille, parmi ses amis, dans notre pays. Par ses qualites, par sesvertus, par son exemple, c’etait pour notre Colonie un de ses enfants qui lui faisaient le plus d’honneur. Liste des travaux d' Emile Vinson ; 1. Essai sur quelques plantes utiles de l’ile Bourbon. These. — 1855. 2, Eloge de Bernier. — ( Discours necrologique ) 8. Philibert Commerson. (Biograjphie) 1861. 4. Essai cliimique s’ur I’ccuf de l’Epiornis. 5. Essai sur les plantes ecouomiques et medicinales de file de la Reunion (Fougeres, champignons, graminees etc.) 1864. 0. Ilistoire naturelle du Papayer. 1868. 7. Necrologio de M. Boisard, pharmacien. 8. Les Eupborbes a l’ile Jc la Reunion. — Enumeration des genres et especes croissant dans la Colonie. — 1870. 9. De la necessite du reboisement a l’ile de la Reunion (seri« cV articles, Progres Colonial ) 1871. 10. Note sur l’Eucalyptus Globulus, ( Progres Colonial) 1871. Des specimens de reptiles ct d’insectes provenant de Natal sont presentes par le I)r. E. Le Juge. Le Secretaire communique l’extrait suivant de la lettre du Dr. Vinson : “ Passant, sans transition a un autre ordre de faits, je viens vous informer que le 30 juillet IS70, je re^us de vous, par les mains de M. Benedict de Cordemoy, 5 larvcs et 3 chrysalides du Papilio Demoleus. Je mis sur les orangines et les comba- vas les larves en liberte et conservai les chrysalides dans un vaste bocal bien aere et insole par moments. Elies prirent une couleur verto et brune et je vis s’en degager dans la lere quin- zaine de juillet un beau Papilio Demoleus femelle ; je le laissai eecher et raffermir ses ailes et laissai partir dans mon jar- din, un matin par un beau soleil. Trois jours apres je livrai a Pair des champs une paire de Demoleus sortis des deux chry- salides restant : la scene se passant au jardin do la Colonie. “ Le 23 Juin 1871, ces jours derniers par consequent, me ren- dant a Salazie, j’ai ete arrete au quartier St. Andre par M. Benjamin Robert, Secretaire de la Mairio de cette commune. II voulait connaitre de moi le nom de plusieurs beaux papil- lons noirs et souf’re recemraent pi’is dans les environs par les eleves des Frferes qui les lui vendaient vivants a 10 centimes la piece : C’etaient les fils de vos Demoleus envoyes il y a un au. II est devenu assez comraun : son introduction et sa natu- ralisation sont un fait accompli et dont l’origine est assure- ment manifeste. Veuillez en informer votre Societe et en prendre acte. II n’est nullement etonnant, mais remarquable, que l’insecte a su se porter de preference vers les lieux oil abondent les diverses especes de la famille des Aurantiace.es. C’est la loi de la naturo quo pour les animaux on appelle l’instinct. “ Quand vous voudrez mo faire un grand et indiciblo plaisir, ce sera par l’occasion d’un ami ou d’uno counahsanco, de mo gratilior de quelques plants de Cinchona. Les quelqucs plants - 31 — que j’ai faits provenant de graines venant de Paris (en Mai 1866) viennent de donner a Salazie et a l’llette a Guillaume, leur seconde floraison : la premiere fleur a ete totalement ste. rile; la seconde a eu lieu le 1 1 Avril de cette annee, elle sera je croisfeconde : c’est lo Cinchona officinalis ; les fleurs ressem- blent a celles de VAziderachta (faux lilas). Yos plants me feront bien plaisir, ear cette essence vient a merveille dans notre lie, a une hauteur de 430 metres, merne au voisinage de Saint-Denis.” SEANCE DU MERCREDI 30 AOUT 1871. SOUS LA PRESIDEXCE DE M. C. BRUCE. Presents : L^Hon. Ed. Newton, MM. A. Bestel, C. E. Bewsher, J. Caldwell, N. Desjardins, E. Dupont, C. H. Descroizilles, -S. De Joux, A. Regnard, Y. de Robillard, Dr W. Rogers. MM. J. Slade, et L. Bouton, Secretaire. M. A. Sauzier, propose a la derniere reunion, est elu inembre resident. M. A. Langlois est propose en cette meme qualite par M. A. Bestel seconde par M. Robillard. Le Major Brooke, du Genie Royal est propose par M. C. E. Bewsher seconde par M. C. Bruce. La Societe ayant arrete ft la derniere Reunion quhm Comite serait nomme pour reviser les Reglements qui la regissent depuis le 24 Aout 1846, les sept membres sui- vants ont ete elus au scrutin pour former ce Comitej ce sont dans l’ordre des votes : MM. L. Bouton, C. Bruce, L’hon. E. Ducray, MM. E. Dupont, H. Finniss, Col. Pike, Dr. Regnaud. Us sont charges de se reunir aussitot qu’ils pourront le faire. « 32 — Les propositions suivantes sont soumises a la seance et referees au Comite dcs Finances : lo. Une soinme de 10s. a, £1 it Madame Legentil, Veuve dUsidore Legentil, longtemps au service de la So- ciete et attache au Museum en qualite d’assistant et de preparateur. 2o. Une somme d'environ .€28 destinee dans le cas oix un Assistant au Museum serait nomme et iFaccepterait pas les emoluments de £72 portees sur le Budget a com- pleter le chiffre de £100 qui lui serait allouee, ainsi reparti : £72 payees par le Gouvernement et £28 par la Societe. 3o. Une somme mensuelle de €1 demandee par le Se- cretaire pour un employe charge de l’entretien de la Bibliotheque de la Societe, d’en faire un catalogue, de copier et de transcrire les fettres du Secretaire, La Societe decide, seance ten ante, sur la proposition du Secretaire, qu’une certaine somme serait prelevee sur les fonds de la Societe pour demander it Londres ou it Paris des graines de legumes, fleurs, arbustes etc. ; et €20 sont votees a cet cffet. I.e Secretaire fait savoir qu’il a re9u par la Malle, et de la part de FAcademie Royale de Stockholm, les Memoires de cctte Societe, laquelle exprime le desir de se mettre en rapport avec la notre. Entr’autres ouvrages se trouvcnt 4 volumes des Hemipteres d’Afrique rediges en latin par Carolus Stal. Un specimen de V Acacia decurrens et la gomnie, que cette plante originairc de PAustralie, fournit abondam- mcnt, ont ete places sous les yeux de la Societe par M. Bewsher. Le Dr W. Rogers en a presente egalement des echantillons ct lu l’analyse qui en a ete faite it St-Denis. Cette gomme a tous les caracteres de la gomme Arabiquc et l’arbre qui la produit pousse tres vite ; on a suggere — 33 l’idee d’en faire venir dcs graines ct des plants de la Reu- nion ou Farbre existe depuis plusieurs annees et d’ecrire cn memo temps au Dr. Mueller a Melbourne ; en re- commandant plus tard des plantations quandon viendrait it s'occupcr du i\boisemcnt dc Tile. La Societe a rc^u du Secretaire Colonial nnc brochure sur la culture du cafe, intitule : Hints ou Coffee Planting , the result of seventeen years’ experience in Cey Ion, sans nom d’auteur, avec des gravures representant les instruments employes pour la preparation des graines. La communication suivante est faite par M. C. Descroi- zilles it propos d’unc autre brochure egalement adressee de la part du Gouverneur et intitulee : Report by Mr Consul Colubrays on a new method of suffocating chrysalids of silk worms : “ Son Excellence lo Gouverneur, Patron dela Societe, a fait l’enyoi a M.L. Bouton, qui mo l’a communique, d’un Rapport du Consul Britannique a Turin, sur unenouvelle machine a etouf- fer les cocons de vers it soie, et Son Excellence a eu aussi la gracieusete de m’en envoyer une copie ; j’ajouterai, que l’en- voi de ce Rapport a Maurice, demontre evidemment l’impor- tance attaehee par le Gouvernement Metropolitan! a la pro- duction de la soie dans ses colonies ; je crois que la publica- tion du dit Rapport interessera les Sericiculteurs, elle encou- ragera les plantations de muriers sur une echelle plus etendue, elle encouragera en meme temps a faire des educations prepa- ratoires, essentielles pour arriver a utiliser convenablement les produits du murier. II faut partir d’un principe fundamental ; il faut, pour produire des cocons, commencer par la planta- tion du murier, maia il faut aussi graduellement former les magnaniers et les fileuses ; autrement on arriverait a un resul- tat negatif, e’est-a-dire a avoir dc la matiere premiere sans pouvoir l’utiliser a propos. Lorsqu’il est, je crois bien demon - tre maintenant, que depuis la plantation de l’arbre jusqu’a la conversion du cocon en soie-marchande, l’industrie est ici dans de bonnes conditions. " Puisque c’est a, la Society dcs Arts et cles Sciences (et je saisis cette occasion pour remercier lcs Patron, President, Vice-Presidents, Secretaire, et autres membres, des encoura- gements ofterts et de l’appui qu’ils m’ont pretes-), qu’est due la reintroduction dans notre pays d’une branche d'industrie qui me semble a juste litre riche d’avenir; je crois qu’il doit lui appartenir aussi pour la vulgariser et la developper entie- rement de dcmander au Gouvernement Local et aussi bien a la Municipality de faire entrer le murier dans les especes d’ar- bres et plantes destines au reboisement qui va s’effectuer, nul doute, partout ou le besoin s’on fait sentir. ” Le Secretaire a ete charge d’ecrire a ce sujet au Gouverne- ment et a la Municipality. ” Les notes suivantes concernant les reptiles et insectes provenant de Natal, sont communiquees par le Dr. Le Juge : 1. Trois especes do couleuvres venant de Natal, de la pro- priety ‘‘Reunion.” Elies y sont tres communes ct s’introdui- sent familierement dans l’interieur des maisons. La plus pe- tite espece est appelee a Natal cracheur parce que la morsure do cette couleuvre determine un oedeme de la peau. 2. Uno araignee a ventre noir dontla piqure aurait lcs effets de la Tareutule. Elle a quelques rapports a l’espece de Lycosa du Midi do la France. 3. Deux insectes de l’ordre des Orthopteres : lo. line sauterelle rcssomblant tt la Courtillierc du genre Acrydium et qui occasionne de grands degats daus les jardins et dans les champs. 2o. Une autre espece d’Orthoptere coureur, du genre Man- tis, differant cepcndant de la Manto par la coloration du corps qui est d’un jaune-paillo au lieu d’etre vert. Je f'erai remar- quer la configuration des ailes qui estcurieuse et quiresscmblo au vetement d’un pretre officiant. On la connait dans lo Midi do la France sous le nom Prega-Diou, ou Prie-Dieu. Cette espece do Manto frapperait encore davantage 1’imagination inventive des Meridionaux. 35 Le Secretaire met sous les yeux de la Societe la des- cription suivantc de Hie d’Ambro, faitc par J. Desjardins, et qu’il lut a la 3tne seance de la Societe d'Histoirc Natu- rclle de Maurice, lc Mardi, 13 Octobre 1829 : L’lLE D’AMBiUZ, IL Y 1 42 AYS. DESCRIPTION PHYSIQUE DE L’lLE D’AMBRE, (ile maurxce) LL'E A LA TItOISIEME SEANCE DE La Societe cFKistoire Naturelle de Maurice Le Mardi 13 Octobre 1829. ‘‘Cette petite Ile dont le nom provient probablement de quel- ques morceaux d’ambre (1) trouves sur ses bords, est situee a quelques centaines de pas du rivage de l’lle Maurice, vis-a-vis la partie connue sous le nom de Poudre d’or. On peut, a mer basse, s’y reudre a pied ayant de l’eau a la ceinture, en faisant toutefois attention d’evicer lo chenal. (2) Sa plus grande Ion • gueur qui cat d’un mille et demi est dans unc direction Est et Oucst, elle varie beaucoup dans sa iargeur en ce qu’elle tst eutrecoupee d’une infinite de petites anses. Sa superficie csfc d’environ GOO arpents. Sa plus grande elevation au-dessus du niveau de la mer est d’environ 50 pieds. Elle oflro beaucoup de monticules ainsi que des bas fonds oil Ton trouve une eau saumatre qui sert a abreuver les troupeaux de boeufs et do cbevres que le proprietaire voisin y a mis. Le soly est bon et l’on y a fait beaucoup de recoltes dc Cannes a sucre et de mais ; ( I ) Yoyez dans les voyages do Tavernier l’histoire du morceau d’ambro pesant 4 2 livres trouve en 1017 sur lo bord do la mer de cctte ile et qui l'ut cause d’nno grande injustice. T, 14, p. 575 et T. 5 page 429, do l’edition in 12 do 1713, C’est encore un morceau d’ambro trouve dans les effets (les oompagnons du Protestant Leguat qui fnt cause de lours malheurs plutot la geologie etait une science si nouvelle a cette epoque, que malgre les beaux roves de Buffon et par cela meme que Buffon a si eloquemment ecrit dans cette partie, des geo- logues se sont montres comme par enchantement et du fond des cabinets deux sectes se sont formees : les Y ulcaniens qui ne voyaient que volcans et les Neptuniens pour qui tout sortait du sein de la mer. Le Gentil etait Neptunien. Il aura peut- etre ete trompe, quant a la formation de cette lie, en voyant dans quelques endroits du rivage des depots terreux ou plutot un calcaire d’eau douce qui enveloppe ou cncroute des pierres ou des coquilles en assez grande quantite ; j’ai rapporte plu- sieurs grandes Norites brisees en partie mais tres singuliere- ment empatees, ce sont la Nerita cldorostoma et la Nerita polita, ainsi qu’une porcelaine, tete do serpent ( Cyprea caput serpentis Lir.), des Cyclostomcs terrestres et des Turbo trochiformes, — 38 — “II cst facile devoir qu’il n’y a rieu de madreporique daus cette gangue, cllo est de la memo composition queles deux ilots connus sous le nom de Benitier a la liiviere Noire, et de Bivage des Treize Cantons an Grand Port. “ 11 lie faut pas croire quo quelques fragments de Polypiers pierreux des goures Astreo i t Meandrine que l’ou rencontre daus quelques endroits aieut etc formes dans I’ile ineme, ce sent tout simplement des debris qu’on y a apportes pour f'aire de la cliaux ; j’aime micux ce que Ton trouve dans le Voyage yittoresgue a Vile de France , par Milbert, passage qui a ete ecrit par Bailly. On y lit : “ L’ile d’Ambrc se trouve au centre de tous ces recifs ; sa “ situation et la difficultc d’y aborder, au moins du cote du large, la rendent peu iuteressante sous le rapport de la “ navigation. ” — (Milbert, Yoy. Pittoresque, I, 379.) Et ailleurs : “ L’ile d’Ambre qui se Irouve pres de la cote,m’a paru le pro- *' duit de quelques antiques eruptions, mais elles sont, comma “ le reste de la cote, recouvertes d’une couclie epaisse de terre “ calcaire ou so sont inseusiblement cntasses les madrepores ; “ le sable menu de la greve est do cette nature.” — (Milbert, II, 49-50.) “ Dans mi endroit voisin du i ivagc, on rencontre ce qu’on appele vulgairement en France une Breclie du D table, ce sont deux murailles naturelles a vine toiso de distance et longues d’environ 20 pas. Ces pierros qui formaient auciennemeut un seul bloc, se sont separees on deux par quelque affaissement de sol et ont ainsi forme cette fissure de quelques pie is seule- tnent de profondeur. “ Dans quelques parties du rivage on rencontre une plage sablonneuse mais de tres peu d’eteudue, j’y trouvai beaueoup de Porpytcs ( Voryyta gigantea Peron.) C’est la quo pour la premiere fois je pus me procurer ce disque cartilaginous, la seule partio un peu solide de ce eharmant animal de la classo des Badiaires de Lamarck ; la belle coaleur bleuo et argent qui l’orne disparait aussitot qu’on le met dans l’alcool et deviont d’uu roux sale. La Pliysale bleuo ( Physalis Megalista Peron) - 39 — s libit lc metne changement et jo la trouvai en moins grande quantite. Ma collection s’est encore augmentee d’on os (le Seche d’ environ 4 pouces de longueur et des oeufs do co mo’- 1 usque, (Sepia, officinalis) eclos, mais toujonrs attaches a one b rancho de Fucus ; ces oeufs rossemblent a un amas do petites perles rosee3. Enfin la Spirule de Peron ( Spirula Peronii Lmk.) qui est la Nautilus Spirula (Lin.) toujonrs separe de I’animal. Les deux especes de J’anthine deerites par Lamarck ( J . com- munis ( Helix Janthina Lin.) et J. cxigua) ; cette belle Doris d’un rouge ecarlate et dont le bord du manteuu est si agrea- blement nuance d’un rouge plus fonce encore et de blanc, mais qui apres quolque sejour dans l’alcool perd ces belles couleurs que l’etre lo plus vulgaire ne peut s’empecher d’admirer. Quatre especes de crabes du genre Cancer do Lin. qui aujourd’hui ap- partiennent it 4< genres differents, savoir : 1 Gclasime , 1 Grapse ’ 1 EripJde, 1 Ocypode. Ce sont surtout les Grrapses ( Cancer grapsus Lin.) qui sont ici extremcment communs. Ils se plaisent parmi les grosses roebes que la mer baigne a cliaquo instant et leur belle couleur rouge contrastc tres agreablement avec les masses noircs du rivage. “La mer est ici tres poissonneuse ; il serait trop long de ciier les especes que Ton y pec'".e , je dirais seulemeut que nous vimes une forte belle raie. Les huitres ( O-strea edulis Lin.) les Moules ( Mytilus edulis Lin.) se trouvent en abondance sur les Mangliers et les rochers. Les Lievres ( Lepus nigricollis ) sont en tres grande quantite sur l’lle d’Ambre, car sans avoir de chiens et sans meme faire la cliasse, nous en avons vu sept dans trois heures de temps. Les Gieckos sur les arbres et les Lezards (Scincus Bojerii J. D.) sous les pierres et dans l’herbe et probablement des grenouilles dans la saison des pluies, sont les seules especes de reptiles que l’on trouve ici. Chaque pierre que j’ai soulevee recelait plusieurs Lepismes ou Forbi- cines et des Cloportes. On m’avait dit epic les Scorpions y etaient extremement communs, je n’en trouvai pas un seul. Jo torminorai cette espece de Faune par l’indication seulement cl’une Becassc que mon compagnon de voyage abattit d’un coup do fusil et qu’il me dit etre connue sous lc nom do Cul Blanc dans ces parages. Apres un mur examen je reconnus un — 40 — Echassier de la fainille des Longirostres et du genre Scolopax ou Becasse proprement dite de Cuvier ; cet oiseau que je voyais pour la premiere fois dana le pays fait partie de mon Cabinet, et sa description est deja dans mes cahiers, pour completer autant que possible le Catalogue des animaux de Maurice “J’ai lu cette description a la Societe d’Histoire Naturelle de Maurice le 13 Octobre 1829 et j’ai appele cet oiseau que je crois nouveau : Scolopax Mauritii J. D. “Sous le nom des lies d’Ambre on comprend encore plusieurs petits Hots d’une bien moindre etendue ; les deux principals apres la grande lie d’Ambre, sont l’lle Bernache au Nord ou l’on pent aller a pieds secs a maree basse, et l’lle Bois Martin au Sud-Est, aiusi nominee d’un habitant de ce nom qui y a ete enterre en 1820, comme l’indique la pierre tumulaire placee au milieu de cette lie et au pied d’un Eilao. (1) Hans ces deux Ilots le sable constitue presque la totalite des bords. Une di- zaine d’autres Ilots encore plus petits et couverts la plupart de mangliers ( Bhzophora mangle) sont submerges a chaque maree ; dans deux de ces derniers il y a deux passages de la largeur d’une petite pirogue et par ou nous avons passe. Les pecheurs les pronnent generalementpour abreger leur chemin. “C’cst k l’extremite du recif de l’lle d’Ambre et non de l’lle Plate, comme le dit M. Arago, (2) que se trouve la fameuse Passe dn St Geran, aiusi nominee de ce navire qui s’y est perdu par le plus beau temps du monde (3) le 17 Aout 1714 et dont la plume elegante de Bernardin de St Pierre a rendu a jamais celebres, et le naufrage et l’lle qui fait le sujet de ma lecture- Par les proces-verbaux conserves au Greffe de la Cour d’Appel on voit que les seuls individus echappes de ce naufrage ont atteri & l’lle d’Ambre, et y out memo reste quelques jours, Je (19 M, Bois-Martin dont parle ici Desjardins faisait partie de la Chambre Syndicale qui avait ete fondee sous le regime do la Compagnio et repre- sentait l’Assemblee Coloniale. Chacun des districts y envoyait un certain nombre de notables. La faillite d’un negociant nomme Neve cut lieu vers cette epoque. Bois- Martln etait un ami de Poivrc, et fut nomme Syndic de cctto faillite. D’un autre cdte, Neve etait l’ami dmDumaS On accusa l’oivro d’avoir, dans cette affaire, m ont re trop do severity il l’egard de Neve qui fut condamneau L i ' i carcan. — L. B. (2) Promenade autour du Monde, 2 vol. 8o, 1822. (3) Expressions do M. Mallao, Gazette do Maurice, 27 Aoflt 1821. — 41 — crois pouvoir ajouter, pour achever l’histoire et la description de ce petit Arcbipel, que l’Abbe de la Caille de l’Academie Royale des Sciences a determine le 19 Fructidor 1793, etant sur Pile d’Ambre, sa position geograpkique qui est par 20 ° 2’ 9” de latitude Sud et 55 ° 20’ 28” de longitude Est de Paris, a l’endroit, dit-il, oil la terre se termine sur les roebers. C’est le Jeudi 8 Octobre 1S29 que j’ai visite l’lle d’Ambre avec M. G-estin et mon compatriote et ami Th. Eouillard. Signe : Julien Desjardins, Secretaire de la Societe d’Histoire Naturelle de Maurice. Le Secretaire donne connaissance de la correspondance qui a eu lieu entre lui et le Dr. Vinson, en ce qui touche a la fleuraison de la Canne. Port-Louis, 9 Aoufc 1871. A Monsieur le Redacteur du Commercial Gazette. Monsieur, Veuillez reproduire dans votre journal une lettre que j’ai refue du Dr. Vinson, en reponse a quelques questions que je lui ai adressees touebant la fleuraison de la canne, et a savoir si les fleurs qu’elle produit donnent des graines, et si, le cas ecbeant, elles peuvent arriver a regenerer l’espece. J’ai souleve cette question, par cette raison qn’on m’a presente, m’a-t-on assure, des graines de Cannes qui avaient ete recueil- lies, puis ensuite plantees, et qui poussaient trks bien. La reponse du Dr. Vinson, ainsi que vous le verrez par un extrait de sa lettre, ayant ete lue b M. Ackille Bellier, celui-ci 1’invita a la communiquer a la Chambre d’Agriculture de la Reunion. Mais le President de la Chambre allant plus loin, prit l’initiative, et enlevant des mains du Dr. Vinson la lettre en question, la fit immediatement imprimer, sous le couvert de la Cbambre, dans le Moniteur de la Reunion. II est facile de voir a la teneur de cette lettre, qu’elle a ete ecrite sous I’impulsion desidefis ernises parun des plus grands naturalistes de notre epoque. Et, en effet la tbeorie de Darwin a, sans contredit, opere une revolution complete dans l’etude des sciences naturelles. Ses appreciations sur la creation des etres, l'ensemble de ses combinaisonB sur l’origine et l’unite de l’espece — ont ete developpees dans une loDgue serie de tra- vaux — et, bees les unes aux autres, ont forme un ensemble d’idees, qui lui ont servi a jeter bardiment les bases d’une science toute nouvelle. En voyant passer sous nos yeux ces transformations que les etres de la Creation ont, d’apres Darwin, subies pendant des siecles, soit par l’influence du temps, soit sous celle du milieu ou ils vivent, et du sol qu’ils babitent, on croit voir toutes les formes cbangeantes que presente le Kaleidos- cope— ou bien il nouB semble lire un conte fantastique d’Hoff- mann ou la maison forestiere d’Erckman Cbatrian. Que la tbeorie de Darwin, en tout cas, soit une utopie, une aberration de l’esprit, un leurre ou une fantaisie de l’imagina- tion (cette folle du logis) — il n’en faut pas moins convenir que Bi l’on se trompe, c’est se tromper en fort bonne et fort savante compagnie. Je vous ferai parvenir plus tard mes observations sur certains points de la lettre du Dr. Vinson, car toute grande regie gene- rale n’est pas sans exception. J’ai l’honneur d’etre, etc., L. Bouton. St. -Denis, lie de la Reunion, 3 Ao&t 1871. Mon cber M. Bouton, J’ai re^u votre lettre avec bien du plaisir, comme toujours. J’y avais fait une reponse, mais l’ayant lue a M. Acbille Bel- lier, il m’engagea comme un devoir h la publier et k en donner les premices a mon pays. Le President de la Cbambre d’Agri- culture fit plus, il me prit la lettre des mains et alia lui-meme la porter a I’imprimerie du Moniteur en publiant mes observa- tions sur la canne sous le couvert de la Chambre elle-meme. De cette fa9on et par cette suite de vicissitudes, vous lirez mieux ma reponse imprimee. Je ne crains pas d’avoir commis une indiscretion en publiant votre lettre et la mienne. CHAMBRE D'AGRICULTURE DE LA. REUNION. Session de 1871. La canne a sucre n’existe pas dans la nature- J’ai repu de M. Louis Bouton, l’eminent Secretaire de la Societe des Sciences et Arts de l’ile Maurice, lalettre suivante. J’ai pense que ma reponse port6e k la connaissance de la Chambre d’ Agriculture pouvait avoir quelque interet. Port-Louis, 28 Juillet 1871. A M. AUGUSTE YINSON Mon cber Docteur Vinson, “ Je ne sais sivous avez eu ponnaissance d’un petit travail que j’ai fait il y a quelques annees sur les Cannes exis- tant a cette epoque a Maurice. Je vous en fait parvenir un exemplaire, et k ce sujet, j’ai une on deux questions a vous faire. Vous les resolvez si habilement que c’est plaisir a moi de vous les adresser. Voici: J’ai cru remarquer, en principe, que les Cannes a noeuds allonges fleclient ou fleurissent tous les ans en mai et juin, et les Cannes il noeuds rapproches, gonfles au milieu, jamais. Mais voici qu’on vieut me dire que toutes les Cannes fleurissent partout, les gros noeuds commeles allonges. “ Avez-vous jamais entendu parler de graines de Cannes, qu’on veut cbercher a trouver quand meme pour les planter et en regenerer l’espece ? Veuillez me faire une reponse k cet egard.” Excusez-moi et croyez-moi votre bien aftectionn^. L. Bouton. Je reponds : Saint-Denis, le 13 juillet 1871. Mon cber M. Bouton, Je me suis toujours etonne d’une chose, c’est qu’on ait deja fabrique et consomme tant de sucre saus etre arrive a connai- tre l’origine premiere de la canne qui le produit. II m’a sem- ble qu’il etait assez interessant, si ce n’etait meme un devoir, — 44 pour les colons et les fabricants de sucre de rechercber d’ou leur yenait la plante qui fait leur mine ou leur fortune. Aussi cette question a ete pour moi un sujet de reflexions et d’etudes incessantes, et je crois etre arrive a la verite par l’observation des phenomenes qui s’y rattachent. Aujourd’hui les resultats auxquels je suis parvenu me paraissent satisfaire toutes les questions qui se posent a cet egard. Le nom de Saccharum officinarum donne a la canne a sucre n’est point un nom botanique, mais uu nom purement de con- vention. La canne a sucre n’est autre chose qu’une conquete de l’homme, une plante artificiellement coruposee par l’entrai- nement, un produit agricole tout humain. Abandonnee a elle-meme, la canne a sucre que l’humanite a faite en la pri- vant de ses moyens de reproduction, a coup surperirait. Elle ne se reproduit que par le travail incessant de Phomme qui est interesse a la perpetuet par bouture ; elle est l’oeuvre iddale, mais realises des generations anterieures, le produit d’un en- trainement multi-seculaire. Pour s’en convaincre, il suflit d’interroger l’histoire. Le sucre nous vient des peuples les plus anciennement industrieux de l’Asie et particuliferement de la Chine, la nation la plus vieille travailleuse du globe. C’est de lh. que la canne a dii se repandre dans les iles d’ou nous l’avons tiree, et d’ou nous viennent les especes les plus belles, les plus riches, et les plus perfectionnees. J’ai toujours ri de la naivete de ceux qui Jherchaient la graine de canne, par une raison toute simple : c’est que comme il a fallu l’accu- mulation des sifecles et le labour constant de generations indus- trieuses pour l’entrainement de ce vegetal loin de son type naturel, il faudrait pour l’y ramener une succession au moins egale de temps, d’eflorts et de faits constants dont les genera- tions ne sont point capables sans un interet direct, puissant et memo inconscient. Il faudrait defaire ce que l’on a fait ; redescendre lentement la pente par laquelle on est lentement monte. Il serait bon qu’on put se convaincre de cette verite : que loin d’obtenir des graines de canne pour en regenerer l’espece, il faudrait la degenerer pour en obtenir des graines : on marclierait a un but diamdtralemcnt oppose. D’ailleurs on ne l’atteindrait pas, il faudrait comme je l’ai dit, un travail multi-seculaire sur Pespece, et alors, 6 deception ! Si l’on y — 45 — arrivait: que trouveraifc-on P Une graminee vulgaire deja nom- inee sans doute par les botanistes. Or ce gramen pour moi n’est autre que le Sorgho. Le nom si pompeux de Saccliarum ofjicinarum tombe done de toute sa hauteur. La camue a sucre n’existe pas botanique- ment, e’est-a-dire naturellement, et e’est une conviction pro- fonde pour moi. Ce sont les hommes qui out fait cette plante, coinme je vous le disais en comme^ant, et cette plante artifi- ciellement composee, engraissee, denaturee a ce point de ne pouvoir reprendre ses formes, est une des plus belles conque- tes de l’homme sur la nature, une des merveilles les plus su- blimes que l’industrie et la puissance agricole aient jamais realisees. II a fallu cette douceur pour amener les generations a travailler comme les abeilles a produire ce miel humain qui s’appelle sucre. Or, tous les faits d’observations, d’etudes, de cultures, d’es- peces dispersees et variees resultant d’une espece unique, viennent corroborer l’exactitude de cette theorie. A la place du roseau primitif et originel, de ce gramen maigre, aux nceuds longs, a l’ecorce epaisse, aux feuilles deliees, etroites, tache- tees, tout absorbe par un panache enorme, pyramidal, qui en- traine la plante entiere sous son poids de grains monstrueux, ont succede une tige enflee et bien nourrie, des merithalles raccourcis et ventrus, une peau fine qui eclate sous un sue saccharin richement constitue, bien dote et succulent, des feuilles fraiches et harmonieuses, point de panache ou sirnple- ment un plumet soyeux, sterile ; e’est la tete rentree ou refou- lee dans le corps, comme le boeuf de Durham au profit des chairs, comme dans l’Hercule Farnese au profit de la force musculaire. C’est k n’en pas douter. Maintenant voyons ce qui se passe pour les especes de Can- nes qui font l’objet de votre travail et les frais de notre Indus- trie sucriere. Toutes vos observations viennent corroborer ma theorie sur l’origine de la canne a sucre. — Vous partagez les caunes a sucre en Cannes qui flechent ou qui fleurissent , et celles-la, constatez-vous, ont leurs nceuds plus allonges et leur ecorce plus dure. Pourquoi ? parce que, suivant moi, elles s’e- loioment moins du type naturel. Puis en Cannes qui ne fleu- rissent point, et celles-ci, constatez-vous encore, ont leurs — 46 — nceuds plus rapproches, plus enfles, leur ecorce moins dure. Pourquoi ? parce que, suivant moi, elles s’eloignent plus du type nature! — Les premieres sont plus rustiques que les se- condes, et les secondes, de meme que les races d’animaux les mieux domestiques, sont les plus accessibles aux maladies ; de meme aussi ces dernieres out ete les plus eprouvees par les epidemies qui ont envahi cette remarquable graminee ; si bien que les colons ont du, a leur supreme regret, abandonner sou- vent la culture des especes de Cannes les plus perfectionnees pour se restreindre par necessite a la culture des moins riches esp&ces. Je vous parlais de races d’animaux domestiques : on les a faites, ces races, toutes d’artifice, comme on a fait la canne. II faut toute la science humaine pour consentir h reconnaitre dans l’horrible animal que Ton nomme cheval sauvage et pri- mitif, dans sa toison blanche, fourree et.bouclee, dans sa tete informe et infame, dans ses sabots affreux, l’aieul bien eloigne, certes, du pur-sang anglais ou du berbere elegant et surtout de l’intelligent cheval arabe. II nous faut des efforts inou’is de bonne volonte pour voir sortir du chien hargneux de la nature, 1’exquise lorette ou le doux chien d’arret. Notre jolio canne sort de la meme fa9on du sorgho vulgaire. C’est mon avis. II faut done rayer ce nom de Saccharum officinarum, si vous voulez rester botaniste dans la force du terme. Seule- ment les animaux ne perdent pas, comme les vegetaux, la faculte de reproduire : c’est un apanage de l’animalite ; ils deviennent cependant moins feconds ou steriles en beneficiant de forme par l’hybridite. C’est a cette condition, il lo faut, que toutes nos belles roses sont sorties si riches de couleurs, si doubles de petales, si belles de grandeur, et si variees d’as- pect, si odorantes, enfin du sein de l’eglantier. Mais Buffon a dit depuis longtemps pour le serin des Cana- ries, tant travaille par l’homme, que e’etait un produit humain, un oiseau factice, et qu’il n’existait point tel dans la nature. Le ble n’a-t-il pas ete une creation du meme ordre ? Mais l’artifice s’y est pris en sens inverse : dans la canne, la graine disparait au profit de la tige ; dans le ble, la tige a du dispa- raitre au profit de la semen ce. Ici c’est l’hyperthrophie do la graine. L’art cn memo tomps a fa^onne pour uuo multiplica- tion indefinie par semonce. Admirable programme pleinement reussi. Ainsi done, chercher la graine de canne, e’est cher- cber un mytbe, une impossibility. La canne a aucre telle que nous la connaissons, ne peut gvainer. Elle existe dans une graminee si loin de ce que nous savons, que cette graminee qui n’a aucune ressemblance actuelle avec la canne a sucre, doit etre nommee. Cbercher les graines de canne a sucre dans le but de la re- genererpar des semis, e’est marcher vers un resultat diame- tralement oppose, qu’on n’atteindra point. On n’y arriverait que par la degenerescence prolongee, et aucun observateur ne vivrait assez de temps pour pouvoir arriver a ce terme et a ce but. C’est la bouturation — pardonnez-moi le mot — faite par les generations anterieures et successives qui ont produit la canne a sucre par deformation, par entrainement : e’est un produit artificiel et humain. La canne a sucre a son “ summun ” de perfectionnement ou d’ entrainement ne fleurit pas. La canne a sucre qui n’a pas atteint cette apogee et qui est moins loin du point originel , fleurit. La canne mixte qui est entre ces deux etats, fleurit sur un sol maigre et use et ne fleurit pas dans une terre privi- legiee (1). La canne a sucre presente de nombreuses varietes ou espe- ces issues toutes d’un type unique que nous croyons etre identique au sorgho. Les conditions geographiques et climateriques ont & la longue produit ces varietes ou especes. Plantes artificielles on ne peut qu’artificiellement les grouper dans une classification. En prenant pour classification la floraison, les bons obser- vateurs ont ete dans le vrai. Mais il faut 6tre entier et negli- ger les ressemblances. On peut de la sorte etablir trois group es ; ler. groupe. Les Cannes qui fleurissent. 2e. groupe. Les Cannes mixtes qui fleurissent dans un ter- rain aride et ne fleurissent pas sur un sol privilegie. (1) Observations de M. Charles Desbassayns. - 48 — 3e. groujpe. Des Cannes qui ne fleurissent jamais. Comme les inter- noeuds sont plus allonges chez les Cannes qui fleurissent ; plus ou moins longs chez les Cannes mixtes (qui fleurissent ou ne fleurissent pas, selon les conditions du terrain) et courts et plus enfles chez les Cannes qui ne fleuris- sent jamais, on aurait ainsi classe d’apres les caract&res plus vrais du moindre ou du plus grand perfectionnement de la plante, et cette classification qui indiquerait les degres de son entrainement serait plus conforme avec son origine. Cette classification, imaginee par M. Desbassyns, mise en pratique par M. Louis Bouton et regularisee par moi, en y ajoutant le groupe des mixtes, est une des meilleures preuves d’affirmation en faveur de latheorie que j’etablis sur l’origine reelle de la canne a sucre. (2) ” Votre bien devoue, Auguste Vinson. La lettre suivante estplacee sous les yeux de la Societe : Colonial Lecrctary’s Office 8th August 1871. Sir, I have the honor by direction of the Governor to transmit to you for the information of the Society of Arts and Sciences, copy of a Report by Mr. Consul Colnaglii, on a new method of suffocating chrysalids of silk-worms, invented by Professor Castrogiovanni, of Turin. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, W. H. Mabsh, Asst. Col Secretary The Secretary to the Society of Arts and Sciences. &e. &c. &c. (2) Pour etre juste envers tous ceux qui ont paye un tribut a la canne, je dois mentionner YEssai sur les varidtds de canne par mes amis E. ot C. Jacob de Cordemoy : c’nst une monographic conscienciouse. — La classifi- cation des Cannes y est dgalement fantaisiste : ces auteurs les divisent selon les couleurs en 3 gronpes ; cn blanches, en rayeos, en rouges. Arriltes devant le probleme des graines auxquelles il ne croient pas plus que moi, ils emottont l’idee que cette graminee pourrait bien ne sAtre reproduite naturellement que par le rhisome, ou racine. — 49 STANCE DU JEUDI 28 SEPTEMBER 1871. SOUS LA rnfiSlDENCE DE DnON. EMILIEN DUCBAT. Present: MM. C. E. Bewsher, Ch. Bruce, PI. C. Des- croizilles, N. Desjardins, Dr. A. Edwards, Dr. Le Juge, MM. P. Lemiere, F. Yanderraeersch, Y. Eobillard, L. Bouton, Secretaire. Apres la lecture du proces verbal de la derniere reunion et quelques modifications qui y ont ete faites, on passo au scrutin lc Major Edward Brooke, du Genie Boyal, ct M. Alfred Langlois, Caissierde District aux Plaines Wilhcms, qui sont recus mcmbrcs residents de la Societe. Le Secretaire donne connaissance du Rapport du Co- mite des Finances — cn reponse aux propositions qui lui avaient ete referees it la derniere seance. Le Comite ne reeommandc que la depense mensuelle de £1 a un employe qui serait charge de Pentreticn de la bibliotlieque de la Societe. Voici le Rappoi t : Comite dcs Finances de la Societe Koyale des Arts et des Sciences. Stance du 4 Septembre 1871, tome a V Hotel du G Oliver nemeut. Presents : Le Tresorier de la Societe, Secretaire du Coini- te, et Messieurs Henry Finniss ct Victor de Eobillard. M. Henry Finniss occupe le fauteuil cn l’absence du Presi- dent du Comite. Lu la communication du secretaire de la Societe demandant l’opinion du Comite des Finances sur les allocutions suivantes : lo. D’accorder une pension de £ 6 a £ 12 annuellement a la veuve d’Isidorc Le Gentil, ex-employe du Museum. Aucuna destination de fonas n’avant jamais etc prevue au budget pour un pared objet, le Comite ne peut recommander une pareille demande. 2o. De fairo uno depense mensuelle do £ 1 pour un employe — 50 — qui scrait charge do l’entreticn do la bibliotheque de la Soeio- te, d’en dresser un catalogue ct do copier et transcrire les let- trcs du Secretaire et les documents que celui-ci jugera ueces- sairc de conservcr. be Comite recommcade cetto depense. 3o. l)e coutribuer annuellemeut pour la sonnne do £ 28 mix appointcments d'un assistant au Direeteur du Museum. Lo Gouvernement ayaut lui-mumo liberalcmeut pris a sa charge, les appoiutements de cct assistant cotnme Pune des dcpenics qui concerncnt le Museum, et la Societe n’ayant qu’un budget restreint, le Comite se voit avee regret daus Pimpossibditc do rccoinuiandcr unc pareills contributiou.” A, DESEJNNE, Secretaire du Comite des Finances. M. V. Robillard presente un specimen dc Crustace du genre Kanina et qu’il eroit constituer unc especc uouvclle. JusqtPiei, dit M. llobillard, “ nous no commissions a. Maurice que la lianina deututa, rncutioiinec et deerite par plusieurs auteurs depuis longtemps.” “ L’espccc que jc presente a ete trouvee it Pilot Barkly, elle differe de la lianina dental* paries antennes ct elle a de Panalogic avee unc cspece du genre Albunea, qui cxiste dans les mers de PIndc. “ Cette cspece dc Raniua cst de petite proportion ct sc fait rcinarqucr par sa forme elegante et par Paspcct brill an t dc sa carapace qui est couvertc de granulations et dont le haut cst orne cPune veritable eouronne ; en raison dc cettc particularity je propose it la Societe de dormer it cctte especc le nom de lianina coronata, a moius qiPellc n’ait etc trouvee dans une autre loca’ite ct qiPon cn ait deja fait la description.” La comniunication suivantc cst faite par M. II. C. Dcscroizilles : “ J’ai lo plaisir d'infonner la Socicto quo jo viens, par la Made partie lo 22 courant, d’expodicr aux ilea Seychelles, des — 51 oeufs de vers-a-soie, ainsi quo quelques brochures; le tout pour y etre distribue par les soins du Civil Commissioner, m’etaot adresse au Gfouvernement Local qui a bien voulu lui recommauder ce petit envoi. “ Consultant avoir entierement rcmpli mon mandat de pro- pagateur et ayant eleve pendant lc mois (0 educations) dans le but unique de distribuer dcs ceufs, je devais — en raison de la difficulte que j’ai, elevant a la ville, d’avoir toujours sous la main les feuilles fraiches de la qualite requise pour bien faire, — cesser d'elever a la ville et laisser la charge aux nouveaux educateurs ; mais des amis a qui j’ai fait part de cette inten- tion et qui envisagent l’i inplantation de la Serigene comme devant constituer un grand avantago et meme un bienfait pour les classes pauvres et necessiteuses, m’ont fortement engage a ne cesser que quand il y aura quelqu’autre etablissement se- rieux a l’oeuvre. “ Car," mo disent ils, “ il faut, quo pour V in- dust ria prenne un cssor dejinitif et desirable, que le public puis- se toujours clre d meme d' apprecier par lui- me me ; en d'autres terries il fandrait un etablissement ouvert d tons venants, et tant qu'il n'y en aura pas un dans cette condition speciale, il ne faut pas que vous cessiez, puisque c-eux qui veulent experimenter out toujours trouve aupres de vous des renseignements et des ceufs que vous seul pouvez fournir actuellement. ” Peut-etre que mes amis ne se trompent pas sur ce dernier point surtout, car on vient journellement, me deminder des ceufs, et aussi des ren- seignements, les quels setrouvent cependant consignes dans la Brochure publiee dans le but special de les fournir par ecrit * Force a done ete de continuer ; ce que je fais provisoirement, attendant des oeufs du Japon dont il faudra faire les leres educations. “ Il est a regretter que je n’aie pas le loisir d’operer,en ayant des muriers sous la main, voulant travailler d’uue maniere speciale avec ces eeufs et faire voir l’avantage — dont les Japo- nais, les Californiens, les Syriens, les Egyptiens &a., ont su eux, s’approprier de suite — qu’il y a surtout pour les potits Educateurs a produire des oeufs au lieu de soie, ce qui neces- siterait une moins grande quantite de muriers, et donnerait des resultats trois ou quatre fois decuples. Pour bien reussir — 52 il est vrai, dans ce genre de travail, il faut d’abord le temps ne- eessaire (j’en ai malheureusement fort peu de disponible), puis il faut des feuilles de mfirier de ckoix, fraiebes et sous la main, et quelques conuaissanees speciales que je suis a etudier et a tacher de recueillir : A cet eftet, je suis dans le moment meme a traduire le Rapport adresse de Yokohama au Foreign Office, par M. Adams, Secretaire de la Legation de Sa ftlajeste au Japon : M. Adams en compagnie de trois autres gentlemen, dont deux Francais, representants de deux maisons influentes au Japon, a voyage dans l’interieur dans les districts Serici- coles, et a une distance de 280 a 300 milles au moment de l’education des vers a soie : Il donne des renseignements pre- cieux sur la culture du murier, (gencralementles muriers sont conduits au Japon, en haies et buissons) sur l’education des vers, le “ Grainage ” et le Filage (J’ai dresse 1c plan d’un Tour japonais au raoyen de ce Rapport) : Ces renseignements out pour moi une grande valeur ; en regard de cet interessant Memoire, j’en ai mis un autre tout aussi interessant, celui de la Commission ou mieux de la Mission Italienne, dont M. le comte de La Tour, ministre de lTtalie au Japon, etait president. M. de La Tour aceompagne de Mme la Comtesse de La Tour et de deux gentlemen Italiens, a voyage et visite aussi une grande etendue des districts sericoles au Japon, en memo temps, que M. Adams, mais dans une direction opposee : do sorte que ces deux rapports vous donnent en quelquo sorte l’bis- torique de l’industrio serigene au Japon : Yous comprendrez combien alors, ces documents ont do prix pour ceux qui cber- chent b approfondir toutes les methodes connues, afin do preconiser des principes qui pourront assurer le succes, d’uno si belle Industrie que celle de la soie, (qui dans lc monde oc- cupe des millions d’individus,) dans un pays oil elle s’annonco aussi bien qu’a Maurice. Dans le rapport d’Adams, il y a la traduction, du Japonais en Anglais, d’une methode donnde par un Japonais — remplio d’interet — quand j’aurai aclieve la tra- duction de ces documents je ferai en sorte de les fairo publier par le concours de la Presse Mauricicnne queje ne saurais trop remercicr de no m’avoir jamais fait defaut pour ce qui concerne cette Industrie quo tous les peuples qui s’en occu- pant, considerent comme Industrie nationale. — 53 — l‘Voua savez, Messieurs que du Japon, (eomrae de la Cali- fornie, de la Syrie et de l’Egyte, maintenant) il s’expedie des quantites formidable3 d’ceufs, pour des millions do piastres par an. De 1869 a 1870, il en a ete expedie prbs de deux millions cinq cent mille onces ; L’once contient environ 40,000 ceufs lesquels, au detail, valaient en Janvier 1S70, a Londres, de 25 a 30s. l’once. (Lettre du Secretaire du “ Silk Supply As- sociation.”) Il y a a Yokohama des agents speciaux, Pra^ais et Italiens, pour l’expedition de ces enufs, et e’est de l’Agent italien que j’en attends, grace a la complaisanco d’un de mes amis, negotiant de notre place. En Erance, d’apres Ies jour- naux qui me sont communiques, on est anxieux de recevoir des ceufs de plusieurs provenances. Yous comprondrez, d’apres ces details, que j’ai cru convenalde de vous mettre sous les yeux, de quelle importance il pourrait etre pour nos Sericicul- teurs, d’adopter cette brancke qui parait si lucrative : J’ai demande et j ’attends des renseignement precis a ce sujet,de M. l’lntendant de la Sericiculture cn Erance. Si l’lndustrie doit s’implanter ici, ce serait un bon moyen de former d’ex- cellents dducateurs, et avec le surplus des cocons— tous ne convenant pas au grainage — on pourrait faire devider, et former en meme temps des fileuses ; de cette maniere on arriverait a recueillir, presqu’au debut de !a plantation, des produits qui seraient important?, et on pourrait aussi four- nir de bons ceufs aux educateurs do Maurice : Les ouvriers etant ainsi formes, on pourrait quand il y aura suffisance de muriers, exploiter en grand et faire de la soieacoup stir. Mais pour convaincre on dira : il faut des preuves materielles : Il faudra des preuves corame celles exbibees dernierement a l’Ex- position qui ont satisfait les plus incredules ; e’est tres vrai, mais pour arriver a fournir ces nouvelles preuves il faut natu- rellement avoir sous la main tout ce qui est essentiel. “ Les ceufs, ]e le repete, forment un cbjet d’une importance absolue en sericulture ; e’est la, la base de toute bonne educa- tion. On le reconnait par ce qui se passe deja ici meme ; aussi j’etudie cette question minutieusement : Jo crois meme avoir trouve un mode d’amolioration qui me reussit parfaitement ; Je dis trouve , n' ay ant rien vu do semblable dans les procedes Fraucaisj I /aliens, Chino is et Japonais : Je vois que ceux qui font leurs ocufs — a une ou deux exceptions pres— ne produi- sent que des cocons geueralement inferieurs de beaucoup aux miens ; c’est qu’il n’attachent aucune importance aux oeufs et qu’ils puisent en outre leurs preceptes d’educatiou, dans des ouvrages auciens et rediges pour l’Europe, et qu’ils appliquent tels quels. “ La culture du murier l’eleve du ver, n’ont certes rien do difficile ; mais toujours est-il que dans les pays ou l’industrie est nouvellement implantee, comine l’Australie ou la Califor- nie, ou dans ceux oil quoiqu’ancienne, elle a besoin d’etre amelioree, comme dans l’lnde, la Chine, le Japon, les divers Grouvernements font tout pour son avaucement perfectionne ; dans l’lnde on voit beaucoup do sericiculteurs Europeens, en- seigner aux natifs, Aux portes de Pondichery on voit le bel etablissement “ Perrottet” : au Japon on commence a adopter les methodes Europeennes pour le filage surtout. “ En Californio, le Grouvernement accorde des Primes consi- derables pour la plantation comme pour la production, et pro- bablement la culturo du murier enrichira les planteurs de la surface du sol, d’uue manicre plus permanente que les mines d’or du sous-sol, qui s’epuisent apres un certain temps d’ex- ploitation. “ D’un autre cote, on me demande des ecliantillons pour lea expedier en Europe : Je ne le ferai que quand, pouvant faire travailler d’arrache-pied, je pourrai aussi produire des echan- tillons pour aller directement en manufacture, soul moyen de fixer la valeur reelle de nos soies. D’autres pourront trouver opportun d’en agir differemment ; Libre a eux ; pour moi, il me suffit de savoir que mes soies, deja soumises au ‘‘Silk Supply Association,” out ete trouvees belles et bonnes. II me suffit de savoir par mes propres epreuves, (pie mes cocons au devidarje, sont excellent : Le reste viendra plus tard, je l’espere, car des planteurs serieux dont plusieurs se sont mis en rapport avec moi, quand j’ai annonce que je me ebargerais plus tard do faire agencer maguaneries et filaturo?, et de former des eleves, font planter des muriers avec l’idee do les utiliser plus tard eu faisant clever par les femmes et lesenfants de leurs laboureurs, — 0 J qu’ils lixeraient par ce moycn au sol d’une maniere. permanente; le bois a la taillc, et le fumier des resides, lcs paioraient et au- dela de tous leurs ddbourscs pour la plantation, etc., etc. “ Je crois aussi devoir donner avis a la Socidte, quo plusieurs personncs paraisscnt i'ort desireuses d’avoir dcs tcufs du ver- a-soie qui se nourrit d^s feuilies du Ilicin, du Massonier (Zizyphus Jujuba), du Badamier et do I’Ambrcvade : Los premiers, ceux du Bicin, out deja etc demandds dans l’lnde. Ceux de3 deux deraieres especes out etc deni muds a Madagas- car : mais je ne vois arriver ni lcs uns, ni lcs autres ; peut etre alors si la Socidte apprdcie les avantages qui p urrnient rdsul- ter de l’introduction dc ccs especes, prendrait clle l’initia- tive de son cote, pour faire b s d; mandes. L:-s vers du Biein me sont demandds par un respectable Curd de campagne, que je suis beureux, tier memo j’njouterai, de compter au noinbro de mes adeptes eu Serieieulture. 11 liabite nu quartier bride, ou il n' ij a pas d’ean, mats beuucvujj de pauvres, le Ilicin y rdus- sit vito et bien, mais pas le M urier: 11 me dit que les pauvres elevant ces vers \ ourraient filer la soie au t'uscau, et avoir en outre un autre revenu en faisant de l’huile avee lcs graines du Bicin; il a parfaitement raison. La memo pla te donnerait done deux produits faciles a obtenir. Il en scrait de meme de l’ambrevade qui donnerait lui quatre benefices diifdrents : lo. L’assolemeut reconnu nccessaire ; 2o. La sole provenant des vers nourris de ses feuilles et tilde au iuseau; 3o. Les graines a consommer vertes ou seclies ; 4o. Dubois a feu. “ J’ai cru convt nable, Messieurs, d’entrer avec vous daus les details qui precedent, parce qu’i’s prurront nous mettre tous a meme d’apprdcier mail, tenant l’ctat aetuel dc l’industrie sdri- cicole a Maurice: <7e V avals annonceo comma possible, je crois avoir prouva cola d' ana maniere Svidente et jc crois 1’avoir pla- ede telle qu’elle devait l’etre, pour etre apprdcide a sa juste valeur ; ma responsabilite est done parfaitement k l’abri main- tenant. Il ne faudrait pas voir compromcttre cettc industrie naissantc, mais si riche d’avenir : Si j'ai fait voir les roses je n’ai point masque lcs Spines, je les signale au contraire, en indi- quant cc qu’il faut faire pour les eviter. D’autrcs qui n’ont jamais eleve, peuvent dire que lout cst cxccssivemcut facile at — 56 — que V experience pratique ne sijnijle nen: — II ten n'est plus facile que defaire, mais on pout faire mal on bien. — Chacun est libre de penser a sa fa^on : Pour moi qui etudie et pratique depuis longtemps, je crois avoir encore besoin d’apprendre, et je crois fermement qu’on ne peut acquerir lea connaissances requises qu’en pratquant, et en tacliant d’appliquer arec discernement, les preceptes et les methodes des Dandolo, des Bonafous, des Camille Beauvais, des Aubert, des Perrottet, etc., etc., e’est-a- dire d’hommes, qui out consacre leur vie entiere, au develop- pement et aux progres d’une Industrie, consideree a juste titre par eux pour leur pays respectif, comme ctant la premiere de toutes les industries agricoles.” • II. C. D. M. C.E. Lewshcr lit ala Societe une lettre qu’il are9ue, du Dr. Baker dc Londres, lui donnant des renseignements . sur differentes especes de Fougeres qui lui avaient ete adressees pour etre examinees. La lettre se termine ainsi : “ Will you thank Dr Cattell for his note and tell him “ that Sir Henry and Lady Barkly quite intend to publish “ a revised list of the Mauritian Ferns. They have taken “ great pains to make the list as complete as possible and “ to hunt up the species which have not been seen lately.5’ Yoici la lettre du Dr. Laker ; “ C. E. Bewshee, Esqre., “ July, March 1871. ‘‘ My dear Sir, “ Neither of the two Perns you have kindly sent me are new, the Hymcnopliyllwn is pendulum of Bory, which is clearly identical specifically with H. Uncare Sir. of Tropical America. I had not seen a Mauritian specimen when Synopsis Filicum was printed, but we got it soon after from Dr Meller. It is a curious instauce of a broken distribution, as the plant is not anywhere else except in America. “ The Trichomanes is Foeniculaceum. Will you thank Dr Cattell for his note and tell him that Sir Henry and Lady Barkly quite intend to publish a revised list of the Mauritian Lems. They have taken great pains to make the list as com- plete as possible and to hunt up the species which have not been seen lately. Of Bojer’s about which he inquires the fol- lowing are such as I can give synonyms for, according to Sy- nopsis Tilicum Uymenophyllimi riccioefolium. H. emersum. Aspidium Mascarense Nephr odium froncatum. Aspidium cruciatum Polyp'odium Bojeri. Polypodium laejopodioides Polypodium Lycopodioides. ” Mai y male | p, lanceolatum. „ Macrocarpon ... ) Adiantimfumarioid.es P. OetJiiopicum. “ Believe me, your3, “ J. L. Baker.” La lettre suivante est communiquee par le Secretaire : “ Stockholm Sweden, Oct. 1870. The Secretary to the Royal Society of Arts Sf Sciences, Mauritius .” “ Sir, “ The Royal Academy ot Sciences in Stockholm who is very anxious to enter in communication with the men of science, sent a time ago a parcel containing their latest publications to you, caro of Messrs. Longman & Co. in London, hoping that you would kindly receive them. As the Messrs. Longman & Co. wrote back that they did not know your direction, and consequently were unable to forward the parcel to you, I now take the liberty of asking you how in case you are willing to receive our publications, these may be sent to you most cheap- ly and most conveniently. If, as I suppose, you have an agent in London, the parcel would be best sent to him. ‘‘The Academy does not necessarily expect your publications in return, yet I feel bound to state that your works would not only be most welcome to our Academy, but also that by 58 — sending them to us you would perform an actual service to science, in as much as our library contains exclusively works on the Natural Sciences, and already embraces a collection of more than 40,000 volumes. Our agents in London are Messrs. Longman & Co. “Hoping to receive a favorable reply from you, I remain your “ Most respectfully “ J. A. AHLSTRAND, “ Librarian to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm.” Le Secretaire donne communication de la correspon- dance suivante : — A M, le Redacteur du Commercial Gazette* Monsieur, La lettre que j’ai 6crite le mois dernier au Dr. Vinson et la reponse qu’il m’a faite par le Moniteur cle la Reunion ont ete reproduites dans votre journal et soumises a l’appreciation des planteurs-sucriers de notre lie. Ils n’ont pas paru, ce me semble, beaucoup s’en preoccuper, et cette question que quel- ques uns considerent etre d’une grande importance, it savoir si les Cannes donnent des grains et peuvent ounon, regenerer l’espece, cette question a passd a l’ordre du jour. Et cependant il m’a ete presente de ces soit-disant graines ; on m’a dit qu’on les avait semees, qu’elles avaient parfaite- ment pousse et doune des pieds magnifiques ; on m’a propos6 de venir les voir, si j’en doutais, etc. Jo rendrai compte plus tard de ces pretendues graiucs quand l’examen en aura ete fait ici, ii Londres, et a Genevo. A l’ile de la Reunion cette question de la canne, de ses graines, et de Paaomalio de la plante, et l’opinion un peu hardie, emise par le Dr. Vinson, ont ete prises eu tres s^rieuse consideration. Lc Dr. Jacob de Cordemoy, dans un travail remarquab!e adresse au Dr. Vinson et public dans la Reforme Liberale, a refute quelques-unes des idees avancees par le Dr. Vinson. — 59 — Vous pouvez voir dans cette communication que je vous prie de reproduire dans le Commercial Gazette, les points prin- cipally sur lesquels les Drs. "Vinson et Cordemoy tombentl’un et l’autre d’accord, et les dissidences d’opinion qu’ils emettent sur d’autres points. Selon le Dr. Jacob la canne ne descend pas du Sorgho qui en serait le type d’apres le Dr. Vinson, mais elle est it present ce qa’elle a toujour3 ete, se reproduisant de bourgeons (ceils ou oeilletons) ou de rhizomes (tiges souterraines), mais nulle- raent de graines, puisqu’elle n’eu a pas et n’en a jamais eu. II cite a l’appui de son assertion plusieurs plantes it l’etat sauvage et poussant dans les forets, se reproduisant non pas de graines, mais a l’aide d’autres organes appeles bulbilles, rhizo- mes, coulants, &a., &a. Nous avons ici, en dehors de la Vanille et du Cassia, alata connu sous le nom de Rateping dont la fecondation n ’a lieu que par des moyens artificiels, nous avous d’autres plantes dans l’etat sauvage dont la reproduction ne s’ophre pas par des grai- nes, puisqu’elles en sont depourvues,mais par d’autres moyens que la nature a mis it leur disposition, et dont les resultats sont tout aussi efficaces. Veuillez cxcuser la place que j’ai prise dans les colonues de votra journal, et surtout y laisser assez d’espace pour inserer les deux lettres du Dr. Jacob de Cordemoy. J’ai l’honneur d’etre, votre obeissaut serviteur, L. Bouton. LETTEE AU Du. AUGUSTE VINSON. Mon cher Vinson, L’autre jour, en achevant la lecture de votre lettre a M. Bouton, je m’etais propose de causer avec vous sur la question de la canne. L’arrivee de la Malle, la lecture des discours de M. Thiers et de Gambetta avaient attire ailleurs mon atten- tion. Notre ami Bories, dont je viens de lire l'article, me ramcne a l’interessant sujet quo vous avez aborde. Je devais, vous l’avouerai-je, vous quereller aussi quclque peu sur i’idee de faire descendre la canne du Sorgho. Cette conception par trop fantaisiste, serait de la part de tout autro une pure kere- sie ; mais evidemment c’est uu simple lapsus poetique, uu entrainement , si vous le voulez, de votre plume. L’auteur des Araneules des Mascareignes sait trop bien la valeur du Genre, cette base detoute classification en kistoire uaturelle, pour admettre sorieusement la filiation entre deux plantes separees par des differences d’organisation florale tres-notables. Mais je ne veux pas renouveler les observations du Dr. Bories & ce propos, Tenez done pour bien certain qu’il y a un groupe d’especes qu’il faut absolument reunir en un genre particulier qui a refu de Liunee le uora do Sacchamm. Ces especes sont au nombre de vingt-deux, parmi lesquelles trois seulement sont les Cannes sucrees. Yous voyez que pour “ rester botaniste dans la force du terme,” il ne convient nullement de rayer co genre parfaite- meDt distinct, par la disposition des organes de la fleur, du genre Sorgho ( Idolcus ). Si la canne ne descend pas du Sorgho, quelle est son origine ? Voila la question *qui a ete, quoi que vous en disiez, l’objet de recherches tres-nombreuses, tres-completes, de la part de beaucoup de botanistes et de voyageurs, et dont le resultat est celui-ci : II y a trois esphees du genre Canne cultivees pour leur jus sucre : Ce Saccliamm officinarum, L. dont vous voulez renverser le nom “ pompeux,” et qui comprcnd toutes nos Cannes sucrieres ; Le S. violaceum notre Canne noire, devenue fort rare, et que Tussac a erigee en espece,parceque les glumes ont 4 nervures, au lieu d’une seule comme celles de la canne ordinaire ; enfin le S. Sinense, la Canne Botin, qui nous a ete envoyee de Saigon, et dont les caracteres specifiques decrits par Eoxburgk parais- sent valables. C’est i’especo cultivee de temps immemorial en Chine. Or, nulle part, ni dans l’Asie meridionale quo l’on considero comme la ])atrio originairo do la canne commune, ni meme dans ces lies inhabited dont parle Bories, ot oil pourtant il n’a pas ete etabli quo la canne fut positivement spontanee, on n’a trouve de gruines fertiles a ccs especes. Eoxburgk et 61 — nombre d’autres se sontlivres aux recherches les plu3 assidues, et ces recherches n’ont abouti h rien. La graine de Cannes n’existo pas, c’est un fait demontro. Le docteur Bories allegue bion qu’il a lu la description de la graine de Cannes. En effet, certains livres de botanique disent : Semen, Glabrum, Semence Glabre, etc. “ Et cette “ semence ” existe en effet, visible a l’ceil nu. Ce qu’on appelle ainsi, c’est le fruit, le cwriopse, comme dans les autres graminees, parce- que en general la graine est soudee aux enveloppes. Seule- ment celui de la canne ne renfernie jamais qu’un rudiment d’ovule ; voila toute la question. Les botanistes descripteurs n’avaient pas h creer un mot nouveau pour ce cas, et ils out dit Semen sans se preoccuper de la fertilite ou de l’infertilite. Notre confrere revient egalement sur Fassertion de Bruce. Mais on a explique depuis longtemps la singuliere meprise do ce voyageur, et cette explication figure tout au long dans l’ou- vrage de Leonard "VVray sur la canne a, sucre. Bruce dit bien : “ Ici, en Egvpte, les Cannes poussent de graioes.” Or, tout le monde sait qu’on Egypte, pas plus qu’ailleurs, les Cannes ne poussent de graines. D’oii vient done l’erreur de Bruce ? Tout eimplement de ce qu’on lui montra de3 '• semis ” de Cannes, et qu’il en infora que ces semis avaient levd de graines. LeonardWrayfaitremarquera.ee propo3 l’emploi general de ce mot semis, usite ici egalement pour designer cette reserve de plants de Cannes qu’on fait “ germer ” en planches pour les remplacements. Done, l’allegation de Bruce est sans valeur. La seule raison theorique qu’on puisse donner en faveur de l’existence de la graine de Cannes est celle que represente Bories, a savoir, la presence de nombreuses varietes. “ Les varietes, dit-il, ne s’obtiennent que par semences ; et le bou- turage reproduit exactement le pied-mere.” Cela a ete en effet admis longtemps, et c’est, on doit le dire, le cas le plus general. Mais il faudrait se garder d’en faire une loi. La variation par les bourgeons est un fait parfaitement connu et demontre. Sur les Prunicrs, les Pechers, les Cerisiers, les Pommiers, les Poiriers, la Yigne, etc., l’on a vu certains bourgeons so couvrirdo fruits tre3-differents deceux portes jusques-ld par la plante mere, et cela fut l’origino do varietes nouvelles. Pareil 62 pbenomene, quant aux feuillesct aux fleurs, (et par consequent la sexualite n’y etant pour rien) se procluit assez souvent sur les Camdlia,les Azalees, les Rosiers, les Pelargonium , etc. On a observe a Saint-Domingue, un regime de bananes portant de grosses Agues ordinaires et des Agues ressemblant a notre va- riate name. Beaucoup de varietes de pommes de terro, comment ont-elle, ete obtenues P Par variation spontanee des bourgeons (les yeux des tubercules). II serait facile de citer de nombreux cas de cette variabilite par les bourgeons, consignes dans les ouvrages speciaux. Mais n’avons-nous pas ici meme des exemples frappants de ces changements survenus sur des plantes exclusivement pro- pagees par bourgeons ? La Ague-banane, dont nous parlions tout-a-l’heure, a subi sous les yeux de notre generation des variations notables. Qui n’a entendu dire par les creoles que la Ague dite Gabou n’est plus ni par sa taille, ni par la saveur du fruit, ce qu’etait la plante primitivement importee. Elle a varie si bien que dejit Ton en compte plusieurs sortes tres distinctes. Les autres varietes, du reste, ont-elles ete obtenues de graines ? Non, evidemnent. Et la canne elle-meme, n’a-t-elle pas varie sous nos yeux ? Comparez notre ancienne canne blanche, telle qu’elle croit encore ici, avec celle que Ton cultive a Mayotte, et qui descend de la notre. Des differences bien marquees se sont produites dtp. Le bourgeon n’est done pas tou jours, chez les plantes cul- tivees, la reproduction Adele dela forme parentc. Si la variation par la graine, determinee par 1’inAuence sexuclle, cst toujours plus facile, surtout en-raison de l’hybridation, si le type speci- Aque s’ebranle malaisement dans la reproduction par bour- geons, en revanche, une fois la resistance vaincue, la variation, on l’a remarque, est alors plus profonde et plus desordonnee. Entre le bourgeon d’ailleurs et l’ovule, il n’y a pas, vous le savez, une difference absolue ; en pliilosophie naturelle, ils sont consideres comme de memo nature. L’imprognation sexuelle qui modiAe l’un, a pour equivalent chez l’autre Tin' fluence du monde ambiaut : climat, temperature, sol, Ihumidite, dectricit^, lumibre etc. — 63 — J’en conclue que la presence de nombreuses varietes do Cannes n’implique pas l’existence de graines sur le vegetal primitif, et peut etre le simple resultat de la variation des bourgeons. Un vegetal peut-il done n’avoir jamais porte de graines ? Et l’absence actuelle de semences fertiles peut-elle etre non pas le fait de la culture, de la bouturation, de l’entrainement* comme vous dites, mais un fait naturel, propre a la canne ? C’est ce que nous examinerons dans une proebaine lettre, si vous le voulez bien. Dr Jacob de Coedemoy. II Mon cher Vinson, La canne, disais-je dans ma premiere lettre, ne porte de graines fertiles nulle part ; nous sommes d’accord sur ce point, mais est-cela le resultat d’une culture seculaire, comme vous le pensez, laissant ainsi aux cbercbeurs de graines de Cannes l’espoir qu’en quelque coin recule du globe peut se trouver encore l’ancetre inculte muni de semences fertiles — ancetre toutefois autre que le Sorgbo ? — N’estce pas au contraire, une privation native, une infertility originelle ? C’est probablement dans ce dernier cas que se trouve la verite. Nulle difficult^, en effet, pour admettre qu’une plante peut se produire ot se propager autrement que par les graines, lors- que sous une influence quelconque, cliangement de climat, ou pour toute autre cause, etc., elle a perdu la faculte de les murir. Les exemples abondent. La Jussicea grandiflora, plante aquatique, natiiralisee dans le midi de la France, s’y est repandue au point de devenir un obstacle a la navigation ; et cependant elle ne produit jamais do graines fertiles, et se propage par ses rhizomes. La Eicaire ne se reproduit en France et en Angleterre que par ses bul- billes. La Monnoy^re ( Lysimachia nummularia) en France, la Pervenche en Angleterre, se propagent par leurs coulants et 64 ne portent pas do graines. Do mome pour V Hypericum caVyeimim qui n’a pour so produire quo la ressource do sos rhi- zomes. L 'Acorns calamus, qui s’etond sur une grande partie du globe, est dans le meme cas. Dans notre pays memo, on pourrait citer plusieurs exemples. Connaissez-vous beaucoup do plantes plus envahissantes quele grand Aloes ( Fourcroya gigantea) ? So reproduit-il de graines ? Nullement. Co sont des bulbille3 doveloppes pres des fleurs, a l’aisselle des bractees, qui se sernent partout en abondance. N’avez*vous pas vu la Sonze caraibe ( Allocasia Boryi ) croitre partout dans les cours, lesjardius, les champs P De graine ? Nod, vous le savez ; d’un fragment de racine. Bien d’autres exemples pourraient etre ajoutes aux prece- dents, mais sans utilite, car toutes ces plantes, me direz-vous, ne sont pas autochthones et ne so trouvent pas dans leurs con- ditions naturelles. Soit. Aussi vous citerais-jo maintenant des plantes sauvages, indigenes, qui ne portent jamais de graines. L’une des plus curieuses est une petite Orcliidee tres-commu- ne appelee par les creoles Petite carambole (Bulb ophy llum nutans). On la rencontre partout, dans les hauts et dans les bas. Sos coulants entourent tous los arbres. Et pourtant nulle part et jamais on ne rencontre un fruit fecond. Nous devons au savant M. Ch. Frappier la connaissance de ce fait que nous avons cent fois verifie. Vous avez sans doute mange quelquofois d’un legume assez delicat, le bulbille du J) ioscorca bulbifera qu’ on appelle Pomme- en-l'air ou Hof. Eli bien, il y en a une espece iudigene non comestible qui ne so reproduit aussi que par un bulbille, et qui ne porte jamais ni fleurs ni fruits. Peut-etre avez vous aussi quelquefois jete les yeux sur les fleurs du petit Trefle rose ( Oxalis corymbosa) qui croit partout ? Avez-vous remarque que les fleurs sont doubles et ne donnent naissance a aucun fruit ? Yoila encore une plante sauvago, particuliere a notre lie, et dopourvuo de graines. Comment done se reproduit-elle ? par los inombrables petits caieux qu’on voit & l’aisselle des feuilles lo long do la tigo souterrainc. 11 no mo resto plus qu’a vous citer l’exemplo d’un fait sem- blable sur une esptteo sauvago du genre Saccharum , et cet exemple existe. (55 — J’avais lu dans la Flora indiea do Roxburgh, it propos du SacaJiarum spontaneum qui croit dans les lieux marecageux de l’Inde, ces mots : “ Jo n’ai jamais vu les graines mures.” Pourquoi Roxburgh n’avaifc-il jamais vu ces graines, qu’il lui etait facile de se procurer ? Cette reflexion me fit emettredans 1’ opuscule sur les Cannes, que mon frere Camille et moi nous avons public, l’hypothese que le Saccharum spontaneum etait naturellement depourvu de graines, et que la propagation s’o- perait exclusivement par le rhizome dont la plante est munie. J’ai eu le plaisir de voir ee fait confirme l’anueo derniere par le professeur Brongniart. Dans une seance de la Societe cen- trale d’ Agriculture, cet illustre botaniste allegua precisement ce fait du Saccharum spontaneum, qui, a l’etat sauvage et dans son marecage natal ne produit jamais de semences fertiles, pour nier l’existence de la graine des Cannes sucrieres. Voila pourquoi, mon cher Vinson, j ’incline it croire que l’ab- sence de graines fertiles n’est pas le resultat de la culture fort ancienne de la canne a sucre, mais un fait primordial, naturel, comme dans la Canne spontanee qui n’est pourtant pas sucree. Et ceci tend a enlever a la canne ce caractere tout artificiel que vous lui croyez. Quelle ait etc perfectionnee, e’est tres- certain ; d’aucuns disent meme que le sol de notre He y con- tribua quelque peu. Mais qu’elle ait subi une telle transfor- mation que le parent originaire n’ait plus avec elle la moindre ressemblance, cela n’est pas admissible. Voyez la Canne cldnoisc, exclusivoment cultivee en Chine et depuis les temps les plus recules , elle n’est toujours qu’un Rotin parce qu’elle est nee Rotin. L’origine de nos vegetaux cultives n’est pas toujours dans quelque espbee sauvage transformee artificiellement, comme vous semblez l’admettre. Bories a eu bien raison de dire qu’il n’en est rien quant au Ble que, d’apres quelques essais d’Esprit Eabre, on disait etre le descendant d’une mauvaise herbe, VJEgilops triticoides. De grands naturalistes, Alph. de Can- dolle, Darwin, admettent que le Ble existe a l’etat naturel dans quelques localites de l’Asie-Mineure. En 1 85 M. Balansa annonpa h la Societe botanique de France qu’il avait trouve le Ble au Mont Sipyle, “ dans des circonstances oil il etait im- possible de ne pas le croire spontaue,” — 60 — La canne, depoiarvue do graines, a-t-ellc done un autre rnoyen do se propager ? Commo le philosophe antique de- montrait lo mouvement en se mettant en marche, l’affirmative so demontre ici paries faits. Oui, dans les localites sauvages et inhabitees, la canne — sans graines — so conserve indefini- ment par les bourgeons et lo marcottage nature!, et non par des rhizomes, cornme vous mele faites dire a tort, car olle ne possede pas cette sorte de tige. Que verrait-on d’etonnant apres tout dans ce mode agame de reproduction ? La nature n’a-t-ello adopte pour le renou- vellemcnt dcs etres que le mecanismc de l’embryon issu de la cooperation bisexuelle ? 11 n’en est rien pour les cryptogames, dont les spores peuvent etro assimiles a dcs bulbilles. II n’en est rien pour beaucoup de zoophytes et de protozoaires, dont la reproduction s’opere souvent par gemmation et fissiparite. Et trouvez-vous, dites-moi, plus singulifere, sur une plante, F absence do graines et la propagation par bourgeons ou bul- billes que la parthenogenese des Pucerons ou la reproduction agame, par un veritable bourgeonnement, des larves de cer- tains insectes ( Cecidomyes ) ? J’insistc, mon clier ami, sur l’absenee de graines de Cannes, et je voudrais voir s’evauouir defiuitivement cette illusion, com- me je desirerais mettre en garde centre Fespoir (medioerement fonde) qu’on a de regcnererla culture de la canne par l’intro- duction do varietes nouvelles. Savez-vous pourquoi ? C’est queje voudrais qu’on so ponetro bien de ceci : La canne n’est point degencree par une culture trop prolon- gee, par un execs de boiituration, pour me servir de votre neolo- gisme. Et la preuve c’est que quand nous avons commence it la cultiver ici, il y avait nombre de siecles qu’elle etait replanteo ainsi et qu’ello se roplantait elle-meme,sans avoir subi la moin- dre degenerescenco. La causo du mal dont souftre ce vegetal est tout entiere dans le sol, e’est-a-dire dans Finsuffisance des elements de nutrition. C’est sur ce point, sur Vamelioration do la culture, sur la restitution, sur la recherche de bonsengrais, que je voudrais voir sc concentrer l’attcntiou et FelFort dcs agriculteurs. La — 67 — determination des elements de l’engrais propre a la eanne est, surtout en presence de l’cpuisement du guano, uno question si capitale pour notre He que jo me demande encore a quoi son- geaient ceux qui ont dit quo le credit alloue a la Chatnbre d’Agriculture pour faire ses experiences etait *' says objet.” J’aurais voulu vous dire quelques mots au sujet de la florai son des Cannes. Mais cela m’entrainerait troploin. Perinettez- moi soulement de vous faire remarquer', a propos do la classi- fication que vous proposez, ceci : Les Cannes fleurissantes, dites-vous, sont plus rusliques et moins sujettes aux maladies que celles qui ne flhchcnt pa?.” Comment coneilier cela avec les faits observes ? N’est-ee pas lorsquo la canne blanche, si ex- cellente, si perfectionnee, et qui fieurit, devint malade et no resista plus, qu’on lui substilua la canne rouge, bcaucoup qfius rustique, plus robuste, qui pourtant no fieurit pas ? Excusez, mon clier YinsoD, la longueur de ces observations et croyez toujours a mon amitie. Dr. Jacob de Cokdehoy, La lettre suivante est deposee sur le bureau : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. AT HABVAItD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. July o 1871. To the Director of tbe “ Societe d’Histoirc Naturelle, de Pile Maurice, Mauritius. Sir, I have forwarded to you, through the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, the following publications : — Annual Report for the Year 1870. No. 4 & 5 of Volume 2o. of Bulletins, 2 and No. 1 of of Volume 3o. of Bulletins. Any work relating to Science, and especially to Natural History, will be gratefully received, in exchange, hy this Museum, Your obedient servant, Ls. Agassiz. Director. 68 — Les let ires ci-dessous sont cominuniquec-s a la Societe : My dear Mr Bouton, I have not found any new fern, but Dr Cattell found “ Vi- toria Scalopendrina ” at the Camisard, and it has not been found in Mauritius I believe before. The leaf you sent me is I think belonging to the Brocoli tribe “ Brassica oleracea acephala ” of the ornamental kind i. e. the kind planted more as an ornament than a culinary legume. Herewith are a few salads &c., amongst them some Brede ( Chenopodium Australis) which may be eaten with perfect safety, we have it every week dressed as spinach and Bredes. Believe me, Yours very truly J. Fkasek. A Monsieur le Redacteur du Commercial Gazette. Monsieur, “ La question de la canne et de ses graines paraissant etre inepuisable a lMe-sceur, pent- etre que vos lecteurs prendraient volontiers communication du la derniere lettre ecrite par le Dr Jacob de Cordemoy en reponse a la seconde ecrite par le Dr Vinson sur le meme sujet. ‘ C’est sous cette impression que j’ai le plaisir do vous faire parvenir le journal la lief or me Liberate contenant cette lettre que je vous prio de vouloir bien reproduire dans le Commercial Gazette. “ Ceux intercsses a la question, et ayant quelque conliance dans le sovoir des deux homines eminents do la Reunion peu- vent voir, que si ces messieurs different d’opinion sur certains points, ils tombent du moins d’accord sur co fait quo la catmo no donne pas de graines. Veuillez agreer, Monsieur, etc. L. Boutox. — 69 Lettre au Doeteur Auguste Vinson- Mou clier Vinson, Voila de bien grosses questions soulovees a propos de la graine de Cannes. Les discuter dans les colonnes d’un journal politique serait bien difficile. Permottez-uioi seulement de vous presenter quelques observations sur la suite de votre lettre a M. Bouton. En concevant l’ideo do faire descemdre la Canne du Sorgho, vous vous reelamez de Darwin. Non, ce serait un peu plus loin qu’il faudrait chercher un chef d’ecole, pour obtenir la ratifi- cation de cette fantaisie, et celui-la e’est Schelling, pour qui “ Philosophe sur la nature, e’est creer la nature.” Darwin a eu pour ancetre3 scieutifique3 .- Geofi'roy Saint- Hilaire, Lamarck, Buffon. Et qui pourrait s’etre livre, dans nos lies aux types polymorphes, a des etudes d’Histoire natu- relle, san3 admettre la variability de l’espece, comrae ces grands esprits ? En etudiaut do pres les limites des especes dans quelques genres oil les passages de l’une a l’autro s’observent tres bien, le Jossinia, le Dombeya par exemple, j’ai plusieurs fois ecrit a mes amis que j’observais ici le Darwinisme eu action. Les magnifiques travaux du naturaliste anglais projettent un jour eclatant sur nombre de points du problem e biologique, ct portent un coup definitif a ce dogmo do l’immutabilite de l’es- pece si cber a Linnee, a Cuvier et a ses disciples. Mais pour nous, comme pour Darwin lui-meme, la se borne le resultat actuel et pratique. Lorsque plongeant son regard dans la nuit des ages, il dit : “ En examinant jusqu’a quel point on peut etendre la theorie dcla selection naturelle, e’est- a-dire en cherebant a determiner le nombre des formes primi- tives dont out pu desceudre les habitants de la ttrre, nous pouvous conclure que tous les membres d’une meme classe au moins, sont la descendance d’un seul ancetre. . Mais comme les membres de classes distinctes out encore quelque chose de cornmun dans leur structure et beaucoup dans leur constitution, l’analogie nous conduit a faire un pas de plus, et a regarder comme probable la descendance de tous les erres vivauts, d’un prototype unique.” Lorsqu’il dit cela, Darwin n’a nullement l’idee de supprimer toute classification en histoire naturelle, et — 70 — n’entend pas da tout qu’aujourd’ui nous soutenions que le Lapin descend du Kkinoceros et le Chou-cabus du Eilao. Ses vues ont une toute autre pcrtee. Et, s’autoriser des idees de Darwin pour ne plus tenir coinpte des genres, des families, c’est glisser sur une pente qui mene droit a de Maillet (Tellia- med), qui faisait naitre les oiseaux des poissons volants, les reptiles des poissons rampants et les hommes des tritons. Si ‘‘ l’incomparable systeme de Darwin ” doit etre pousse jusque-la, il faudrait bruler tous nos livres d’histoire naturelle, voire la belle histoire des Araneides drs Mascareicjn.es, et ce serait dommage ! A quoi servirait-ilj en effet, de distinguer si soigneusement les genres, s’il suffisait de rdpondre a celui qui demanderait le nom d’une Araignee : C’est la deseendante de la Babouqua primordiale, qui elle-meme etait pctite-fille en droite ligne de la Monade prototype. Non, acccptons et utilisons les magnifiques travaux do Dar- win, mais ne le faisonspas parlor malgre lui,et conservons aux faits toute leur valour. N’est-ce pas, comme je le disais en rappelant le nom do Schelling, creer une nature — de l’antaisie, en pliilosopliant sur la nature — de la canne, que de lui donner pour ancetre le Sorgho ? Si nous admettons l’ancetre eommun de Darwin, autant vaut choisir la Fataque ou VOumimo ? Mais, au de- meurant, pourquoi pas la canne elle-meme ? Laissez-moi vous faire observer moil cher Vinson, que votre argumentation peche par la base. Vous dissertez comme si le genre Saccharum no comprenait que la canne h sucre -cul- tivee, laquelle est pour vous un produit tout artificiel, dont les differences florales avec le Sorgho, (qui constituent ses carac- teres generiques), sont lo produit de V enimlncmcut. (1) Mais que fuites-vous des especes sauvages, non sucrees do ce genre Saccharum, especes dont les caracteres floraux sont identiques (1) Kotez quo lc Sorglio est uno plante africaine ct que la canno est d’Asic. Ajoutez onfln que le Sorgho est aussi tres ancionnemont cultive. Singulicr vegetal, cn verite, quo la culture pousserait en sons inverse, comme mo l’ccrivait spirituellement un ami, ici a un goiit pronouco pour lo manage ; la, au celibat invctcrc, — 71 a ceux de la Canne sucriere P Quoi ! Yoici un gcurc naturel, constitue d’apres une organisation speciale do la fleur. Lea trois especes connues de Cannes sucrieres possedent cette organisation et rentrent dans ce genre, qui n’est ni fortuit ni factice, et qui existei’ait en supposant meme que les Cannes sucrees n’eussent jamais ete creees. Et vous voulez les reti- rer de la, pour en faire les descendantes du Sorgho, dont les organes floraux sont differents et par consequent de genre distinct ! C’est de l’arbitraire, tout simplement : c’est prcsque un caprice. Et pourquoi cela ? Parceque la canne de Chine, et non les autres, ressemble par son port au Sorgho ? C’est extremement loin d’etre u$e rai- son pour un botaniste. Est-ce qu’un graud nornbre de grami- nees ne se ressemblent pas au point que le vulgaire les confond sous le nom coinmun de Ghiendents ? Cela empeche-t-il qu’elles soient distinguees on trihus, genres et especes ? Connaissez- vous deux plantes qui se ressemblent plus que YArequier ( Areca catechu) et notre P aim iste poison des forets ? II est tres-difficile de les differencier par les seuls organes de la vegetation. Et pourtant, celui-ci appartient a un genre tres different ( Ilyo - phorbe Commersoniana.) Yous connaissez les nombreux em- poisonnements occasionnes par la fatale ressemblance de la Petite Cigue et du Persil. Ils appartiennent pourtant ^ des genres fort distincts. Je pourrais citer encore bien des exem- ples. On a pris des feuilles de Canne Rotin, pour des feuilles de Sorgho ? Qu’importe ? Ne voyons-nous pas a cbaque page de nos traitds de botanique ce3 mots : a feuilles de myrte ; d feuilles de buis employes, comme noms specifiques ; et les ve- getaux auxquels on les applique ne sont rien moins que des xnyrtes et des buis. On vient nous dire que les botanistes anglais, MM. Hooker et Bentham ont, en yertu des idees darwiniennes, fait de grands changements de classification generique. Les theories de Darwin ne sont pour absolument rien dans les changements que contient le nouveau Genera. Si des genres ont ete reunis, si d’autres ont et6 dedoubles, c’est par suite des progres de la science, et de la decouverte de nouvelles plantes qui ont fait apercevoir des rapprochements ou indique des groupes pluB naturels. Endlicker et De Csndole, en leur temps, n’ont pas procede autrement. Mais jamais aucun botaniste n’a songe et ne songera a lancer les genres, au nom de Darwin, dans une danse Macabre. Puisque vous vous refugiez dans ce beau systeme, pourquoi, mon cber ami, au lieu d’essayer des transmutations impossibles de genres, ca qui vous entraine fatalement k des consequences que vous redoutez, mais auxquelles ne vous feraient pas eebap- per vos precautions oratoires a l’egard des “ Bimanes,” pour- quoi dis-je, ne gouteriez-vous plutot, au moins dans son en- semble, la doctrine de la pargenese ? Sur ce terrain du moins, et a un certain point de vue, nous pourrions operer notre jonction avec les maitres de notre science, avec notre Charles Eobin et ses blastemes, avec le prussien Wircbovv et sa tbeorie cellulaire. Vous ne m’opposeriez pas alors le Omne vivum ex ovo d’ Har- vey. D’abord que faut-il entendre par la ? Ecoutez Pb. Be- rard : “ Valentin a prouve, et Burdacb apres lui, que par ovum Harvey entendait tout amas de matiere apte a donner naissauce a un etre organise ; par consequent, cola s’appliquait a ce quo nous considerons comme un oeuf et a autre cbose encore. 11 ne faut done plus fairo intervenir le nom de Harvey dans ce debat.” Linne lui aussi (Apb. 134 de la Phiiosopldca Botanica) s’ecrie : Omne vivum ex ovo, nroclame Harvey ; par consequent, de meme pour les vegetaux dont les graines sont les oeufs.” Mais dans l’Apborisme precedent il avait dcrit : “ Ortus : ex Semine vel Gemma.'1' Naissance (des vegetaux) : de graine ou de bourgeon (ou bulbilles.) Voilil ce que Magister dixit, il y a un siecle. Que nous disent les faits aujourd’hui ? Omne vivum ex ovo ? Mais ces Meduses qui naissent des Polypes par summation ? Mais ces Infusoires qui se multiplient en se dedoublant, par lissiparite ? Mais ces Annelidos, plus elevees dans la serie animate, ces Nats qui poussent a leur queue, comme a l’arbre pousse une branebe, un nouvel etre qui s’en detacbo bieutbt : ces Syllis 73 dont le corps s’etrangle par le milieu, et se separe en deux moities dont l’une se refait par bourgeonncment une tete, l’autre une queue ? Yoila bien des 6tres qui ne naissent pas ex ovo, sans compter les produits de la partkenogenese du Yer a soie et des Puce- rons. Et dans le regne vegetal, combien d’exceptions a l’axiome prete a Harvey ! Les Mousses, les Hepatiques, cer- taines Algues ne se reproduisent-elles que par des spores ou des sporules ? Hon, mais par ce qu’on appelle des propagules, des innovations. Ce sont soit des filaments particuliers, soit des corpuscules, soit des sortes do petits bourgeons, qui se foment sur les feuilles ou les tkalles, so detackent et repro- duisent la pi ante mere. Parmi les vegetaux plus eleves, il j en a qui normalement se propagent sans graines. J’en ai cite deja plusieurs, entre autres le Trejle rose qui est bien indigene. En France la Saxi- fraga granulata est dans le memo cas quelui. D’autres plantes ont leurs bulbilles a la place memo des fleurs (Soboles) et se propagent par ce moyen et non de graines. Tel est entre autres PA.il des Yignes (Allium vlneale) en France. Telles sont plusieurs graminees, le Poa alpina, le Poa bullosa etc. Yoila encore bien des etrcs qui ne proviennent pas ex ovo • Quo vaut tel adage qu’on voudra en presence de tels faits ? “ Le fruit de la demonstration est la science,” a dit Bossuet. Yous voyez, mon cker Yinsoo, qu’il n’y a rien de bien etrange a considerer la canne a sucre, a l’instar de son conge- nere sauvage, le Saccliarum spontaneum, comme originairement depourvu de graines, ce qui l’autorise pleinement toutefois a exister dans la nature, mais ce qui ne lui cree en aucune fa9on le droit exorbitant d’usurper les semences du Sorgko qui n’ont jamais produit et ne produiront jamais que le Mais Cafre. Tout a vous, De. Jacob de Cordemoy. 74 — Void un extrait d’une lettre du Dr Jacob dc Cordemoy, au sujet des renseignemcnts que M. Bouton lui avait de- mandes sur le Calvaria : “ En fait de bois de fer, nous avons : lo. Le Stadtmania Sideroxylon extremement rare et appele Paux bois de fer. 2o. Trois especes de Sideroxylon qui sont de grands arbres et qu’on appelle Bois de fer, L’un est incontestablement le S. imbricarioides du Prodromus. N’ayant pu encore me pro- curer des fleurs des deux autres, je n’ai pu en determiner l’espece. Ce pourrait bien etre les Sideroxylon longifolium , yrandiflorum et parvijlorum de Bojer. D’ailleurs la nervature des feuilles est si distincte que sur la vue d’une seule feuille des especes mauriciennes sus-dites, je pourrais en connaitre l’espece. Beste un Sideroxylon extremement polymorphe qu’on appelle ici “ Natte cocbon”; “ Natte batard ” comprend-il les trois especes S. Borbonicum, Bojerianum,Boutonianum du Prodrome ? C’est ce que la vue seule des echantillons des especes Mauri- ciennes peut apprendre. L’une de ces formes envoyee par moi a Baillon, m’a ete retournee avec cette mention et d’apres une note do M. Alp. D. C. Sideroxylon Bojerianum. Yous pouvez me dire d’ailleurs si vous distinguez bien plusieurs espfeces a Maurice. A part les especes precedentes nous n’avons rien ici qui porte le nom de “ Bois de fer,” et nous n’avons en fait de ‘‘ Nattes ” que V Imbricaria maxima , et le Labourdonaisia Ca- lophylloides. Ne pouvez-vous, un de ces jours, quand l’occasion s’en pre- sentera, m’envoyer une simple fleur de VIcacina Mauritiana decrit par Miers dans Annals of Natural History. Le recueil n’existe pas ici, et jo suppose qu’une plante determinee ici par nous : Apodijtes est VIcacina en question. Yous m’avez offert naguere la liste des Piperacees de Bour- bon d’apres le Prodrome. La guerre ne m’ayant pas pormis de recevoir ce volume, vous m’obligeriez beaucoup cn mo per- mettant d’accepter votre olfre. — 75 — A l’occasion, dgalement. ne pourriez-vous me glisser dans l’une de vos lettres, uu tres petit paquet de Philippia abietina pour comparer a notre espece yoisine. Eecevez cber Monsieur, Passurance de mon parfait devoue- ment. Dr Jacob de Coedemoy. STANCE DU MARDI 31 OCTOBRE 1871. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DU COLONEL N. PIKE. Sont presents : Le Dr A. Edwards, MM. Ev. Dupont, H. Einniss, A. Regnard, Y. Robillard, F. Vandermeersch, L. Bouton, Secretaire. Apres lecture et approbation du proces-verbal de la der- niere reunion, le Secretaire donne connaissance d’une lettre qu’il a regue de M. Descroizilles, congue en ces termes : “ Port Louis, 31 Octobre 1871. 1‘ Mon cher Monsieur Bouton, “ Je crains que mes occupations no me permettent pas d’al- ler a la reunion de ce jour, mais je tiens a vons informer ainsi que la Societe, de la reussite des premiers fruits du “ Joliffia Africana ” dont vous m’ayiez donne les semences lors de leur arrivee en 18G9 je crois : Deux banes des semences plantees par moi sur la propriete de mon frere a la Sayanno ont reussi et portaient des fleurs males et femelles, mais les fruits ne se formaient pas ; mon frere a eu alors l’idee de feconder, et a dej& de beaux fruits bientot a maturite ; il reussira probablement k en feconder d’autres ; je crois que cette plante deviendra une excellente acquisition : L’huile que fournissent les semences, egale la meillcure buile d’olivcs et les banes couvrant la terra deviendront sans nul doute par leur grand d^veloppement un assolement convenable ; la plante viendra done, j’espere, s’a- jouter a nos oleagineuses deja si nombreuses, si riches, mais si dedaignees Pon peut ajouter. Quand on voit lea immenses quantites de graines oleagi- neuses qui vont de l’lnde en Europe, ou se demande, pourquoi a Maurice, ou bon nombre de plantes reussissent bien, on ne les cultive pas ? c’est repond-on, avec raison, que les salaires pour la culture et l’exploitation emporteraient tout le produit ! c’est juste si vous employez uniquement le travail salari6 ; mais si l’on suivait ces cultures sur les Asiles, les Penitentiers, les Orplielinats, etc., etc., ou les bras improductifs vont s’ac- cumulant faute d’emplois appropries, ces cultures pourraient alors devenir bien interessantes, au profit de ces etablissemens et des pauvres en general, et alors une foule de petits produits agricoles dedaignes, pourraient devenir lucratifs, ces industries etant stimulees convenablement. Ce sujet me porte it vous demander ce que sont devenus les plants de “ Musa Textilis ” (plante qui fournit l’Abacca ou clianvre des Manillessi estime et l’objet d’un si grand commerce avec les Etats-Unis surtout) qui etaient arrives en Avril ou Mai 1870 et avaient ete en- voyes par Sir II. Barldy, notre precedent Patron, au Jardin ; je vous en avais suggero la demande, que vous fites avec l’in- tervention de Sir H. Barkly : cettc plante pent devenir bien interessanto pour nous. Le Rapport du Dr Berg publie par vos soins, la representait commo pouvant croitre partout dans les terrains secs ; a plus forte raison reussirait-elle au bord de nos sources et cours d’eau qui vont tout it l’heure tarir. On peut la reproduire par graines, l’exploitation en est on ne peut plus aisee et peut se faire sans materiel couteux et, dans tous les cas, sans macbines comme celles necessaires, dit-on, pour le Cliina-Grass (qui croit deja admirablement bien ici ^ principalement, dit-on, au Penitencier). Le Gouvernement de l’lnde ofirait (5000) cinq mille livres sterling pour la meil- leure machine a la portee des natifs : Ce prix a t-il ete obtenu ? Dans tous les cas cela prouve l’importauce qu’ils attacbent la-bas a cette exploitation ; je crois que nous pour- rions arriver a la faire aussi ^ Maurice d’une maniere qui pourrait devenir avantageuso et cette culture pourrait comme celle du “ Musa Textilis ” devenir d’uu grand secours aux Asiles, au Penitectier, etc., etc. (Juoiqu’il puisso en arriver, il me semble quo cot; deux plantes, le “ Musa Textilis ” surtout, _ 77 — dovraient uu pen preoccuper nos Agronomes Mauriciens. Ne croyez-vous pas, comme moi, que ceux qui regardaient ancien- nement comine visionnairo toute personne qui se permettait de parler de toute industrie agricole autre quo celle du sucre, et qui voient cependant bien mallieureusement maintenant, leurs proprietes deyenir de plus en plus comme l’Arabie Petree, seraient fort aises de voir leurs plaines arides et brulees se couvrir petit a petit de la vegetation liative du Huso, Textilis dont les produits surpasseraient de beaucoup en rendement et en valeur, ceux de la Canne, et dont 1’ exploitation ne necessi- terait que les machines si primitives des Luconnais : C’est-a- dire, 4 fourches sujpjportant une traverse, quelques racloirs et quel- ques peignes grossiers en hois, machines que la science moderne rendra facilement bien plus effectives a tres peu de frais : Le moment est arrive ou il faut, je crois, impericusement penser it nous creer d’autres ressources pour l’avenir. “ Qu’en pensez-vous ? “ Bien a vous d’amitie, ‘‘ H. C. Descuoiziles.” M. Bewslier lit une lettre fort interessante qu’il a refue de M. Hery, de la Reunion, en reponse it celle qu'il lut avait ecrite, de la part de la Societe, dans le but d’intro- duire a Maurice Y Acacia decurrens W., arbre d’une grande utilite en raison de la belle gomme qu’il donne et des qua- lites de son ecorce. En vue du reboisement de Pile, cet Acacia merite une attention toute particuliere, car il pousse rapidement et se reproduit en nieme temps de graines et de racines. La Societe a done decide, seance tenante, qu’une somme de 50 shillings serait perdue sur celle de £20 votee pour intro- duction de plants et de graines, a l’effet de demander it la Reunion 50 jeuncs plants de P Acacia decurrens W. qui seraient expedies par la Malle prochaine. Il a ete de plus decide que la Societe appellerait l’at- tention du Gouvernement, de la Municipalite et de la Cbambre d’Agriculture sur ce sujet, et que des copies de la lettre de M. Ilery et Fanalyse de la gomme leur seraient transmises par la raeme occasion. M. Bewsber a presente en meme temps un tronyon de Farbre, des ecorces et la fleur dc cette plante, qui ont ete deposes dans la salle des reunions au College Royal, ou on peut les voir cn s’adressant au Secretaire de la Societe. Yoici la lettre de M. Ilery : “Saint-Denis. 12 Septembre 1871. “ Mon cber M. Bewsher, C’est aveebien du plaisir que j’ai lu votre lettre du 2 cou- rant ; la determination quo vient de prendre la Societe Eovale des Arts et des Sciences lui fait honneur, car l’introduction de l’Acacia de la Nouvelle Ilollandc — Acacia decurrens W. — a Maurice sera, pour cette Colonie, soyez en persuade, une nou- velle source de ricliesse sans compter que, sous lc rapport de l’hygiene, il rendra un immense service taut sa vegetation est rapide, car se reproduisant a l’infini par les racines, il reboise en peu de temps des espaees considerables de terrain. “ Cet arbre precieux fut introduit par le docteur Bernier dans notre Colonie depuis environ une vingtaine d’annees. Il n’avait d’autra merite alors que le reboisemeut rapide et l’in- destructibilite de l’espece. “ Aujourd’bui nous savons qu’il produit une gomme trbs estimee dans l’induslrie et que de plus son ecorce sert a la tannerie ; a l’epoque de mou sejour a Maurice on recevait de cette ecorce qui se vendait de 50 a, 55 piastres le tonneau. Comme toutes les plantes qui se reproduisent par drageons, l’Acacia se reproduit plus difficilement par graines, du moins j’ai fait un semis cette annee qui n’a pas tres bien pousse. Les graines ont assez bien leve mais la croissance des jcunes plantes eBt tres lento ; pourtant je ne m’arreterai pas la, et je ferai d’autres semis l’annee proebaiue ; je n’ai pas de graines dans le moment, mais les acacias sont cn flours et les graines seront bonnes sur les derniers jours de DtScembrc. “ L’acacia vient partout dans une region superieure a 400 metres merne, dans une region inferieuro ou il y a beaucoup d’huruidite et prend un ti’es grand dcveloppement ; alors il faut lui faire des incisions pour lui faire produire de la gomme. Dans les regions inferieures a 400 metres, et ou le boI e3t sec, il devient bien moins grand mais donne etonnemment de gom- me naturellement. Je regrette beaucoup, mon chef. M. Bewsher, de n’avoir pas eu l’idee de vous envoyer pour votre Exposition un tronc d’acacia en rapport. Cela vous aurait mieux convaincu que tout ce que je pourrais vous dire ; main- tenant c’est trop tard, car la saison tire k sa fin, je le ferai l’annee prochaine ; pourtant je crois que je ferai bien en atten- dant de vous en envoyer une brancbe oil il y aurait une larme ou deux, vous recevrez cela par la premiere occasion. L’ Acacia vient jnsques sur le littoral, il n’y a pas de terrain trop ingrat pour lui. “ Au resurad : Voulez-vous planter des acacias pour avoir du bois et des ecorces, plantez-les dans une haute region ou dans un sol humide. Voulez-vous avoir de la gomme, choisis- sez un terrain sec et peu eleve. Une fois pris, 1’ Acacia ne de- mande aucun soin ; il n’est pourtant pas mauvais de tenir propre le terrain les deux premieres annees, pour faciliter la pousse des drageons. ‘‘ L’ecorce de l’acacia s’enlbve le plus facilement possible : On l’enlhve par laniere de 10 k 15 centimetres sur toute la longueur du tronc, en laissant une bande d’ecorce de pareille largeur entre ; l’annee d’ensuite, ces bandes se sont rejointes et l’on enleve ce qu’on avait laisse l’anneo precedente, ainsi de suite. “ Je vous remercie d’avoir pense ii moi pour l’introduction de cette plante a Maurice, jo suis k m6me do fournir toutes les quantities qu’on voudra bien me demander, m’occupant speciale' ment aujourd’hui de cetto culture. C’est dans ce but que j’ai acliete de moitie avec M. Reydellet, le grand terrain que vous connaissez ; mon prix est de 1 fr 15 par plant pris dans une tente, et rendu sur le quai de St-Denis. Si Ton s’adressait a moi pour une ou plusieurs plantations importantes d’Acacia, je ferai expres le voyage de Maurice et je garantirai les plants que je planterai moi-meme ; je demanderai 25 c. de plus par pied pour payer les frais de mon deplacement. 80 “ Vous pouvez dire, mon cher M. Bewsher, aux personnes qui voudraient faire planter cet arbre precieux que ce prix n’est pas exagere ; il f'aut sevrer le drageon efc c’est une opera- tion delicate qui consiste a l’isoler du pied mfere, et sans la. quelle on ne peufc reusir a sauver do jeunes plants, la meme operation se fait pour l’arbre a pain. “ Je termine, car la longueur do ma lettre m’effraie ; aurez- vous le temps et le courage de me lire ? Mercibieu de 1’inte- ret que vous me portez et croyez-moi votre tout devouo. “ (Signe :) E. hery. “ P.S. — Les plants que je planterai auront de 1 pied a 1 pied | de hauteur, j’enverrai avec chaque commando une petite instruction pour la maniere de les planter. Par une bonne occasion je vous enverrai quelques grands plants de 3 a 4 pieds dont vous voudrez bien disposer comme vous l’entendrez en en faisant part a vos amis ; quand j’aurai des graines d’ Acacia je vous en enverrai un sac.” Une lettre du Dr. Hooker de Kew, en reponse k un renseignement que lui avait demande le Secretaire, sur un Champignon croissant dans les forets de Maurice et qui avait ete presente par le Dr Itegnaud, est communique a, la seance. Ce Champignon est remarquable par laressemblance des cavites qui forment les plis de la partie inferieure de 6on chapeau, avec les alveoles d’un gateau d’abeilles ou d’un nid de guepes — cette partie inferieure est d’un rouge de carmin. Palissot-Beauvais Pa, le premier, decrit dans sa Flore d’Oware et de Benin, et lui a donne le nom de Favolus qui signifie Guepier. (1) Le Dr Hooker dit dans sa reponse : “ Dear Mr. Bouton, “ Your Fungus is a very common tropical one, Ilexagonia nitens ; it is a very beautiful thing.” (1) Favolus hirtus. Pal. B. Si laplante est commune clans d’autres points des tro- piques, ellc ne Test certainement pas ft Maurice, et ne se rencontre que dans des localites ou regnent l’ombre et l’humidite ; deux choses devenues, ainsi qu’on le sair, au- jourd’hui assez rares. Le Secretaire a presente la eouDe transversale d’un bois provenant des lies Seychelles, et contenant dans sa couche intermediare l’extremite d’une fieche en bois uoir et dur clont la partie superieure s’est brisee, et qui ne laisse plus que la pointe qui s’est implantee et a ete recouverte par une couche nnuvelle. Ce morceau de bois a ete recueilli dans une foret des lies Seychelles il y a dejk plusieurs annees et depose au Museum. Le Col. Pike apres l’avoir examine avec attention s’est rappele que dans le voyage qu’il vient d’effectuer et en parcourant une des lies Seychelles, l’lle du Nos’d — ilavait vu certains caracteres empreints sur les rockers— et que selon lui, cet archipel aurait ete aucienuement connu des arabes, cpii faisaient le commerce tout le long de la cote d’Afrique, et auxquels ces lies servaient de refuge apres avoir commis leurs actes de piraterie. En faisant la chasse, aux oiseaux ou autres animaux, cette fieche peut avoir frappe cet arbre et y etre demeuree. Le Secretaire presente de la part de M. Stone, un oeuf superpose sur un autre plus petit et lit la lettre suivante que lui ecrit celui-ci ft ce sujet ; "28th October 1871. “ My dear Bouton, “ I send you, herewith, a liosus naturae. It is one, of two double eggs laid by a lieu. The first was given to the cook, who, upon breaking it, discovered that it was double. The one I send you was, then broken more carefully ; and it con- tains, as you will see, a smaller, but perfectly formed egg within it. “ Very faithfully yours, “ B. \V. M. Stove. “ 29, Government street.” — 82 — Une lettre de M. Horne au Secretaire est communiquee a la seance. M. Horne conseille & M. Descroizilles de discontinuer ses envois de vers a soie aux Seychelles ; il n'y a trouve, dit-il, aucun murier, et il prepare en ce mo- ment de jeunes plants qui seront envoyes par la maile prochaine. Le Colonel Pike, de son cote, dit avoir vu des muriers aux Seychelles, et en avoir meme mange des fruits. L’arbre ne parait pas s’y plaire, dit-il, et la vegetation en est pauvre ; telle est l’opinion qu’il a emise h ce sujet. Le specimen d’une espece d’Utricularia U. Stellaris L. est presente a la Societe par le Secretaire. Cette plante qui n'existait, il y a quelques annees, que dans les lieux marecageux du Yacoa et dans quelques ruisseaux envi* ronnants, se trouve maintenaut en tres grande quantite dans la riviere des Calebasses et du Tombeau et en recou* vre toute la superficie. “C’est ce qiPon remarque tous les jours, fait observer le Secretaire. Depuis que des routes et des voies ferrees se sont ouvertes et que de frequentes communications out lieu a de grandes distances, les plantes ont marche avec les hommes et les out accompagnes dans leurs voyages. “Nous restreignant a Maurice seulement, nous voyons des vegetaux de la moutagne desceudre dans la plaine et ceux de la plaine gravir jusqu’a leurs sommets. “L’ Elephantopua scaber — sicommun ilia Nouvelle De- couvertejavaut le defrichement des forets,a vu ses semences s’envoler et pousser tout au bas et de l’autre cote du Morne des Calebasses et jusqu’au bord de la riviere de cenom — Ik ou jamais on ne l’avait vu auparavaut. Il en est de meme des plantes depuis longtemps cultivees dans la plaine, telles que VHyptaye madaplota , le Passiflora feetida, le Ru- bus Hamiltonianus etc., et d’autres encore, iutroduites dans le pays, qui prosperent et couvrent les versants et les vallons des montagnes de leur riche et luxuriaute vegetation.” La Soci^te refjoit de la part du Col. Pike, l’itin^raire suivant, d’un voyage qu’il vient de faire aux lies Sey- chelles : — A VISIT TO THE SEYCHELLES ISLANDS. I. “I had long desired to see this interesting group of Islands, and fortune at length favoured my wishes in tho shape of an invitation to visit the various Dependencies of Mauritius in H. B. M. Frigate Forte. I was requested to be on board punc- tually by noon on Saturday the 19th August 1871. Duly at that hour I presented myself, bag and baggage, and was recei- ved by the Commanding Officer, who informed me that the Flag Lieutenant had given up his berth to me during our cruise. The requisites for our short voyage were soon com- fortably stowed away, and all superilous baggage such as boxes of bottles, &c. and the various appurtenances of a natu- ralist consigned to the hold for the time ; these latter pretty considerable, as it was my intention to collect everything pos- sible during my limited sfay connected with the Fauna of Seychelles. “Before all was completed, the shrill whistle of the boatswain was heard and all was bustle and activity to receive H. E. Sir Arthur Gordon who was seen approching from the shore. Away went the crew of over oOO men, and in a miraculously short time the yards were manned. Hear Amiral Cockburn, who was already on board, stood at the gangway with all his officers in full dress, a file of marines behind them, and all naval etiquette carried out to the letter to receive the Gover- nor. The Barge containing His Excellency, General Smyth, Colo- nel Orme, the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Gordon, the Governor’s A D.C. and Private Secretary, and the Harbour Master soon came alongside, when a saiute of 17 guns was fired. As the distinguished party mounted the deck, the Ma- rines presented arms, the Band struck up “ God save the Queen,” and in a few minutes the guests were ushered into the Admiral’s State room, where a maguificent Tiffiu awaited them. “The viands wero fully discussed, the sparkling vintages of Prance and Germany circulated freely, and the festive scene lasted for a considerable time. The bows of the Frigate were seaward, and the motion of the Screw began to give warning that it was time for the guests to seek their boats unless they wished to share our voyage. A shake of the hand, kind wishes and good byes were soon exchanged, our friends left, and very soon after the Frigate’s berth was vacant. Away we steamed and bid adieu to Port Louis Harbour. “Never were the words “ T’is distance lends enchantment to the view ” more appropriately used than to Mauritius scenery. Once out of the Harbour, and all that is objectionable in the city fades away, and leaves only tbe fine outline of the moun- tain slopes in its back ground, shewing unmistakeably their volcanic origin, and telling their own tale of the time when a fiery gulf was within their circle where the city now peacefully rests. As we receded, the grand ranges of the other parts of the Island came into view, and as the shadows of evening fell gradually on their giant cliffs, the effect was magnificent. I gazed at them in admiration till nearly dark, an admiration none the less deep that I had a pleasant personal acquaintance with them all. On Sunday the weather proved serene and smiling, and by 8 o’clock all were assembled on the quarter deck for morning prayers, (a custom of strict daily occurrence on board the Fri- gate.) In the forenoon the gun deck was arranged for Service which was admirably conducted by the Eevd. Mr Johnson. Many parts were chanted by the midshipmen, and very credi- tably too, and one of them played on the Harmonium. “The Church Service on board ship has always a peculiar impressiveness for me, the dash of the waves against the vessel’s sides giving it an additional solemnity. At such times it is easy to take the splash of tho water as a warning note that should “ He blow with His winds" that gentle tono would be changed into tho furious roar ot the angrv billows, aud that the mightiest hull ever constructed bv human hands would be but as chaff before them. I was de- lighted with the quiet harmony which seemed to pervade the — 85 ship, officers and men all in accord, and must cay I never spent a happier Sabbath on shore. “On Monday, drilling and the usual routine of duties em- ployed all on board, so I amused myself by throwing out my surface net from one of the purls. 1 had been curiously wacli- ing a singular red streak on the ocean stretching as far as the eye could reach, and was very desirous for a closer acquain- tance with it, as our course lay right through its midst. As we struck the outer edge of it, the streak was not so perceptible as when at a distance. Upon drawing in my net and placing its contents in a clear glass vessel, I found them partly animal and partly vegetable, the former rigid and sinking to the bot- tom the latter soft and floating. "With a good lens I was ena- bled to separate them, and the rigid masses appeared to be a species of minute Crustacea, probably feeding on the plant. This was a minute Alga, and from its peculiar undulatorv mo- tion, 1 presume it to be one or the murine Oscillatorise or near it. It is not improbable that it may prove similar to the one mentioned by Harvey as giving the red colour to the Arabian Gulf. He says ; “ This colour is due to the presence of a microscopic Alga “ ( Trichodesmium erylhrceum ) allied to Osoillatoria, and en- il dowed with similar motive powers which occasionally per- “ meates the surface-strata of the water iu such multitudes as “ to redden the sea for miles.” I carefully preserved specimens of both, in diluted alcohol to transmit to America for scien- tific examination. “On my voyage from America to Mauritius in the Monocacy U. S. Frigate, on the subsidence of a cyclone we met after leaving the Cape of Good Hoop, I saw the same phenomenon, but the patches of colour were olive brown, and the Alg® were not so minute as tlioso giving the red coulour to this part of the Indian Ocean. The whalemen say they often meet with the appearance immediatly after a heavy storm. To my surprise I fouud entangled iu the net, ono of the curious oceauic insects, belonging to the family of the Hydrometidce I believe. I have caught one about 25 miles from Port Louis and dozens iu the harbour. "What it feeds on I know not, but — 86 — it certainly, minute as it is, lives out on the broad ocean, and from its great rarity at certain seasons, and abundance at others, would appear to approach the shore for tho purpose of propagation. It is a marvel to see these little dots bobbing about just on the crests of the waves, and when pursued dive down through them. There are two species I have taken at Port Louis, and this resembled one of them, grey with a white abdomen, a black line on the back. Both kinds are diamond shaped, with large prominent eyes, shaggy thighs, very long hind and short fore legs, the antennae and palpa resembling a spider. The little creature was so active and sprang about with such celerity I had a difficulty in securing him after he got his feet clear of the net. 1 have watched these insects often very closely, but have never been able to discover what changes they undergo, and I believe nothing is as yet known of their habits by the scientific world. ‘‘The sperm whales (Catodon polycyphaa I believe,) are very abundant in this ocean and we several times saw them quite close to the bows of the Frigate, though the vessel’s rapidly cleaving the waves seemed to startle them. “On Tuesday about 3 p.m. we sighted Agalega, but it lies so low, it is not observed till near. "Wo ran within two miles of it, hove to, and fired a gun, but saw no signs of houses or people. The sea was breaking roughly over the coral reefs which nearly surround this Island and extend some distance from the shore ; so we did not laud, which I much regretted, for I wished to obtain some of the wild partridges, guinea fowls and peacocks said to be native there as well as other things of great interest to me. “Agalega is 1 1 miles long and entirely of coral formation, and has been in fact two islands, the channel between having been so nearly filled in, that at low water it can be crossed on foot. There are a few houses here but we passed to tho W. so did not see them, and filaos and cocoa-nut trees appear very numerous. “After leaving Agalega, we came io some extensive Banks when souudings were taken from ‘29 to 35 fathoms. Thg ar- mature of the lead was, at my request furnished me. On — 87 - close examination of it after my return to Mauritius, I found it to consist entirely of coral debris and Foraminiferous shells. The latter requiring a high power of the microscope to deve- lope them at all. My instrument only enabled me to see that they were shells, but not strong enough to distinguish them, so I have carefully preserved the whole to send honu. ‘‘These delicate shells exist in all the warm seas in the world, and those who have never seen them may form some idea of their miuute size, when it is stated that ‘‘four hundred thou- sand of them have been found in forty six grains Troy of sand.’* Yet minute as they are surely and steadily are they filling up the depths of the ocean. Tho great Atlantic Tele- graph plateau is a bank formed of the dead shells of the Foraminifera. The Indian Ocean also swarms with them. I have been informed by the captains of our -whalers that on the Saya de Mala bauk somewhat to the East- ward, they have found soundings, in five fathoms. Near this is a noted whaling ground, aud some of tho old sailors who have cruised there many years, tell me the bank is gradually rising, and the day is not far distant when the sea will break over it, and another and dangerous reef be added to the perils of this Ocean. It is supposed these Foraminifera feed on the Infu- soria which they have tho power of electrifying or paralysing by some hidden electric capacity. Thus, these, “ The small- est and most microscopic of animals in existence, are unpitying flesh eaters, and become formidable destroyers by means of a ho uceopathic dose of poison. “We constantly saw Frigate birds and others flying to Aga_ lega from tho sea to rest for ihe night, and two species of Paille en-queue or Tropic bird. This evening a Booby alight- ed on the main boom, and one of the sailors crept cautiously along it and caught it for me. Wo were steaming and sailing along at the rate of 10 knots, the ship rolling much, aud for a change the waves dash.-d on to the poop deck where we were walking. We retired to the gun deck to chat and smoke but old Neptune tried hard to put our pipes out, by sending his emissaries thundering in through the ports and we all had to bo spry to escape a ducking. • — 88 — “Wednesday was showery but I tried my net again and 1 fished up some of those singular Pterepodous Mollusces, the Hyalea ylobulosa (Kang). They were in great numbers but darted away with such swiftness that it was with difficulty I succeeded in capturing them, This rapidity, with the quick flap of the butterfly shaped lius (if one can so call them) gives them a peculiar motion in the water, and is a distinguishing mark of the Hyalea. As soon as caught they draw in tho flappers, and they require most delicate handling not to crush the fragile bluish brown shells. Some of tho genora of these Pteropoda form the principal food of the Right Whale of tho northern seas, where they are in such myriads as to colour the water, and wherever they appear the whalemen look out sharply for their monster cetacean prey. “On Thursday our last day on board, the men were'drilled with the Schneider rifle, and exercised in fencing, and working the heavy guns. The general physique of the men was fine as any I ever saw, and they handled their guns admirably. I coukl not help thinking as I watched them, that if all Her Majesty’s Men of War are conducted as this is, and all her Officers and men of such moral and physical calibre as those of the Forte, she has little indeed to fear from a foreign foe. I can only believe that tho writer of the “ Hattie of Dorking ” can know little of the real character of England’s hearts of oak, or such a myth would never have originated in his brains- “Towards noon we sighted Mahe and could see most of the group of the Seychelles. Towards 8 p.m. we neared the Is- land aud it appeared like a single mountain, wooded from shore to summit. On a nearer approach, after passiug St-Anu’s and lie aux Cerfs, the grand outlines of the precipitous Mt. Peaks began to stand out in bold relief from the forests. As we neared the roadstead a pilot put off to us, bub we hailed him and declined his services. The above Islands are very pic- turesque as seen from the ship. Covered with dense foliage the vivid greens of those near tho water’s edge, contrasted with the sombre olive of the background and presented a brillant picture, grateful to our eyes even after so short a voyage. — 89 — On rounding the Island Port Victoria came into view, and wo dropped onr anchor in the inuer harbour about 5 p. m. In a short time a boat put off shewing the English ensign, and Mr Franklyn the Civil Commissioner, Dr Brookes the Health Officer, and Mr Vaudin the English Minister soon hoarded us after the usual iuquiries pratique was given, and they returned to the shore, Mr Gordon accompanying them, to make pre- parations for the official landing on the morrow. “ We found in the harbour the French corvette Surprise of 4 guns, Captain Thierry, and a small Arabian man of war. Officers from both ships soon made their appearance and apologized for not saluting, as they had not sufficient guns. The American whale ship Herald lay astern of us and she soon run up her Stars and Stripes. I was greatly pleased watching the men of the j Forte heaving the anchor short at the Capstan, all keeping regular time to the lively airs played by the Band, such as “ Champagne Charley,” “ Sally in our alley,” “Tom Bowline,” and other favourite nautical ditties. “ In the evening the Admiral gave a dinner on board the Forte and several ladies and gentlemen from shore were present . II. The morning of Friday the 25th August was bright and clear, and the crystal waters of the Bay of Mahe were smooth as a mirror. The town of Victoria could be distinctly seen from the Frigate, and as I gazed on the grand outlines of mountain and forest on the island, I was already revelling in the anticipation of pleasant hours spent iu exploring the one and climbing the other. As it was understood that His Ex- cellency was to land this day, I concluded to go ashore as soon as breakfast was over, in order to note everything there was to be seen, which I accordingly did. “ About 8 o'clock a steam barge left the ship with two field pieces and a squad of sailors, and when I landed I saw them hauling the guns along the Chauesea in true military style. I found the town iu a perfect ferment of bustle and excitement. Many planters bad come in fronj the couutry with their fa- — 90 — milies, and others from the neighbouring islands ; all were dressed in their Sunday’s best, especially the ladies and chil- dren, and all looked eager and happy. From an early hour the Chaussee was crowded with people ready to welcome Her Majesty’s Representative. “ Towards noon a State Barge was prepared and as His Ex- cellency left the Frigate, the yards were manned and a salute of 17 guns announced his departing, the echoes reverberating along the old granite hills carrying the news to the very depths of the forest: Every vessel, down to the smallest craft in the harbour displayed bunting in any quantity. Numerous plying boats were filled with spectators eagerly watching the Barge that bore the Mauritius flag for the first time out of Port Louis. At the lauding place a group of gentlemen waited to receive His Excellency and offer him the customary official greetings. As the Governor set foot on shore, the above men- tioned field pieces at the opposite end of the Chausee thunde- red out a second salute of 17 guus. The bells of the Churches clanged forth a welcome, taken up by the ready tongues of the assembled multitude, “welcome, welcomo to our Governor. ’’ He was received by Mr Commissioner Franklin, and I presume with the usual complimentary speech, but I was not noar enough to catch if. “ His Excellency passed up the Chaussee under an arch of evergreens which had been run up rapidly at the last moment, but in spite of haste it was very tastefully arranged. On each Bide of the Chaussee stood the boys and girls belongiug to the various schools. The Catholics attended by the Freres and Scours, and the Protestant by their Teachers. His Excellency appeared greatly pleased at this and spoke a few words to each School as he passed. It was a very interesting sight, for the children were all neatly dressed and well behaved, and their bright faces showed their enjoyment of their fete. “ On arriving at Government House, a number of Plauters were in the Avenue leading to it, and II. E. addressed them. He stated the object of his visit, and his wish that all matters might be satisfactorily arranged where redress was needed, and invited them to call on him at Government House, that he 91 — might make himself fully rcquainted with all questions relative to the welfare and progress of the Islands, and in answer, a lusty cheer rose from all present. In the avenue was a second triumphal arch with two flag-staffs displaying the English and American Ensigns. At Government House a tiffin was prepa- red, of which His Excellency and many of the principal Plan- ters partook. “As soon as the bustle of the procession hand subsided I be- gan to look about me and inspect the towa. Victoria was formerly called ‘L’Etablissement,’ but by special permission was named after Her Majesty in 1841. It lies on the S. W. of Mahe on a plateau between the base of the Trois Ereres Mountain and the sea. Nearly the whole of the houses are of wood, and few of more than one storey. All the streets are short, narrow and slope to the sea. A prufusion of fine flowers and trees flourish here, but I cannot say much for the order and arrangement of the gardens. It has two great advantages over Port Louis. The streams that flow through it to the sea are clean, not the filthy water courses offensive to the eyes and noses of the inhabitants of the city, as well as detrimental to the general health, and thus the harbour of Mahe avoids the pollution so fatal to that of Port Louis. Then again, the Sey- chellois wisely plant trees in their streets (instead of chopping them down) and I need hardly say how grateful is the shade of a Palm or Badamier to the pedestrian, if only for a few mo- meats’ rest. “ There are two sacred edifices, Catholic and Protestant. The Court House, Post Office and other public buildings have a general tropical character, i. e. rather shaky and time worn. They nre erecting a new Custom House, which when comple- ted, will be avast improvemnt on the old tumble down affair which has hitherto served as Douana. Government ITouse stands on a slight elevation and resembles an old fashioned country farm house ; hut it is embellished with fine trees and there are pretty walks about the grounds. In front is a very fair specimen of the Coco demer, but inferior in site and beau- ty to those of Praslin. The Cemetery struck me as very sin- gular. It was I believe during tho occupation of the French the 92 — “ Jardin du Roi,” and was planted with fine spice and other trees, now it does duty for a mightier King. It is on a steep elope near Government House, but the graves are so little proctected that after heavy rains, some of them must be entire- ly laid bare. “ Kear the Cemetery is the Mausoleum of the Chevalier Queau de Quincy, Military Commandant under the French Republic. He was Governor of the Seychelles in 1794 when Commodore Newcome in the Orphotos accompanied by other vessels of war, enterred the Bay and demanded the surren- der of the place, giving De Quincy an hour’s time to decide. Finding himself in a pretty considerable fix, he wisely com- plied with the demand; and the old and distinguished Officer was allowed to capitulate with all the honors of war. It would appear that he soon won the respeet of his conqueror. The Commodore not being able to loave men enough to occupy the place, actually proposed to De Quincy to accept tbe post of Governor under the new Regime, which he did, and kept loyally to his compact. The French however did not give up all claim to the Islands so summarily wrested from them. In 1801 after the attempt to assassinate the First Consul, 71 of the conspirators were banished to Mahe, but with very few exceptions they all perished, no provision being made for them by the French Government. Some descendants ot these few are still living. It was only in 1814 that these islands were formally ceded to Britain. “ There is a good Hospital just outside the town. It is cons- tructed of sawn blocks of coral procured from the reefs, and strange to say, the usual discoloration by the action of the elements on coral has not yet taken place, the blocks being still as white as snow. “The Bay of Mahe is about 4 miles in extent, and capable of containing over 1.00 vessels. The entrance is however so in- tricate as to render it almost impossible for a stranger to en. ter it at night, and even in the day time it requires a good pilot. Mr Franklin has recently laid down a number of Buoys to assist navigation in the tortuous channel. Many little islets dot the Bay and from the chaussee cau be seen the — 93 chain of islands encircling it, except on the N. and forming a natural breakwater. This archipelago consists of 29 islands situated between Lat. 3 °33’ to 5 ° 45’ S. and Long. 55 ° 15’ to 56° 10’ E. and lie at a distance of over 900 miles from Mauritius. Their authentic history commenced in 1742 when they were discovered by Capt. Picault of the Elizabeth who was cruizing in these seas by the order of the Mauritian Governor Labourdonnais. The group was then named after him and the largest called Mah6, but later their appellation was changed to Les Seychelles, after Vicomte Herault de Seychelles. “ These islands must have been known very early, probably to the PhcBnicians who were constantly trading up and down the African coast. There is certain evidence of their being known to the Arabs, as in the lie du Nord Arabic inscriptions have been found cut on the rocks. It is not improbable that the Arabs of the E. coast of Africa made them a refuge in their piratical expeditions. Who knows what horrid tragedies may have been enacted amongst the lovely scenery of this archipelago, equally dark and blood stained with those per- petrated by the Buccaneers of the West. A short time ago, on cutting down a large “ Bois Blanc ” in the forest at Mahe an arrow head of hard black wood was found embedded in its heart. It must have lain there for ages as the surrounding wood was quite discolored, and the wound was so perfectly closed that the arrow was only discovered on sawing the tree into planks. It is not improbable that the Arabs of the Zanzibar coast would man their boats with slaves from the natives tribes N. of the Lupata Mounts, many of which are skilled in the use of this primitive weapon, which is often used for killing birds. “ The second day after my arrival I hired a pirogue and proceeded to make acquaintance with the coral reefs in the Bay, which had about a foot of wrnter on them at the time of my visit, and are never quite exposed they tell me. I found the corals very similar to those at Mauritius. The blocks of Astrceas and Pontes are immense, and they are sawn into shape and used for building, being more easily worked than the hard granite of the mountains. Lying loose on them I found fine heads of live Meandrinat, the Gracilis and others, their polyps of a lustrous green, and various small Astrceas of all shades of green aud brown. The beautiful silver grey Poecillipora elongata so rare at Mauritius was here abundant and covered with serpulas, many of theii1 animals of the brightest Rcarlet. I found some pieces of n Pcecillopora near the elongata quito new to me, but all dead. The fiue rose tinted P. Gcespitosa was plentiful, its square fairy cups filled with a snow white polyp. Thero were large pieces of dead P. verrucosa so much sought for by the coral vendors for bleaching as the branches are solid as well as elegant, unlike the fragile Madrepora alcicornis which breaks at a touch. I saw a great deal of it, but mostly broken. The tips are of delicate blue, and the vendors often colour this and other corals to imitate nature, an imitation that looks as if it had been dipped in a blue bag ! “ Like loveliest gems lay the pink and lilac tipped Madrepora alirantanoules, (1) their cups resembling exquisite lace work. Fungi from the size of a crown piece to a platter lay all about, and numbers of other corals some well known and others new to me. “ Sporting amongst these treasures of Oceau were innumera- ble fish their scaly sides shewing combinations of colour so marvellous that when drawn they appear impossibilities, or would do so had we not daily verifying proof in our fish mar- ket. I was surprised at the scarcity of E chinas, star fish etc. but crabs of all sizes and hues were abundant, scrambling and scampering about the rocks, and hiding in the crevices when disturbed with a celerity defying capture. I detached a tube of a large and curious Tubicolous Annelide, the elegant arbo rescent appendages brilliantly tinted with violet, yellow and red. These tentacles which form the respirating apparatus of the animal are drawn in instantoneouly at a touch, the quick- est case of collapse I know ; though how ho tucks in the largo feathery head and his stiff body into the comparatively small case is a wonder — but once his door is shut by thick fleshy (1) I use the word Corals in the ordinary acceptation to save a repeti- tion of scientific words ; of oonr-o it U well known Madroporos and others are not true Corals. — 95 — filaments, and bo closely, that it is only when death takes place and thoy relax their hold that the creature slips out of his house. The tentacles were nearly three inches in length over GO in number and when extended they equalied in beauty any Passion flower that ever grew. “ The case though rough and unsightly out-side, is lined with a substance as soft and shiny as brown satin. It preserved so well in aicohol that it is now on its way across another ocean with numbers ot other curiosities to excite the admiration of scientific men at home. ‘•The reels appear to be making in rapidly just as they are in Mahebourg Bay. .The formation of the actual reef coral, as is well known is ot the slowest possible, yet the light surface co- rals are of rapid growth and the coral debris brought in by every dash of the waves, counts for much in the course of a year. How long a time has elapsed since the foundation of those reefs was laid who can tell ? The fellows sawing up the giant blocks little thought of the tiny architects of the ponde- rous masses. “According to the scientific calculations, I should think the first polyp must have begun his work somewhere about the time when man had arrived at a few stages from hi# original Ascidian state, of Darwinian notoriety. III. “ On Monday the 28th I rose very early in order to enjoy a long walk before the oppressive heat of the day set in. I took the road North of the town, which makes along the shore fora distance of about 5 miles. The fine road was 1 believe com- menced under tbe administration of the Hon. 8. Ward, and is still being carried on by Mr Commissioner Franklin. “ After leaving my residence I came to a number of large Turtle pounds on tbe right of tbe road, which are in fact in- lets from the Bay, and the tide ebbs and flows in them. The flesh of the Turtle forms the ‘Beef’ of these Islands, and is in great demand. I paused to watch the capture of some by se- veral stout Moeambiques. One of tbe fellows who seemed to be quite an expert, having selected a fine large one, cleverly — 96 — caught it by one of its flippers and managed to turn it on its back, and then dragged it to shore. Some of his comrades at once seized it and soon lifted it to a sort of wooden barrow still on its back. Four of them then shouldered the barrow and carried the turtle off to markc-t to be cut up for sale. I would here mention that my friend the Hon. S. Ward has kindly given me the use of the copious notes he made on all subjects connected with the Seychelles during the time he was Civil Commissioner there. They are full of valuable informa- tion and I willingly avail myself of it. My time there was so limited I am glad to be able to supplement my own observa- tions with facta from so able a source. The Green Turtle ( Chelonia viridis) and the Hawksbill Turtle ( Garetta imbricata ) both abound in these seas, but from their reckless destruction, their numbers are gradually lessen- ing. The former, of Aiderruanie repute, grows to a great size, but its shell; with the exception of the centre plate called “ Gaouane ” is worthless. This is used for common veneering, and it takes 3 turtles to give a pound of it, yet, every year large numbers are sacrificed to procure it. In 18G2, 600 pounds of “Caouane” were exported for which 1800 turtles must have been destroyed, giving au average of 490,000 lbs. of weight good eatable flesh wasted and left to rot on the beach. “The valuable Tortoise shell of commerce is procured from the Hawk’s bill. Some are speared as they lie floating on the water, with an instrument like a sharp spike nail attached to a long stick. When struck with this spear the air rushes in under the carapace and prevents the animal from sinking, thus facilitating its capture. Others are caught when they come on shore to lay their eggs, as they only require to be turned on their backs to securo them. “ They come on shore at night and dig a hole 3 or 4 feet deep in the sand with their flippers, and therein deposit their eggs, afterwards so carefully covering them that it is ouly au expert can find them. Before I left Mahe, I saw one of my country men unearth a nest which had over a hundred eggs in, and he took them and buried them near his house in an enclosure that he might get them when hatched, at which period the turtle is considered a great delicacy-. — 97 “When they leave the eggs, they have only a soft shell and many perish from tho attacks of birds as they seek the sea, which instinct teaches them to do, as soon as hatched. There they meet a still more formidable 1'oe in the numerous sharks, hut with all this they propagate very rapidly. When a full grown turtle is attacked by a shark, it defends itself by turn- ing its flippers over the back, thus leaving nothing to lay hold of, but if speared and trying to escape, the flippers are instantly nipped off by the savage brute. “ After killing the turtles, the upper part of the carapace is taken off ; a hole is dug in the sand and a fire made in it, over which is placed the hollow carapace, and this is completly covered with wet sea weed ; when the steam soon separates the laminoe, or outer plates, the only part used for commerce. The turtles of the Atlantic feed in a great measure on the Zostera marina or Marine grass, but I saw none of it here, though so abundant in Mauritius. Their food appears to be principally a species of Sargassum which is in great abundance. “ After passing the Hospital I came to a fine bridge cons- tructed in Mr. Wards’ time. It spans a deep ravine and I passed to admire the rich vegetation clothing the banks of the crystal stream that was quietly finding its way to the sea. There were clumps of the feathery Bamboo over 40 feet in height, that at once stamp the character and give such ele- geance to Tropical scenery, they bent gracefully over the profusion of ferns, flowers, and grasses, whispering, who knows what of Nature’s secrets, in their soft creaking tones, to the lesser, yet still lovely denizens of the wilds at their feet. Beautiful green lizards were playing hide and seek on the Bamboos, or patiently waiting for the unwary insects that should venture within reach. I wished for my camera to be able to carry away some tangible souvenir of the scene, but. “ There were forms so various, that no powers of art, , The pencil or tho pen, may trace the scene ! ” •‘I met many Mozambique men aud women, sauntering along the road, most of them going to work in the town. One of them had a curious musical instrument on which he was playing. It was called a fiddle, but certainly did not resemble one, nor was a bow used on it. It consisted of a straight piece of wood, with D or 4 niches cut in one end, which served the same purpose as the frets of a guitar. Half a large gourd was affixed to it as a sounding board, and the hollow side is held against the breast when played. Two Banana fibre strings were fastened at one end and then tight drawn and secured on the niches. They were struck with the fingers of the right hand, and the thumb of the left assisted The music was plaintive, but not unpleasant although in a minor key. These people all looked very happy and contented and were not apparently in any hurry to get to their work however indus- trious they may be when at it, though that I take to be very doubtful. “Some distance further I came to another brook and bridge, and passed under instead of over the latter in search of cuiios. I there for the first time saw those singular animals called the ‘‘ Jumping fish,” Periopthalum Eoelneuleri. I at first took them to be Lizards, for they live as much out of the water as in it, taking life easily by sunning themselves on the roots of old trees or on stones. They are very quick, and when frightened dart into the water skimming its surface more like a bird than a fish, 1 was a long while before I succeeded in catching one and though his fins are bright yellow and grey, his coat is homely and the two eyes close together at the top of the head give him an evil look. The large pectoral fins have at their base strong muscles, and can bo lowered and by help of them and the ventrals, the fish can move rapidly when out of the water in humid places. Its prey is said to be terrestrial insects which it leaves the water to hunt, and it is found both in rivers and on the sea beach. “I have seen stone broken in many parts of the world, but here I found quite a novel method at least to me. I came upon a large fire of coco fibres, and asked what such an amount of good fuel wras being wasted for. I was answerod that it was to crack the granite rocks, that are so hard that ordinary drills will not pierce the great boulders, so recourse is had to hoat to split them. 99 ‘‘The sun was now just rising from his watery bed, the sky cloudless. “ The eastern gate, all fi- ry red, Opening' on Neptune with fair blessed beams, Turns into yellow gold, his salt-green streams.” ‘‘I wandered up a norrow path through the bushes towards the high lands with a view to gain the top of the mountain. I soon entered a large grove of Cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale ) then laden with fruit and in many places it was strewed all over the ground. I noticed that the natives who saw me eat them shook their heads, and they told me they were not good to eat, but the cashew being an old acquain- tance of mine I did not heed them. ‘‘It was astonishing to me that this beautiful tree should bo so neglected. It is in many respects a valu able one and grows luxuriantly in most all most all land below 1000 ft. When in Fernambuco some years since I attended an Exhibition and saw a quantity of wine made from the Cashew, and the Go- vernor informed me, that in the following year it was expected that enough would be made to export to Europe and America, and he hoped soon it would form an important item in the products of the country. It was well flavoured, far nicer than most of the Australian wine, I have tasted. The nut is good for desert, and capital when roasted. It is said also that they make a d licious pickle, only to bo known to be appreciated, and the wood is useful for furniture. I have sec-n a fine side board made from it, so it would prove as serviceable as a cocoanut tree if cultivated and looked after. Many acres waste land could be easily planted with it, as everything grows so luxuriantly in this Island. “ The soil is composed of degrated granite and vegetable mould and in the flatland near the sea is iu most parts very rich. A little patch of creole rice was growing where I stop- ped to rest, and I was told it yielded largely and was very porfitable, and to judge from appearance it was ns fine as any I ever saw. “ Why all the various articles of culture which have been — 100 — proved such a success here are now so neglected is a marvel. From cotton alone large fortune ore said to have been made I was informed one proprietor having remitted to France £70,000 all drawn from his cotton plantations, (put it down at francs and I should think it nearer the mark.) Any way cotton of most superior 'growth thrives here equal to the best sea Island, in silkiness and length of fibre. The peculiar soil and climate are admirably suited to it. How much might not such a country produce ! but from the present state of things it appears that little trouble is taken to make the most of the goods so lavishly provided. The indomitable laissez-aller of tropical climates evidently prevails here. “As I proceeded up the mountain, I came to some clumps of Jamrosas and wild Guavas. The shade was grateful for the heat was very great. I had long known that the Jamrosa is the favorite food of the Leaf flv ( Phjllium Siccifolium), and its branches their especial habitat, so soon commenced a vigorous search for them. The peculiar dress nature has bestowed on them, enables them well to elude the pursuit of the uninitiat- ed. In form they imitate various leaves, and the veining of the wings keeps up the resemblance, and at different stages the shade of green changes. Some grow to over three inches in length, and all have curious leaf like expansions on the legs. They hide on the under side of leaves, and it was sometime before I succeeded in finding any. When disturbed, they have a peculiar way of doubling themselves up, so that the illusion continues for they are then like little crumpled up leaflets. The eggs resemble a brown seed Carambole form, and are very numerous. Those I found were under a loose piece of bark iu the crevice of a Jamrosa. Crawling on this tree I saw insects of all ages and sizes, some only a quarter of an inch long. I brought some away with me as they bear confinement •veil, and eat voraciously, but many came to an untimely end as their enemy, the small red ant, found them out, and made a meal of them. “On some of the frees I saw the nests of a Cana or Termite, similar fo tlioso in Mauritius but the ants are, I believe, different. They are black and very active and bite like the mischief. 101 - “ There were also those curious siowgoers, yot marvellously wide — awake little auimals the Chameleons, bat not" amongst the dead leaves as I found them in the Cape, but crawling up the grasses and bushes. This I am told, is not its favourite haunt, but on the Bamboos, where it is more active and at home than elsewhere. They are very tame and will pursue their prey in a window just as well as in the bush. The . eye is on the ball and socket principle, and the creature has the power of turning one completely round while the other is stationary. This power is of the greatest use to it in catching its prey. When lying apparently asleep, from its utter quie- tude of manner, if closely examined, one. eye will be found turned a little behind the other, and the small pupils scanning every point before and behind. Should any fly or other insect come within its range of vision, it quietly collects itself into marching order, but so stealthily the movement is almost imperceptible, and when within what it conceives to be an accurate range, out shoots the long tongue, and it is not often it misses. If it does, it at once drops into quiescence and waits patiently its next chance. The Chameleon is very harm- less, but can be excited to anger by rubbing on the back when it will open its month, a great yellow cavern, and puff itself out with a hissing sound, but I never saw it attempt to bite. It changes its colours according to the substance it is on, and when angry becomes very dark. At night it is perfectly white, and it then curls itself up and sleeps till the first streak of light wakes it to hunt for prey. Its foot consists of two pre- hensile toes without any claws, and its movement is peculiar as it often makes several attempts beforo it puts the foot down, a precautionary measure to secure a firm foothold I presume. After considerable mounting I came to a sort of plateau where was a clean looking hut, and behiud is rose a giant granite cliff, (shewing a straight inaccessible face, utterly precluding my further progress. I saw a woman and some children, and a little boy brought me out a bench aud placed it under a bread fruit tree; mv hot and wearied look I sup- pose touching the woman’s kindly nature, aud I was but too — 102 — glacl of a rest. She made me understand her husband was a fisherman and that even then he was on his way home up the mountain. He very soon put in an appearance, and when he saw me he welcomed me in English, as he told me he had ser- ved in an American whaler. He at once offered to get me some coconuts, and his wife busied herself to prepare me some bread fruit she had been roasting in ashes for her hus- baitd, very good I found it the first time I had tasted this * delicious fruit cooked in this manner, and the coconut milk was most refreshing after my climb. My visit seemed to make quite a small excitement. The mau now told me his history, a simple one enough, his father was a mozambique slave, and he himself had tried all sorts of employments, but having made some money whaling, he had settled down on this moun- tain, and cultivated a little patch of ground. Some patates, rice, etc., forming nearly all his wealth, with some fowls that lived mostly by their wits and scraped a livelihood in the bushes. He told me that formerly he had planted tobacco and made some profit by it, but now it was so heavily taxed he was obliged to abandon it. He might have done it on the sly, but he said his priest who was a good man, told him not to do so, noc to break the laws, so he obeyed, but found it very hard. He eked out a living by fishing, and thus helped the daily larder. I filled my pipe with some capital tobacco grown in the island, and as it is very possible by far the greater number of those who use the “weed” in Mauritius know nothing of its culture, I will give a slight summary of it. “ As soon as the plant shows flower every bud and small shoot on the base of the stem must be picked off each plant, and this every 24 hours. By doing so the leaves acquire great breadth and all the vigour of the plant. When fit to cut, which is proved by the thick, spotty appearance of the leaf and a gummy secretion on it of a brown colour, it is taken ofi' about three inches from the ground, and laid in the sun for about a quarter of an hour, and then hung up to await its final preparation of having the veins of the leaves extracted. All injured ones are laid aside, and the good are rolled up tightly into “ carottes ” and bound together by being placed in a portion of tho heart leaves of a palm, and tied up vcrv carefully with plaited aloe fibre. If this ligature is always tight the tobacco will preserve a yeiy long time, but if it be- comes loose and is exposed to the air it soon moulds. “ It appears to me a great pity the Government baa thought, proper to put such a heavy tax on the cultivation of tobacco, as it deters the small lauded proprietors from a more profita- ble culture than caues for them, both here and in Mauritius. “The man showed me a musical instrument called, as well as I could make out, a “Bobre.” It is just the form of a bow and about its size. The string is played with the back of the- fingers of the left hand, and struck with the right by a little stick about a foot long, on which is tied at the end a bundle of small pebbles that rattle as it touches the string. He played some mery tune on it and all tie children danced to it, even the mother figuriqg in at times. “ I saw many of the pretty little white sea birds Sterna Alla hovering over head, and they told me their uests and those of the Paille enqueue were so well known, that one little fellow started off and brought me presently what I should have taken for a lady’s large powder puff', but from old acquaintance, I knew better. The tropic birds ( Phaeton Candida ) only lay a solitary egg, and for some time after it is batched it is like nothing but a ball of down, I must not forget it has a beak in it, for the little savage-can nip sharply, and not all backward to do it, and screeches horridly when disturbed. “ As it was precisely the same as those 1 have had so many of in Port Louis I sent it back (o the parent bird, who who doubt- less bewailing its loss. A nice time she must have of it, when Paterfamilias lias flown away to fetch food from the sea, for when hungry it screams till its hunger is appeased, and until it is satisfied and the mother, Papa must wait, and even go supperless if he has brought short allowance. Their principal food is a kind of Sepia or Ourite called Loligo, which is abun- dant in these seas. “ When I was thoroughly rested, and rose to go, the man offered to show me a short cut down the mountain. Wild pine- — 104 — apples were growing up to the path, with a bright red flower, but none of the fruit was ripe. We met a man with a covered basket, and when he saw me ho took off the leaves and present- ed me with a handful of fine cashew nuts, and I found them so good I bought his basket full which he carried for me down to my quarters, and relieved me of oome of my load of ferns and boxes and bottles, for I had secured a good sollection of insects on the way. It was nearly noon when I got back, the heat quite oppressive, but it did not prevent my enjoying a very hearty breakfast, and I spent the rest of the day in ’arranging all my treasures. Y I “ I received a special invitation to visit Recife and Frigate islands in the French Corvette Surprise, capt. Thierry, (men- tioned in a former letter). I went down to the pier early morning and being ahead of the party took the opportunity of examining this real y fine construction. I met Mr Chal- mers, the Superintendent of part of the work, and he pro- mised me some written details of it, a promise ho fulfilled later. Never was anything in Seychelles erected with such celerity and not alone with speed but well done into the bargain. Here is positive proof that the Seychellois can work well, and let us hope that this may be the beginning of im- provements essential to the interests of the place. “ When this pier is built it is expected that goods may be lauded or shipped with facility, whatever be the state of the tide, a matter hitherto difficult and oft times impossible Tho pier was commenced during the administration of Mr Ward, but only 100 feet were completed, circumstances preventing its continuation. In March 1870, it was recommenced and on the 21st September 1871 it was advanced to 1750 feet, Itba3 been entirely done under the personal superintendance of Mr Commissioner Franklin. “ The mountains and the ocean have contributed to this ad- mirable sea wall. The former has supplied its everlasting granite lor the sido walls, which are about 8^ feet high ; tho latter has rendered up its mysteriously wrought corals to fill — 105 in the centre, thus aiding man in forming a barrier, firm enough to withstand the attacks of its boisterous waves. The breadth of the pier is about 20 feet, and it is intended to carry it on to a length of 3,600 feet. On the 28th August 1871 a tramway was begun and by the 21st September, 1,600 feet were completed and trucks working on it. There is a crane at the upper end to lift goods from the trucks to the new Custom-House, and it is proposed to erect a second at the point of the pier, to lift cargo from ships or lighters iuto the trucks. The Tramway, Trucks aud Crane were sent from the Mauritius Railway, and up to this period have cost about £500. The whole of this part of the work has been superintended by Mr Chalmers who went from Mauritius for that purpose, and infinite credit it does him. “ By the time I had well inspected the place all were assem- bled and soon on board. The Corvette had her steam up ready to start, and quickly slipped her cable from the Buoy and threaded the intricate chaunel. It was a glorious morning overhead, but with such a heavy swell on the sea that made walking on deck anything but comfortable for a landsman, to say not iing of the tribute exacted by Neptune from some of the party. This latter, I was happily exempt from, and could enjoy the exhilirating scene. Words fail me to give any ade- quate idea of the loveliness of the view of these islands from the sea ; wherever one gazed the eye took in such exquisite picture as will remain for life impressed on my mind, vividly to be recalled whenever I think of the Seychelles. “ Whole scools of Albucore followed the ship, catting rapidly through the waves and shewing thuir fins out of water. The Executive Officer threw out a line, and in a few minutes the bait was greedily caught, and soon a flue fellow lay on the deck. He was done justice to by the cook for breakfast at a later hour. When we had steamed out about three quarters of an hour the whole group of Islands came into view. Is’ ot long after we came to lie Reciffa aud held up steam to leeward of it. It is only at certain times boats can land at this little island, but we determined to try if we might be of the favoured ones. A whale boat was lowered with 8 men in her, and with — 106 — two of the midshipmen from the Forte and myself we set oft to make an attempt to land. We got close to the breakers, when a person on shore signalled to us to go back as it was impossible a boat could live in the sea then running, and very reluctantly we returned to the ship, which was not done with- out some trouble on account of the strong current, and the waves curling all round us. “ This islaud is leased to a person from Mauritius who reaps a profit from the eggs collected there and sold at Mahe. It is astonishing to see the immense numbers of black birds hov- ering over it, the Anons Stolidus. It resembled a rookery on a large scale and the birds appear to be as resentful of intru- sion on their domain as rooks are, for they say, no other birds are found here. The smell of the guano was very disagreeable, and the proprietor told me he intended to begin to collect it for exportation. The manner of procuring fresh eggs is curious. A patch on the sand is cleared from stones, and old eggs, and on the following morning it is found covered with new laid ones, as these birds build no nest. We could see over the Island which is destitute of vegetation, mere barred granite rocks, with here and there patches of soil from their degrada- tion, and some spots of sand on the shore. There are two sma 1 huts on it for the guardians. “ We strained from Reciffe to Frigate Island, which is about 50 miles from Mahe. We saw great numbers of that species of Porpoise called by w'halemen the cow-fish. They are of an olive brown with a white stripe from head to tail, and as they followed the ship constantly leaped out of the water often many feet in an oblique direction, but as we were steaming and sailing fast, wo soon left them behind. Large turtles lay ap- parently asleep floating on the waves, for our passing did not seem at all to disturb them. When about 3 miles from Frigate Island there is a strong current, and one single rock just shews above the waters, which break madly round it. At a short distance from it are soundings over 50 fathoms, so that very probably it is the top of some submerged mountain of a former continent. “ We ran in round this rock and fired a gun. We could 107 — plainly see the houses on shore and people moving about, and a flag staff with the English ensign but no one came off, and after waiting some time, the midshipmen volunteered to go on shore in the whale boat. In rounding the island we lost sight of them, and supposed they intended landing on the other side which is very high, and we expected to see them, b it as a good time elapsed and no appearance of them, some fears were entertained for their safety. After waiting till 3 p.m., we fired another gun, when in a few minutes we saw a very large whale boat approaching, and it proved to contain M. Savy the proprietor of the place, come to invite the party on shore, to visit his house, an offer willingly accepted, and we anded on a bold .shore, the waves breaking directly on the rocks near us. Our landing wras effected by anchoring the boat in the surf about 50 feet from shore, when two men paid out the cable till her stern was near enough the rock, that we could leap out. 'We had to climb up the side of the only mount a:n there, about 280 feet high through a few stunted trees, passed over the top where the bare rock shews in many places and in others patches of coarse grass, and descended the opposite side to the low land where Mr Savy’s house stands, shaded by mag- nificent Bauian and other trees. This gentleman was exceed- ingly polite and hospitable and after offering refreshments proceeded to do the honors of his Island home. “ He has a Distillery for Rum made from sugar-canes, a plantation of which looked well. His vegetable garden was flourishing and we were all astonished at the monster cabbages growing there. A number of Madagascar cattle were grazing about the place, and he told us he made considerable oil from the cocoa-nut trees which were most prolific, and employed about 40 men in all. “ It appears to me a great pity that some enterprizing men does not introduce into these islands proper machines for tho- roughly expressing the oil from the “ coperee ” or kernell of the cocoa-nut. It is an item of great financial importance, cs a fair price is given, and a ready sale always found for it in Mauritius. I fiud that in 1862 about £10,000 worth was ex- ported and with proper appliances that amount might, according to good authority, be easily doubled. — 108 " The means now adopted are only those employed from time immemorial, in India, Ceylon, &c., namely, the old wooden mill on the pestle and mortar principle worked by an ox. By this miserably clumsy appliance nearly half the oil is lost. It takes onecwt. of “ coperee ” to make 4 velts (40 wine bottles) cf oil, with proper mills and suitable presses, at least 7 velts nrght be obtained from the same amount.” The cocoa nut tree is certainly the greatest boon ever bestowed on a t'opical climate, from its numerous uses, and as I have observed before» it should be planted wherever one will grow, and not only here but in Mauritius also. Why the culture of so useful a tree, not to speak of its beauty should be utterly neglected in Mauritius I know not. It is one of those enigmas yet to be solved. “ To go back to Frigate island, after seeing a good deal of the place, I soon began hunting about the bushes, but I was warned by Mr Savy to beware of the scorpions and spiders, especially a large species of the latter, which is abundant, and its bite venomous. He told me that when the men went to work in the fields they took a small phial of concentrated ammonia with them, as these spiders attack them by springing on them a9 the Epeiras do on their prey. Sometimes the bite when not promptly attended to will cause death or long illness, but even when dressed at once with ammonia, the victim is laid up for 8 or 10 days. The poison induces vomiting, cramps, and swelling of the whole body. This same spider is also at Mahe and I saw an American on Mr Sedgewick’a Estate who was bitten by a spider while asleep, and he had been in bed for some weeks. It did not however appear to me as common there as at Frigate Island. I found them amongst husks of cocoauuts and dry leaves, and succeeded in bottliug a number. It was with the greatest difficuhy I could get the Mozambiques to come near me when they saw I had caught some. In brushing over some dead leaves for a Scincus new to me, a spider jumped out at them, and they ran for dear life as if a tiger was after them ; no inducement could make them help me put them in the bottle of alcohol. “ This spider belongs to the genus Phryrim, and resembles — 109 — the P. reniforme Fab. but if the drawings I have seen of the latter are correct, then these I procured are of a different species or a very strongly marked variety for there are no- table differences in the palpi and legs. This genus is easily known by the excessive tenuity of the multiarticulate fore legs, which apparently serve the purposes of antennoe rather than of locomotion. Like all the Pedipalpi, the maxillary palpi resemble legs, are very stout and long, and terminate in a formidable group of claws. The mandibles are very short and sharp ; and the legs have a double serration on the outer side to the second articulation where is a sharp spine, and they terminate in a double claw. Armed thus at all points, and carnivorous, they must be most terrible enemies to the insects they feed on. I have some females 14 lines long, but the males rarely exceed nine. The fore legs of the former mea- sure over 5 inches. The latter have brown and yellow striae on the legs whilst the female is of a uniform dark brown ex- cept the palpi that are nearly black. This genus exists I believe only in Seychelles, Brazil nnd Lower California. I captured several scorpions from 8 to 9 inches long, but the men did not seem afraid of them as they were of the spiders. One small one not more than an inch and a half long of a different species seems to be the only one dreaded, the bite of it causing violent inflammation. I was only able to procure one specimen of it. Several snakes were brought to me alive, said to be harmless. Some of a bright yellow and olive colour, others ash colour with dirty white spo^s, and they were said to be different species, but on examining them before and after death, I concluded them to be only varieties of the same species, the differences caused probably by various food and ages. They call them harmless, simply because they don’t attempt to bite unless attacked, but if they do bite, it is never with ut danger more or less. “ On almost all the coco nut trees is found a large Gecko of a yellowish brown colour, somewhat repulsive looking. Strange to say it is only found on this island and at Curieuse. I now first saw the beautiful bird the Pie Chanteuse, Copsychus Ssehellarum first brought to the notice of the scientific world — 110 — by the Hon. E. Newton and his brother. I should have liked to procure a specimen but the proprietor was unwilling to have one shot as this, as well as other indigenous birds in the various islands will soon be but memories of the past, as are the Dodo, Solitaire, &c., from their constant destruction by cats and rats, both of which are in formidable numbers in most of the islands. A nest with a young one was brought to us, but one of the party requested it might be at once replaced, which was immediately done. This neat was roughly and loosely made of dried blades of coarse grass outside, but the interior was of very fine grass neatly interwoven, interspersed with tufts of wrild cotton. It was about 4 inches in diameter within. The young bird had still its pin feathers and was very fat. “ The plumage of the full grown birds is nearly black with a brillant gleam of blue when in the sun, except a white patch on the upper wing coverts. I quote a few notes on this bird from Mr Newton’s “ Land birds of the Seychelles Archipe- lago ” as he studied it particularly whilst there. He describes them as bold and familiar, even entering the houses. Their food appears to be millepedes, beetles, lizards, &c. They have a jerking motion of the tail and sit with the wings drooping and tail erect. The bird has a pleasant succession of low soft notes heard chiefly morning and evening, The young if taken from the nest are rarely if ever reared. A good drawing of this bird may be seen in the Ibis for August 18G5. “ When huntiug for shells on the shore a coloured man evidently a labourer, came up and asked me the names of some species he had in his hands and of which he told me about their animals. I at once gave him them as they were familiar to me One of our party laughed at the Idea of such a man wanting to know anything of concholo^y. Now it struck me as anything but laughable, this pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. I could not help comparing this humble aspirant for information, who had well studied the animals and their habits, with the numerous shell collectors in Mauritius and elsewhere, who load their memory with long scientific names, and know nothing of the habits, habitat or forms of the architects of the shells. — Ill — “ Frigate Island has but sparse vegetation, no large timber trees, only here and there clumps of bushes. It is entirely of granite, and I think of more recent date than Curieuse, which I visited later. The granite of the mountain is less degraded, and has fewer fissures, and there is a scarcity of the detached bou'ders on the lower parts of the island, compared with those I saw elsewhere. “ The reef near Mr. Savy’s house makes off to some dis- tance, and I was astonished to find it consisted in a great measure of the Scarlet Tubiporu Musica, so brilliant when in the water but tiiat grows dull directly it is dry. I have how- ever seen some pieces from St- Braudon preserve their colour many mouths. The colour instead of being a bright scarlet is orange, so it is possible it may be another species of the Tubiporoe, it being now decided by zoologists that there are others besides the musicct, distinguishable by the colour of the polyps. These auimais appear to have been more closely studied than any other of the corallines. “ The Tubiporm live in societies but do not appear to be united, as the compound polyps. A group presents several stages of tubes, one above the other, but appear slightly to diverge as radiating from a common centre ; they are separated by iutervals and support each other by horizontal laminae. From each tuba issues a membranous animal of a grassgreeu colour, the mouth being surrouuced by 9 tentacles, furnished along their edges with rows of minute fleshy papilioe.” “ I found some interesting Algcea the same as those at Mauritius, but very large. The Laurencia papillosa, Padina pavonia and H ydroclatlirus cancellahos. The fronds of the Qracilaria crassa so small in Mauritius were very large, and it lay in masses on the shore. The lovely Plocamium cornuta that I have taken at Flacq and Flat Island, was also abundant of the most brilliant scarlet. To my sui’prise I found a plant dead on the beach I have looked iu vain for at Mauritius, the Bryopsis plumosa. This elegant little plant is found the world over from the cold north in the Feroe Islands through the tropics southward, to Cape Horn and jN"ew Zealand. Between the shore and the reefs grows the Oaulerpa denticulate but I — 112 — did not Bee any of the long fronds of the C. Scalpelli formii bo abundant in Port Louis Harbour. In the Pacific archi- pelagoes several species of Caulerjpa are eaten, and the green fat of the Turtle is said to hr owing to the semi-gelatinous, blight green endochrome conuiuiing starch grains mixed with oily particles, that fills the fronds of all Caulerpas. I picked up a branch of Turbinaria, but it appeared much coarser than the ornata at Mauritius. The cup like tips of the fronds were filled with the pretty little coralline parasite, Jania antenina its pink colour having the effect of a flower, it was in such masses that it was very umicult to kuow which was the ori- ginal plant. This however was not the only parasite that had adopted the Turbinaria us a home. I was waiting for the rest to return to the boat and sat down under a cocoanut tree to examine the plant with my j lass. Some of the fronds were covered which appeared to be a disease, to the naked eye, but on close inspection, proved to be minute Lepralia or sea scurf as it has been called, a s:>rt of congeries of egg-shaped cells of calcareous matter, but as the Turbinaria bad been long out of water of course I did not see the polyps. Under it on the rock lay a delicate Hydatina physis, with its animal still alive. It is worth a walk to the sea shore to see this beautiful creature, and if any one in Mauritius possesses an Aquarium I would recommend the owner to procure oue as soon as possible, as it bears confinement well. The colours are a lovely buff and sky blue, and when it outspreads its dia- phanous mantle as it will do on the hand, it is a most interest- ing object. Bits of Flustrn 8 lav about, shewing how rich in Marine plants these seas are, and I wished I had a longer time to remain, to examine the reefs and shore. Oue bit, I snatched up in haste and pocketed, prove to be on examina- tion a pretty Sertularia growing on a Flustrn Foliacea. “The Corvette was lying off and on about three quarters of a mile away, not daring to approach nearer, but the whale boat that brought us to shore was to -sing up and down like an egg" shell, not at all to the inconvenience of the men who lay half asleep in her. As'we embarked, a wave broke over the boat and gave us a thorough wetting. Mr Savy accom- — 113 — panied us to the Corvette bringing with him a fine basket of vegetables. We then took leave of the hospitable owner of Frigate Island and steamed back again towards Make. A passing shower that fell. at some distance from us, revealed a new beauty which added a wonderful charm to the already attractive scene. A double rainbow was formed and seemed to bridge the distance between two of the islands. “ Gaze on that arch of coloured light, And read God’s mercy there. It tells us that the mighty deep, Fast by the eternal chained, No more o’er earth’s domain shall sweep. Awful and unrestrained.” ‘‘ I cannot speak too highly of Capt. Thierry for his polite- ness and attention to his guests. I must not forget the sparkling champagne which he dispensed so liberally that was grown on his father’s estate in France. The last probably for years he wouid have from the vineyards so laid waste during the late war’s desolation and destruction. We did not arrive at Mahe till long after dark, but greatly gratified with our trip, for which Capt. Thierry had our best thanks. VI. “ The Mail Steamer of the Messageries Maritimes called at Mahe on its return from Bourbon and Mauritius. This time it brought Mr Horne, Sub-Director of the Botanical Gardens of Mauritius. As soon as lie arrived I at once set oa foot plans for making a botanical aud zoological examination of the Island. “ On Saturday the 2nd Sept, we were up at day light and off to the mountains. We took the range to the N. W. of the town, and began our ascent through a small cultivated plot of ground owned by a G-erman. Melons, Tomatoes, Cu- cumbers, Batates, Carrots and other vegetables, Manioc, Tobacco and mountain Rice all looked healthy and promising, owing doubtless to their evidently careful cultivation. The proprietor, an old man was watering his plants and appeared — 114 — both active and intelligent. He replied to our questions promptly, anything would grow in Seychelles and yield a rich harvest if people would only attend to their work. But ‘‘ no,” he said “ my neighbours will come here and talk for hours, looking at me working and admiring my vegetables, if they would only work as I do they would soon have as great an abundance as I have.” I was much amused with .the old fellow’s quaint remarks and his evident pride in his garden. He is quite right as to the general indolence, judging from the usually neglected appearance of the grounds round the various huts I have seen. Like all places where the ground is na- turally so prolific, there, least care is ever taken to make the most of land. Just enough is grown to supply the family, or to have a few baskets to exchange at Bazar for Fish or Bum, but no trouble is taken for further profit ; although a ready sale could be found for their produce. The principal bread used by a large portion of the inhabitants is a sort of flat cake made from manioc flour. This plant only requires a stalk placed in a hole in the ground, and when left to itself will flourish and give a tuberous root that when grated and washed supplies the farina so dear to the tastes of the Seychellois. We passed along the foot of the mountain wending our way along a path between enormous blue granite boulders, certainly the largest I have seen in any part of the world. Some hundreds of thousands of tons in weight, luckily sufficiently apart to enable us to thread our way through them. A mass of vegetation has sprung up between them, and in many places giant Palms overshadow them, shewing how long they must have lain there since the time they were dislodged from their mountain bed and toppled over. In some places the people had taken advantage of the squares sides of the boulders making them serve as one end for their houses, certes, they were safe on that side from hurricanes or thieves ! “ I noticed at intervals, cocoa-nuts and the Bread fruit aud Jack trees. The Bread fruit grows all over Mahe most lux- uriantly. Doubtless the size and beauty of these trees is owing to the fr. edom of the island from hurricanes. The wood is excessively brittle and the liaudsoino leaves snap off — 115 — easily, so that it requires shelter from heavy winds. The fruit appears quite free from the species of coccus that infects it in Mauritius. Whilst making a visit to the gentlemanly and intelligent Magistrate Mr Esnouf, he called my attention to a Bread fruit tree near his country villa over 50 feet high, loaded with hundred of fruits many ripe for gathering, and the branches spreading wide and forming a magnificeut ca- nopy. “ We passed up the first spur of the mountain aud then halted near a neatly built cottage under the shade of some coco-nut trees, to wait for the surgeon of the Forte to join us. The construction of this dwelling was ingenious. The frame made of small poles cut from native trees pegged to- gether, closed in outside with plank 2| inches wide and an inch thick, sawed from the coco nut trees, and the bark strip- ped off. It was thatched strongly with long grass laid very neatly inside. The owner told us he got 50 strips of wood from one tree, and said it would last many years being very durable. 11 We had not long to wait for our friend, and as soon as he joined us we proceeded on up the mountain. On the dead trees we passed was an abundance of what looked like a scarlet blossom, but that proved to be the brilliant Judas ear fingus (Fridia auricula Judoe), iu colour and texture when fresh like rich velvet. My comrades both botanists were all eyes for the wealth of vegetation we encountered at every step. I wandered on a little a head of them till I came to a valley between 2 spurs of the mountain, enlivened by a clear streamlet tumbling amongst the boulders. I was soou occupied in catching a snake and some Gfeckos which were very nu- merous on the Bananas and coconut trees. “ Looking round me I was attracted by a tree in the dis- tance which called forth such admiration I shouted to my comrades and we all went up to it. A rara avis it proved to be ; — a double headed palm of the genus Hyphoena specie unknown about 40 feet high, as straight as an arrow, larger and more robust than ordinary palms ; with a rough spiny back, of equal size from the collumn upwards. The leaves were - 116 — very dark and long the two crowna dividing at top, and the leaves drooping with inexplicable grace all round. The fruit appeared long and large, hanging in clusters but so far out of reach. Mr Horne was unable to procure any, but he secured some portion of the leaves, &c. “ Hear this was a Marroon Bread fruit tree, which resembles true one in the outside appearance of the fruit, but inside the kernels are larger than those of the Jack ; but the foliage is scraggy and the leaves not so deeply cleft. Mr Horne pro- cured many of these kernels. When roasted they are not unlike a chestnut. I know their taste from experience, as in one of my trips up the mountain I was invited to a breakfast, and these kernels boiled and eaten with salt and manioc cakes, proved to be the collation for a man and his wife, a child and myself. “ Just above this we found some beautiful ferns, a store of which we secured. I caught several of the pretty Euchelia formosa moths, the crimson spots contrasting beautifully with the pure white and jet black of the wings. They were hovering over the long grasses at the sides of the path. The Cyllo Leda were very abundant, resembling those so common in Mauri- tius. One specimen is however very curious, instead of the hind wings being simply rounded and scollopped as in the ordinary type, the median line is elongated giving it more the look of a Papilio than a Cyllo Leda. I found just as great a variety in the colouring of the under sides of the wings as in Mauritius, the markings ranging through all the shades of greys and browns to pale buff. The Euplcea Euphone was also very common, but small. “ Our Mozambiques had my double barrel gun and Monte Christo rifle lent me by my friend Mr Durup, and I shot a fine pair of Paille-en-queues and some Sterna Alba. “ We passed over the highest point of this mountain and came to the spur called Signal Mountain a portion of which has as an almost perpendicular face. It was formerly a Signal Station, with flag stall’ and house, but the latter is now in ruins destroyed bv the only hurricane ever known to visit these Islands, in 1862. I climbed to the cap and poisted a — 117 — white flag on the staff* in order that our friends of the Forte might know of our whereabouts. “ Here we had lunch on, but found a number of uninvited guests. Large striped lizards soon showed on every leaf, and grew so bold they fairly ran over us to get at bits of bread and chicken. At last they were daring enough to snatch food from our hands, they were however exceedingly difficult to catch, as they threw off their tails when seized by them. T am sorry to say I ill requited their friendship by imprisoning many of them in a bottle of rum. These lizards are inveterate enemies of the Geckos, and make war on them incessantly. I had noosed a Gecko with a horsehair and was drawing him in, when a lizard seized him and bit off his tail before I could interfere. The Gecko’s only chance is flight as the peculiar formation of its feet gives it an advantage on a smooth wall over the sharp claws of the lizard. I found here a species of PJiasma about 5 inches long of a bright red, quite different to any species I know. “ One of the first things a stranger would remark in Sey- chelles, a naturalist especially, is the curious mason wasp, that intrudes everywhere. It is of a bright brown colour about If inch in length. No place is sacred from them. As a friend tells me, they invaded his books and allied works of the most incongruous character with their muddy cement. The strong odour of nicotine in an old pipe did not prevent their filling the bowl with their cells. Even a piece of strong left hanging from a shelf was appropriated as a foundation. Their cells, nearly hexagonal in form, about .j an inch in length and diameter are built of red mud. No creature shows more wonderful instinct in its provision for the young than these wasps. A single egg is laid in each cell, when the female makes a terrible raid on the neighbouring spider’s webs, carrying off and imprisoning the luckless owners until the cell is full, when it is at once covered with a thin coating of mud. It is supposed that the wasp stings its victims, and paralysis is ensues, so that it is easy to stow them away in the cell, which could not be done if they struggled. A supply of fresh food is thus laid up, and it is supposed the poisonous 118 — . acid of the siing possesses an antiseptic and preserving pro- perty ■ spiders and locusts having been found to retain their colours weeks after being stung, even iu moist situations under a tropical sun. There is sufficient food for the larva till it is ready for the pupa stage. They are said to be deads enemies to cockroaches. They have one redeeming quality which ought to be generally known. They never attack if unmolested, so that ou the approach of one, it should never be beaten away as is a common practice, for it is pretty sure then to turn and take an active part in the affray. boon after we commenced our descent we came upon a boulder about 15 by 30 feet and 17 ft. high. It had toppled over and was resting on 3 large round stones on the side of the hill, thus forming a sort of cave. My attention was at- tracted by some ferns growing near the entrance and some Lichens on these stones. I crawled in under the boulder on hands and knees, and found the whole roof covered with the nests of the mason wasps, which were flying in and out in numbers, aud I must say, as long as T confined myself to being spectator only they left me alone. After I £ot out, I tried to detach a nest with a stick, when I was pretty quickly com- pelled to beat a retreat, as those belonging to other nests untouched, turned out like bees for mutual defence. I however escaped being punished for my temerity in intruding into a wasp’s family circle unbidden. “ Over this boulder was growing in wild luxurience the Piper Betel so much used by the Indians for chewing, when mixed with lime and areca nut. Still more interesting to us were the beautiful Ferns, the Acrostichum repandum, and the Lind - saea Biki. All over the mountain sides, growing in, even between the boulders was the grand Palm the Stevensonia grandifolia. “ A thing of beauty is a joy for ever ” truly, for no matter how abundant may be the various members of the Palm family, one never wearies of them, but looks up at them ever with a glad recognition of their wondrous grace and beauty. “ We soon came to a charming little brook, with a natural basin in the rock, and its silver waters worp too tempting to — 119 — pass, without refreshing ourselves by a plunge therein. There is a curious opening in the rocks near and we took out some specimens of minerals, j. found in this water two plants that interested me greatly, one a fresh water Cladophom, and the other B atrachosperma. The boluders herabouts are very much water-worn. JS'ot far from this is a well built Aqueduct, conveying the water down the side of the mountain. We followed it for a good distance when we came to a fine grove of the Cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. Clusters of fruit hung on every tree, but on examination we found that each kernel had been extracted by those voracious pests of these islands, the rats. This plantation had evidently been at one time carefully cultivated, but was now abandoned. A few Clove trees CaryophijUus aromatims were still flourishing ; their biossotns shedding fragrance on the air. I wonder this tree is not more often seen even in gardens. It is very hand- some and the spicy fragrance exhaled from every part of the tree should make its presence most acceptable. In planting it however, heed should be taken that this tree absorbs mois- ture iu so remarkable a degree that little vegetation will grow beneath it. However the value of a grove of Clove trees would well repay the land devoted to them, whether for the cloves themselves or the essential oil they yield. How many things are neglected that, though not perhaps sufficiently certain re- muneration alone, would make profitable adjuncts to larger industries. I caught near here a number of Euplcca and other butterflies very similar to the same species in Mauritius and one moth quite new to me. “ I nearly met with an accident in our course downward, that would have considerably shattered all my ideas, if nothing more serious. I was hunting a curious centipede a Iulis about 2 inches long that inhabits the grass at the foot of coconut trees when a monster nut just ripe enough to fall clattered, down barely missing my head, which if it had struck it would have inevitably cracked from the force it had acquired falling from such a height. I confess it startled me considerably. However I secured many of the lulls iu question. “ Mauy of the coconut trees thereabouts looked sickly and — 120 — dying. A planter informed us that the grub of a beetle pecu- liar to these trees burrows near the root eating voraciously. He had cut them out round the collurn of many, but he feared the mischief was too deep and that he would lose the greater part of his trees. This is not the only enemy of this useful Palm. A large black beetle, not unlike the female stag beetle, eats its way into the heart and then works down the tree. The only remedy is to watch, and on the least suspicion to use the knife sharply and cut out the intruder. “We arrived at last at a good sized plantation of sugar canes, which belonged to Mr. Mallet called Maloustanta and here we found the use of luo aqueduct. The water had been brought a great distance down the mountain, and was used by this gentleman to turn his cane mill, for grinding the canes, the juice to be distilled into rum. “ On this day the Admiral gave a picnic to which wo were invited, and had promised to join it in the afternoon. On ar- riving at Mr M.’s we found a large party dancing in front of the house. Directly opposit in a cocoanut grove a large tent was erected but tiffin was already over. As soon as the Ad- miral saw us he came forward and welcomed us heartily and most liberally supplied every want of the weary travellers. We declined figuring in the mazy dance, our rough and dusty costume not being exactly fitted for even an out door ball room, and we soon left, as we had still about 4 miles to go before reaching Port Victoria. “ Some time after leaving the party we saw some of the pretty little birds called Colibri, Nectarnia Dussumieri, and I shot several. Our road now led us down towards the sea shore and we fell in with a gang of prisoners lifting stone into boats for the construction of the pier; and others busy burn- ing the rocks, as bofore described, instead of blasting them , They were mostly large thick set Mozambiques almost nude. Eurther on, they were cutting down fine Bois Noir Acacia Lebhecli trees for firewood, for lime burning. The Kilns are merely holes dug in the sides of the mountain in which the coral is burnt. Branching off is a wild ravine, and turning over the atones 1 found c'jntipedos, scorpions, and other — 121 — insects, and under the dead leaves some shells of the genera Helix, Bulima and Pupa. Fishermen were landing their fish for the market, but they had only a small variety most of which I knew. “ I caught up every sea weed I could see, but none differed from those I have taken in Mauritius. The following ap- peared very common ; viz : Lingbya Majuscula, Zonarico vctrie- gata, various Godmrns, a Galaxaura, a Dcrnomenia, Aduotirikia rigicla, Gracilaria dentata a Geladium, Corallina pedunculata and several varieties of Sargassum. These were very few in an extent of over 4 miles of shore but they will enable me in a measure to compare the marine Flora of Seychelles with that of the Mauritius, as I have now nearly completed my list of Algcea of the latter Island. ‘‘ I noticed one remarkable circumstance, the almost total absence of plants of the order Ulvacea. I did not meet even the common Enteromorpha or TJlva, that are found on nearly every shore from the Artie aud Antartic basins to the Equa- tor. Certain vegetation I remarked was apparently confined to particular localities ; for instance on the reefs opposite the Trois Cascades, the Padina Pavona covered it in great patches. Those near the Port, have masses of the Gracillaria Grassa. By the time we arrived at Port Victoria our Vasculum re- fused to hold another leaf, and our men bent under their loads, our very pockets so crammed we looked like walking mu- seums. Though physically somewhat fatigued, we had found so much to interest us at every step, so much that was new to all of us, in our long ramble, that we forgot our weariness in recalling the incidents of the day. VIL “ On Tuesday September 7th I received an invitation from the Governor and Admiral to visit Praslin and the neigh- bouring islands the following day, and it was pretty sharp work to get all our preparations ready in so short a time. It was late before I finished, and then the anticipation of seeing these islands I had heard so much of, completely drove away sleep. The window of my room looked on to the sea, and the — 122 — soft fresh breeze came in delightfully. The scene that was soon displayed before me as I lay in bed, made me forget sleep and all else for the time being. The moon, then in the beginning of the last quarter slowly rose from the Ocean» lighting it up till the crest of every wave showed molten silver, and to me it appeared to emerge between St, Anns and Stag Island, both of which lay clearly outlined. Heavy banks of clouds were massed on the horizon, half in shadow, half like sunlit snow, and it needed little imagination to trace out endless likeness to things on earth in the fantastic shapes they assumed. Still more transitory were they than even mundane objects, for before I had well decided on the form of some turreted castle or the outline of a polar bear, lo ! as by magic, they were gone, and left but ruined crags, or mountain masses. “ Pelion on Ossa piled.” “ Long before daylight Mr Horne and myself were up and about, and our luggage pretty nearly filled the boat that took us off to the Frigate. Sir Arthur Gordon who is also an early bird, arrived very soon after with his Secretary and Mr Com- missioner Franklin, and we wore soon out on the ocean. “ We arrived at Praslin about mid day, but could not steam direct to it on account of the dangerous rocks, but had to make a detour round lie Curieuse, into a beautiful bay formed by that Island and Praslin. “ These rocks have a singular appearance, remindiug me of old Druidical ruins I have seen in France and England. ‘‘ We anchored about threo quarters of a mile from the shore, and soon the Governor, Mr A. Gordon, Dr Micklejohn, the Surgeon of the Frigate, and myself, landed at Curieuse. ‘‘We were received by Mr George Forbes, an old Scotch- man who has lived there over forty years. We visited his house where he shewed us his collection of shells, and gave us some crystals he had found in the granite. Then we went on a tour of inspection through the Establishment for Lepers. “ Small comfortable huts are erected near the sea shore, shaded by Palms and Coco nut trees, and each contains a cot and some plain furniture, ustensils, otc., and were very neat and clean. — 123 — “ Some were seated at their doors, but most shewing ghast- ly sores, and some were literally dying by inches aud unable to leave their beds. In every cabin is a coffin ready for the inmate, which must I should think have a depressing effect at first, but from habit they dont seem to mind it. It is however a wise precaution, as from the nature of the disease, when death ensues, interment must be immediate (1). Great praise is due to Mr Porbes for his kindly treatment to these poor outcasts of humanity, and it reflects great credit ou the Go- vernment for providing so comfortably for the poor creatures. This terrible plague is as yet unknown in America, and I pray God to keep it for ever from our shores. If Mr Forbes had kept a journal of his experience during all these years, what an awful record it would be, of this, the most direful ill that flesh is heir to. I have seen a good deal of leprosy in Spain and Portugal, also in S. America, but it struck me that the disease at Curieuse assumed a different form to any I have seen before. I was glad to turn aside, for there is to me something so loathsome and repulsive in this disease, and verily the man who has spent best part of a life relieving as far as possible its wearying agonies, is worthy to be reckoned amongst the world’s heroes. “ This island was formerly well covered with the Coco de Mer ( Lodoicea Seychellarnm ) but only their relics, in the curious old hard bowls remain of them, except a few that have been planted by the orders of Government. There is no (1) To shew how easily the human mind grows habituated to what we are accustomed to regard one of the saddest sights viz a coffin, I will mention that when in the Cape I was informed, that far up the country the Dutch Boer always keeps his coffin in his ordinary family room. As soon as he is a man of some substance, he goes into the forest and selects the finest timber tree he can find, helps to cut it down, and has a coffin made of most capacious demensions, for the chances are, he is over 6 feet high, and as he ages, will become stout in proportion. If a rich man, formerly it was elaborately carved. When completed it is used as a corn- bin ; and the Fraaw if there is one, places her milk pans on it. This is not I am told from any religious feeling, but that when he dies, he may have a coffin of good seasoned wood, that will not easily rot. I apprehend the origin of it was, that, as there wore no cemetries up the country, hun- dreds of miles formerly intervening betweeu the churches, every one was buried on his own farm, and if great caro was not taken to dig deep, which the rocky nature of the soil would often prevent, tho chances were the jackals would dig him out, and if his coffin was not sound, he would be made a meal of before it could be discovered. A termination to his relics, not at all agreeable to Dutch notions. — 124 — level land but the stripjon the shore whero the huts stand, the mountain rising directly from it to a height of about 250 feet. It is entirely of granite, but it is so time and water worn, and in so decomposed a state that large pieces will often crumble under foot when trodden on. Mr Gordon and myself walked over the top of it, and I got a few dragon flies and butterflies but all old friends. I found the same lizards and gecko as at Mahe, scorpions and centipedes, but my time was too short to make a careful examination. We left Curieuse about 5 o’clock, and returned to the Frigate. “ Next morn all were up bright and early ready to go on shore. The Governor concluded to land with a party on the north of the Island, and walk across to Mr Campbell’s house. All equipped in easy costume they set off, and early as it was the sun shone out fiercely. “ I decided on taking our baggage and steaming round in the launch. We took a coloured man as a pilot, but when we got towards the Anse Marie Louise, the sea broke round us, and the launch danced about like a cork, anfi rolled till I thought her ongine must come out of her, and as we ran into the pass we shipped considerable water. However the mid- shipman in charge managed her capitally and we got there be- fore the walking party. Mr Campbell was on the beach with some people, looking out for the Governor who was expected to come in the launch. I introduced myself and he politely led the way to his house. “ Sir Arthur and his party soon arrived, looking considerably the worse for their 5 miles tramp in the sun, their coats and jackets all left behind, or at least invisible. Mr Campbell with his family and neighbours were in a state of great excitement and no wonder. Was it not the first time that Praslin’s soil had e’er been trod by one of Her Majesty’s Representatives ! I was not a little amused at these good people, out of whose eyes shone the heartiest welcome, trying to subdue it within the proper bounds of reverence for so august a personage. That soon passed away and the old Scotchman’s native tact como to his aid, and ho did the honours of his place in a man- ner that would have done credit to a higher sphere. No doubt — 125 — His Excellency coming from north of the Tweed gave a heart- ier ring to his welcome, and an additional pleasure to what will be the greatest event of his life time. “ As soon as all had removed the effects of the journey, we were seated under some fine old Badamier trees, and coco tendre, calou and cocoa milk and spirits were handed to us which were, very refreshing. “ Near by a pavillion had been erected covered in with leaves of the Coco de mer, and one single leaf formed its end, and it could have covered a much larger surface ; the leaves are pegged down with wooden nails made of bamboo split. “ We did not long wait for breakfast, and 14 of us sat down to a table covered with everything the island could produce, and I promise you we all did it ample justice . The sides of the pavilion were festooned with Lycopods and flowers and an idea I never saw put in practice before gave quite a novel effect to the decorations. Between every festoon bung a bunch of Mandarin oranges and sweet lemons, even from roof, to just within reach. * “ After breakfast, all set off exploring, and of course, our first visit was to the grove of the world’s wonder the Coco de mer, indigenous only to lie Bonde, Curieuse and Praslin. Prom the first it has entirely disappeared; from the second, as above stated, it is fast vanishiug aud at Praslin it is still flourishing but if not more care is taken to plant fresh ones, as the old are so rapidly being destroyed a nut will be soon as great a rarity as when the Emper r Rudolph offered 4,000 florins for one. To me as to most other people the first sight of a full grown tree was somewhat disappointing. A tall thin stem towering up over a hundred feet with a ragged head of green and withered leaves does not impress one. A cocoa nut is decidedly handsomer. These, however, are tho male trees, the females rarely are over 60 or 70 feet, and not being so high are less exposed to the winds hut when old are not much better looking than the males. But in this grove, the tree is to be seen in all the beauty that has made it so famous. It is certainly one of the loveliest vegetable productions when about 20 or 15 years old before the stem begins to rise. The — 126 — leaves have then perhaps attained their greatest size and are in the highes tluxuriance before fructification commences. (Its curious process has been too accurately described by Mr Ward and Mr Clarke to need detail here.) Of course we saw trees of all ages, and the nuts from the first stage when it looks only like a large green berry on a twisted stem, through all its changes to the hard conical looking nuts when fit for exportation, or to be cut up into the various ustensils made from the hard shell. To me the first act of the plant’s life is about as singular as any. It takes 9 or 10 months after planting before the germ is ready to shoot, when it ig- nores its parent bed and shoots away nearly 20 feet beforo it rises, aud each leaf requires a year's elaboration in sun and air before the next appears. Considerable difficulty too at- tends the birth of one of these trees. If the nut does not fall with the germ downwards, when it strikes and does not meet the ground to draw its sustenance from, after an ineffectual straggle for some few feet on the surface, it exhausts all vita- lity from the nut, and the heat and want of moisture finally destroy the vegetable baby. Every nut grown for some years ought to be planted to keep up what may be a connecting link with an antediluvian Flora, and which is unique in its kind and confined to such an isolated corner of the world. The texture of the articles made from the young unfolded spatho, are too well known to require description. It would certainly be a handsome heirloom to his children if every proprietor of even a small plot of ground would plant a few nuts of these trees, though he could not hope to reap any benefits from it, his children and grand children would. It wants little troublo like the common cocoa-nut, but it grows while he sleeps, aud the labour of this generation would be amply repaid in the next. “ We crossed a march over a road made expressly for the occasion by Mr Campbell, and up to a hut which was to be the base oi our future operations. We explored till pretty late when we onded our day by a good dinner, and slept at Mr Campbell’s. “ Next morning the Governor and hia parly started to walk — 127 — round the Island, and Mr Horne and myself to explore the valley and then climb to the highest point literally the back- bone of Praslin. We began in the grove of the Cocos de mer. I was stripping some of the dead leaves of these trees looking- for insects, and wherever it was damp I found at the base of each, a species of Typfolops from 14 to 1G inches long, and twice as large as an ordinary goose quill ; jet black in colour, but so active they vanished like a flash of lightning, and though I saw so many I only succeeded in capturing a small one, I never saw a snake with such rapid movement. It was quite new to me, and I was a little afraid of it, particularly as the men gave it the credit of being poisonous. Not one of them would attempt to catch these snakes. “ We came here upon another floral beauty. I thought I had found a new fern, but Mr Horne soon settled it as the common langue de boeuf Aspleniwn Nidus ; but under such un- usual conditions it was scarcely astonishing I did not recognise it. From between the granite boulders the fronds sprang up to a height of 9 or teq feet, and 12 inches broad. Great clumps of it were met occasionally. , “ It is on the Coco de mer that are found the large shells of the Helix Studeriana, of two varieties, dark brown, and olive yellow, and the pretty little Cyclostoma, insulare. The former may be seen up the stems through one would think they could scarcely pierce the bark which is so hard as to require an axe of the finest temper to cut it. When young it is said the Helix eats its way into the nut, but as it increases in size it cannot get out of what eventually proves its prison grave. We came to numbers of trees loaded with mandarin, oranges and sweet lemons of which we took a provision in our vasculums. Though we were not at a loss for refreshment as cocoa nuts grow every where, and you can always get a darlcie to climb for the fruit by the inducements of the smallest coin. “ As we climbed tho mount aiu I looked in vain for the black and green parrots once so numerous there, and the beautiful pigeon Erythrcena Pulchernma with its lustrous black plumage with a violet sheen when in tho sun, and brilliant scarlet head. I saw a few birds but could not get a shot at them. — 128 As to the Cateau Yert Palaonus Wardi , I only saw one in all iny walks and that was the first day of my arrival, and though I employed a man on purpose to hunt lor them I did not suc- ceed. They tell me these birds have been so destructive to the maize and other grain that the people have waged war on them, till they will soon be extinct. The Cateau Noir, Coraco- psis Barklyi are seen at tin • s but they are scarce. They seem to patronize the Filaos, ( Casuarina ) which I find are called Cedres at Praslin. I saw a few ot the Pie Chanteuse Copsicus Seychellarum near Mr Campbell’s house which he told me he had brought from the Island of Ladigue, in hopes to renew the breed, as he said he did not think there was one left in Praslin. “ The heat was oppressive, for the tops of these mountains are only covered with scanty bush, of slight growth shewing that it had only been there since the last conflagration. Fires are of frequent occurence and do terrible damage to the trees especially the Cocos de mer. The island is not quite 8 miles long by about 3 broad, wit h a good deal of marsh land on the coast, and doubtless from this upwards the mountains were formerly very densely wooded but now, timber trees are very rare. “ We passed over the point of the continuous chain of mountains to the N. E. and then descended to the shore. We found some Tatamaca trees of great size which Mr Horne pro- nounced of a different species to those growing in Mauritius. I was surprised to find such a scarcity of animal life. During our long walk the only birds I saw were tlioso already mentioned and the Merle Hypsipetes crassirostris . The latter bird appears common in the island and so tame it is easily approached I shot several, and prepared their skins. I did not see a specimen of coleoptera although I looked carefully in places most likely to meet them. I caught a fine Death’s head the T3racliyglos$a Atropos , which appeared more like the Euro- pean than the Mauritian type. The only other animals I found were some large green lizards and these wcro so unlike the generality of lizards, that I caught them by hand without any trouble. We terminated our descent at Grand Anse, and were re- ceived by the Rev. Mr Yandin who met us on the beach and kindly invited us io visit the Church establishment close by. The Episcopal church is a good sized structure built I believe by the inhabitants of the island about 20 years ago. There are now about 400 members, out of which over a hundred are communicants. The establishment is under the direction of a catechist, a coloured man, who receives 20 dollars amoritli from the Society for the propagation of the Gospel, I think they told me. Every two mouths the Rev. Mr Yaudiu visits the island to administer the sacrament, baptise or marry, as occa- sion requires. Round the Church is a pretty garden, and a cemetery lies behind it. To judge from the few grav. s, the death rate must be at a low figure. There is also a school house, but it is such a distance for little folks to walk to it that there are only about 20 regular attendants. The schoi 1 mistress gets 12 dollars a month and profits of the coco g.ove surrounding the place. “ We returned to Mr Campbell’s along tho shore. In one of the little caves wo saw some fishermen just c^rne in from sea and unloadiug their boats. To my astonishment I found in one of their baskets three specimens of a fish 1 have been hunting for a year past in Mauritius, vainly. The Myripristea lima or every near it, a single specimen of which was sent over 40 years ago to Baron Cu>'ier and appears to be unknown since. I had a sketch of it sent by Professor Agassiz requesting me to procure as many as possible of it, aud though I have swept hundreds of fish in my net, and at- tended the market almost daily I have not yet met with it in Mauritius (l). I found a good many sea-weeds and remains of shells ou the shore sufficient to prove their existence in this locality. We again slept at Mr Campbell’s house but next day bade adieu to him and his hospitable family. We crossed the mountain and descended close to the remains of ■what was once doubtless a fine dwelling house, but it and the (1) I may liere state that after all I lost my fish as the glass jar iu which thoy were preserved with many other valuable specimens of Na- tural History was smashed when my luggage was being put ou board the steamer, and the contents fell into the sea. — 130 — once luxuriant garden were mere wrecks ; and the proprietor long dead. “We fired a gun as a signal and a boat put off from the Frigate and took us on board. The following day being Sunday we lay still at our anchorage, and it was always most religiously kept, as I observed before. Mr & Mrs Campbell came off and joined in the services of the day. “ On Monday we steamed away and brought up at about a mile from La Digue. The Governor and a party left in the launch for Felicite. After their departure, Cap. Fairfax kind- ' ly put his cutter at my disposal and we rowed away to La Digue. It looked easy enough to land from the ship, but on approaching we found a strong current running 14 knots an hour, and the surf breaking on the shore. A boat put off to us and signed to us to hold on, and we did so till they came up, when they said that the pass was very dangerous, but they would guide us in. Only a few years ago Dr Eobinson with an American Captain and eight of his crew were drowned whilst attempting to land. “ They piloted us safely in and then I saw about 100 people assembled on the shore. As soon as I landed I was greeted by the firing of guns and pistols, ringing of hand bells and letting off crackers, and found I was receiving the honours due to His Excellency. “ I was so astonished at my reception and the din of the ‘ feu-de-joie ’ that for a few minutes I could not make it un- derstood I was the wrong man. At last I announced myself as the American Consul, but assured them the right man would be along in an hour’s time. “ In spite of my loss of dignity I was warmly welcomed, and after partaking of some refreshment I made my way to Mr Isageon’s place, escorted by a policeman, through a grand coco nut tree avenue nearly a mile long. “ La Digue is about 4 miles long by one broad, rnoro wooded than any other of the islands I visited. It has about 600 inhabitants mostly coloured, and a pretty Catholic church which they told me was well attended. Mr Nageon has the finest coco grove there; about 60,000 trees all in full bearing, — 131 — yielding about 8,000 velts annually. He has planted young trees very largely. His drying house is recently built, and in a most improved style. The roof of corrugated iron, is made to runoff and on at will, so that should a storm occur, the coco nuts can be covered in a moment. Mr Nageon appears to be an enterprising man, one of the few with really an eye to the future. So soon as I arrived I had breakfast with the family and then set out looking for specimens of Natural History. Just behind the house is the monster boulder noticed by former visitors. I thought I had already seen the largest granite boulder to be found, but all sink into insignificance in comparison with this. It is true granite, nbout 125 feet high and nearly half a mile in circumferance, very much water worn and I was told inaccessible. “ I wandered about the forest and found many interesting objects. The snakes I get were the same as those found in other island, and are peculiar to this archipelago, the Tropi- donatus Seychellensis. Mr Nageon gave me a small turtle which is found only at La Digue, I saw the beautiful Widow Bird, La Veuve TcMtrea Gorvina described already so well by the Honorable E. Newton, which he gives as a native of Praslin, but I doubt if a single specimen is to be met there now, and fear it will soon be another of the extinct bii*ds of this region. I shot a female, in her black dress which I sup- pose give its name, but did not succeed in getting a male, though I saw two or three. The plumage varies so much, the latter might be taken for a different bird, for the only black it shews is on its head, so glossy and so relieved by the brilliant blue and yellow beak and bright sharp eyes that he wears no sign of mourning for his coat is of brown with a snowy vest. The female however in the sun has a glint of colour to relieve the sombre grey black of her plumage. I did not see any of the Mangeurs de riz, Foudici Seychellarum though said to be there. “ We returned on tioard about 4 o’clock p. m. when the Erigate had her steam up and sails loose and we soon left our anchorage when uuder full headway there was a cry of “ man over board ” spread through the ship. All was excitement — 132 and every one rushed to the rescue, but luckily the poor fellow in his fall from the bowsprit caught in the chains, and thus was saved from a watery grave. “ We soon reached Mahe, but when within 3 miles from the shore, the Frigate hove to. A number of boats were in wait- ing for us, to take us to shore, as the Admiral had decided to proceed that night on his voyage to Trincomalee. We bade Adii u to our friends to whom we had become much attached and wished them God speed to their destined port. VIII. “On the 12th September a deputation of Free-Masons waited on me with an invitation to a Banquet to be given in the evening, which I accepted. During the day Mr Horne end my>e f packed up our traps, with a good store of bread, canned meats, wine, &c., all ready for a start at daylight next morning up the mountains. The owner of the estate Evil, Mr .lean Francis Chauvin had kindly given us permission to rusticate there for some days, and a sort of Pavilion for 1 dgipg. Mr Commissioner Franklin had temporarily repaired it fur us, and sent us four men to carry up our belongings* a d make themselves generally useful. They were stout Mozambiques encumbered with the smallest modicum of clothing necessary. From sundry peculiarities discovered later we named them Drowsy, Grumbler, Gourmand, and Tipsy- Their distinguishing qualities easily guessed from their names. “ In the evening I visited the Masonic Temple and was very handsomely received by the Officers and Members of the Lodge, with the honors due me as S.\ P.\ B.\ S.\ of the G.\ 0.\ F.\ During the evening I witnessed two receptions which were conducted in true masonic stylp. The Temple was filled with the leading men of the island, and when the busi- ness of tho Lodge was over, wo adjourned to the Banqueting room. After discussing the bountiful gupply of good things provided, speeches were made and healths drunk, and I quitted the Temple with favourable impressions as to the progress of Masonry in Mahe. The lateness of the hour left me little time for sleep. — 133 “ At day dawn we were on the move as our climb to our mountain home for the next few days was to be nearly 2000 feet above sea level. We equally distributed our provisions vasculums, pressing boards, bottles, &c., among the four men, and hurried off so as to make as much bead way as possible before the sun was high. Our first rest was m the cocoanut grove of Mr Aristide Dupuy some distance up the mountain. Here we saw the sun rise gloriously from the Ocean to the cloudless blue sky, which we did not appreciate as much as such a scene deserves from the but too certain indications of a glaring hot day. “ Here the guardian offered us the use of a house if we would remain, but after taking some coco nut water we pushed on till we came to a grove of stunted trees. Among them we found a curious Vacoa tree the first of the kind we bad ever seen and it interested us greatly, Mr. Horne deem- ing it a new species. Aerial roots, descended from the branches all round the trees nearly to the earth (in many we Baw later they bad reached it.) They were perfectly round, and some of them as large as the trunk itself. Whether those strong aerial roots are for steadying the stem in case of high winds or for drawing additional moisture, I know not but for both purposes, I should suppose. The tips have an outer coating to protect the cellular integument in its downward progress, but once on the earth it quickly buries itself and each one helps to imbide nourishment probably for the per- fection of its fruit. Mr Horne took a number of seeds and leaves. “ After leaving the grove we came to a patch of coarse rank grass 8 or 9 feet high. We found many Chameleons on it, and the red Bulimus velutinus, and I got specimens of the large Iufois, Spirostrejotus obtusus. We came to a little plateau, and were anticipating the end of our journey, when we found *ve had still a long pull up a steep rockly path of some hundred of feet. It somewhat dismayed us, for we were already well fagged, but resting a little, and getting rid of one outer garments we put a good face on the matter. When about half way up we came to a bright little spring of water — 134 — gushing out between the boulders, and Mr. Horne was lucky enough to find a beautiful Orchid in full flowers which he appropriated instantly. It was a little break in our hard climb and helped ua on the rest of the way and we were not sorry when we got to our quarters which Mr. Horne at once christened the Eyrie, and well named too perched as it was on the top of the rock we had just climbed. How the poor Mozambiques dragged themselves up with their heavy load I dont’ know, it was as much as we could do to carry ourselves. “ Breakfast was soon on foot — and after a qumt pipe, we got our hammocks slung and our house in order. We all took a rest and the men fixed up a shelter for themselves while we examined our quarters. Our house consisted of one entire room, and a second with only a roof on posts. It was situated on the one of the little plateaux so numerous in these mountains, and behind it rose a high granite wall of rock and out of the crevices in it grew the Stevensonia grandiflora Palms, in every Btage, and we looked longingly at the Ferns and Orchids which hung above us as hopelessly out of reach as the foxes’ grapes. “ When pretty well refreshed we began our explorings and entered some of the ravines of the Morne Blanc. We bad constantly to cut our way through the rank growth of Perns and underbrush, and occasionally were brought up suddenly by a huge boulder, and had to cut a path round it. We pe- netrated about half-way, but found it such hard and slow work that it would be night fall before we got to the top. We declined sleeping in the bush, as showers fell most every night so we returned home, Mr Horne with I know not what of rare and beautiful I saw him snatching up at every turn, and my vasculum filled with land shells, centipedes and scor- pions. I got a good supply of the fine Helix unidentata, a small Helix resembling the Similaris, a silvery looking Pupa, the striped and plain Bulimus fulvicans and the Helix insulara. After our dinner we amused ourselves* watching the Flying Poxes ( Pteropus Hdwardisi). Some appeared very largo but flew so high and wheeled so rapidly it was impossible to get a shot at them. They came out of the Clefts in the high — 135 — rocka behind us, flying to a grove of Badamier trees where they fed on the nuts. While we were enjoying our pipes and discussing the treasures we had accumulated in the day, I was surprised to hear a short of shrill pro- longed whistle as if from a child’s voice that seemed to come from the Clifts. Mr Hickie, a policeman, who had joined us, said it was the cry of a very curious bird that only made its appearance at night. He told us he had never seen but one, though he had been so loDg in Mahe, and that was found killed under a fallen tree where some wood-cutters were at work. It lives only at the top of the mountain, is as large as barndoor fowl, with long legs and is of an ashen grey colour, according to his account. I was so much interested in the story he and a forester gave us of the bird, I offered a handsome reward for a specimen either skinned or in spirits* The one that paid us a visit, kept up his cry nearly the whole night, and a queer one it wa3 such as I never heard from a bird before. The fresh specimens of Natural History I had procured were put temporarily to cleanse them in a jar of Mahe Eum placed in our outer room. I had a good many of the pre- vious day’s in our bed-room in some poisoned rum brought from Port Louis, luckily as it happened. When we got up next morning and I went to look at my jars, the one in the outer room was full of the specimens truly, but the rum was non est ! Mr Tipsy had drunk it all ! A precious draught he must have had, as any naturalist will easily guess who knows what the first spirit is like that has snails, snakes Ac. steeped in it. He did not appear any the worse for it, but I was obliged to send back to Mahe for a fresh supply much to the annoyance of Grumbler. It is well he had not hit upon the poisoned one, or I might have been had up for murder. As it was I so frightened them about the poison I was going to put in the next rum I got, that I had no more theft. “ We determined on climbing to the top of the Morne Blanc which is the highest point in the Island. We got on * The Hon. Newton who so perseveringly collected the Birds of these Islands, many of which are exceedingly rare, but did not escapo his no- tice, informs me that he never even heard of this bird. — 136 very well through the path we bad made in the ravine the day previously, but after that had to slash about us to get along. Towards the top we found the vegetation very spare. A short time before a party from the ‘‘Forte” with Lieut. Halifax had climbed up to it by another road and had left a flag fly- ing, but suppose the wind had carried it away for we could not find it. They measured the mountain the day of their ascent, and gave me the result as 2,998 feet. “ The view is very fine from the summit. Looking down to the harbour, the coral reefs lay distingly mapped out and at this height had a singular appearence. The sea lay calm as a mirror and blue as saphire, but the reefs looked like sheets of ice grounded near the shore, the edges furrowed and indented as if they were begining to skaw. The various islands of the group seemed to lie at our feet. The wooded sides of the mountains shewed well with their grand Palms and trees and bearing flowers whose names I know not ; the surrounding peaks seemed so near as if wo could touch them by a stretch of the hand. Above, below, all was bright and exhilirating, but the spot on which we stood was very dreary, only a little coarse grass, a stunded tree or two and the granite rocks crumbing beneath our tread from the wear of time, light, air, and water. It was late before we returned, and we had little to repay us for our toil save the view. In the evening we saw many fireflies some of which I secured. In the grass round our eyrie we caught some of the Troyidanatus Sey - chellensis of different ages and in so varied a dress that any one not knowing them must have mistaken them different species. Earliest next morning, we were astonished with a visit from Sir Arthur Gordon who climbed to our quarters alone. Some time after, Mr. A Gordon arrived. We did the honours of our mountain homo to our guests, but we could not induce His Excellency to remain for breakfast, so after a long chat ho left us to return to Mahe for his morning meal, which I should think he needed by the time lie arrived there. We accompanied him down the spur below our house, when he continued his route alone and ho went at a pace that shewed ho wos well used to a cross country tramp. 137 — “ We devoted this day to the exploration of a luouutain peak to the S. of us. We took a coloured man as our guide, but getting fatigued at our long walk he skeedaddled. However we had old Drowsy and Grumbler and they forget for ouce their charateristics. and though they did not know any regular path, like monkeys they seemed quite at home in the bush, and soon found us a way. They were quite delighted with our day for they found abundance to eat. I never saw a nigger yet that could’nt hud something to make a meal of on a tramp, from a cabbage palm to an earth nut inclusive. Here there was no need to go to these extremes, for there was any amount of mandarine, oranges, guavas &c. with which they beguiled the way. “ In one of our rests Drowsy gave us a little of his personal history, when it appeared that his “ lines ” had fallen in any- thing but pleasant places ” formerly, and the recital woko him up to most unwonted energy. “ He had not been many years in Mahe, but had been sto- len by the Arabs from his country which he indicated by pointing over the Ocean to where it lay. He had seen his father and mother killed, and he with a number of others had been put on board an Arab Dhow, where they were terribly beaten and ill used. They were fastened hand to hand to pole, so that no one could jump over-board, and if, when pursued, the Arabs could escape in their boats they would often scut- tle the Dhows or set tire to them so that there was no hope for poor wretches. This time they were suddenly attacked by an English steam launch and captured. The slaves were sent on board the Columbine Man of \\rar, and the Dhow was burnt, the slavers thus meeting the cruel fate they had destined for their victims, if the chances had been in their favour. We asked if he wanted to return to his native land, but. lie said No, Mahe very good place, me well treated and when mo work me get plenty eat.” “ We returned laden with rare and inters sting botanical specimens, but with the exception of a few common shells 1 saw no other object of natural history. I don’t remember see- ing a single bird, not a sound broke the stillness of the woods — 138 save our own voices and our foot steps as wo forced our way through the thickets. As we rounded the foot of the spur of the mountain we came upon a hut occupied by an old man. He was the oldest black man I saw in the Island, as grey as a badger, but busily occupied preparing green bananas for bis supper. lie told us he was once a slave and remember some of the former French Governors. “ After dinner we lay on the grass outside, and the men improvised a dance for our amnsement. The music consisted of an empty tin biscuit box held on the breast and^ struck sharply with the fingers. All sang, if singing it could be call- ed, made up of cries, and wails and yells clapping their hands in time to the music (save the mark). They kept up their dances with a vigour I should not have given Drowsy credit for. The fun grew fast and furious, and we were obliged at last to put a stop to it, so as to get a good night’s rest, as it was the eve of our departure. “ I had forgotten to mention that we had not been utterly without game. One morning at breakfast time we were asto- nished by a visit from a maroon Sow with a litter of 13 young ones, pretty little stripped creatures. All were at once the alert for a chasse. A chasse, if without honor, certainly not without danger. The old mother was a vixen A. I. and we had to look sharp to keep clear of her, for the way she grunt- ed and chased ^ls was worth seeing. The little ones too were as active as cats, and what with their squeals, the Sow’s grunts and the men’s yells it was a very Babel. They succeeded in capturing three in spite of the mother, and at last drove her off. They arrived safe and well in Port Louis, and to see their cunning ways, and good appetites, no one would suppo- se they were only young sucking pigs, they might have been on their own hook for months. “ Mr Gordon left us next morning, and we packed up all our loot of every kind and sent it off to Make by Grumbler and another man, and we left our JEyrrie, for new explorations. lt Our way lay over one of the most villainous paths of the islaud, covered with great boulders. Frequently wo had to cross half rotten trees which had fallen ovor them bare-foot ; — 139 boots we dare not trust to, for a slip would have sent us down and jammed as iu between the boulders, where help would have been almost out of the question. When we had crossed this bad part of the mountain we came out into the woods and found a very fair path. This we ascended till we came to the spur, passed over it and then descended into the Black forest. “ After traversing it for some distance we came to an im- mense grove of Clove trees, some 40 to 50 feet high. Thousand of young trees were on the side of the hill, euough to make a fortune to any one who would w orlc them properly. The soil evidently suited them, for the ground was covered with the fallen fruits and they were shooting in all directions. Many were in full flower, others just in the state for gathering the clove of commerce, which is the tubular calyx with a roundesh projection at top, formed by the unfolded flower buds. Many of the trees had been cut down, and coffee planted in their places. It was a luxuriant spot with a stream of water flow- ing through it and it was Mr Horne’s opinion that it was an admirable place for the cultivation of any tropical production, yet this, that might be made an earthly paradise was appar- ently uninhabited. On our descent we come accross a patch of sugar canes, and a very primitive mill for crushing them. It was made under a temporary shed hidden in the jungle and consisted of a sort of table grooved at both sides for the juice of the cane to run into, and a tub of one end to catch it. The canes were cut into short pieces and crushed with the trunk of a tree about 20 feet long that has been barked and roughly fastened at one end to a livetree. This was then rolled back- wards and forwards over the canes at one end of the table. We saw no still but I presume there was one handy. I had been attracted to this lonely spot by a number of butterflies and as I pushed through the tall grass I came suddenly on a pile of bagasse and the shed, and the owners, two colored men looked quite disconcerted at my presence. “ This Forest is wild and romantic in the extreme. Hear the foot of the ravine we passed through, we noticed where a fearful slide of rocks from the mountain had taken place. — HO — Thousands of tons of rooks had been detached. from the peaks above, crashing down for over a thousand feet, enough to give a shock to the whole Island. Numerous rocks lay loose on the top and sides of this mountain, ready with a very slight impetus to roll into the valleys below ; and it gave a some- what unpleasant feeling to look up at the craggy sides, and think that at any moment one of those erratic rocks might follow us “ When we got well down the scene was very picturesque. To the right stretched a grove of Cocoa nut trees as far as we could see, with little elevated spot between where stood small huts. I suppose for the guardians. Down near the shore was a pretty cottage belonging to the proprietor of the place. The line of breakers combing and foaming on the rocky shore with little islets covered with Cocoa nut trees that appeared to stand in the midst of the crested waves made up our pic- ture. We rested and had some Cocoa nut water at the house occupied by the guardian of Mr. George Sauzier, and we then went ahead, for we had many a weary mile to go before we reached one resting place for the night. “ We got out of our path and it was only on turning back to the shore we were all right for South Point. It was noon by when we arrived at Mr. Marchand’s house, and with the usual hospitality of Frenchmen he invited us to take break- fast, an offer most gladly accepted. This gentleman has a fine plantation, and he has recently made, great additions to it, bo that he anticipated shortly very large oil crops. We were shown what appeared to be very fine sugar canes, but Mr. Horne thought they wrere deficient in saccharine matter. Mr. Marchand said he intended to cultivate Tobacco on a large scale and I do not doubt, he will find it a profitable specula- tion, when well managed. “ After we left our courteous host, and kept on the shore I gathered a good many shells and marine plants. Mr Horne was not behind-hand in his botanical researches, I abstain from more than just touching on the Botany of the Islands as I have done all through these letters, as Mr Horne is mak- ing up a Botanical Beport on them, When we were beginning to feel fatigued wo met nil old Man of War’s man a Mr Green, — 141 — and lto told us tve were very far from South Point, and that it would be advisable to go to Mr Felix Poole’s near by, who would put us up for the night. Tuis suggestion was too va- luable to be neglected and we went at once to his place. “ When we were refreshed we took a stroll to the Church and were introduced to Pere Pierre Valentin, who welcomed us warmly. The bells were rung and guns fired in honor of our visit. The good Pere showed us a fine collection of Mari- ne shells he had gathered from the shores. Mr Poole gave us a most excellent dinner, and a comfortable little Pavillion to sleep in, and I shall never forget his kindness and attention to all our wants, nothing could he more cordial and hearty than our welcome. Mr Poole is by birth a Swiss and a baker by trade, and also keeps a sort of general store with the sign of the “ Pauvre Diable.” “ After thanking our host for his hospitality, we proceeded on onr way to South Point. Our path lay partly on the mountain and the rest by the sea shore, till we arrived at Mr Sedgewick’s plantation, where we slept Sunday and Mon- day night. The Cocoa nut grove is not so extensive as many I have seen, but it is in fine condition. I could not help no- ticing how tall and straight the trees are in these Islands compared with those in Mauritius, where it is rare to find :t top that has not the greater part of the trees with crooked stems from the high winds. “ Mr Sedgewick appears to be an enterprising man ; he has a Carpenter, Cooper, and lilackamith’s shop on the place ; and builds bis own boats. He dries the Cocoa nuts for oil making, by artificial beat in an oven, a much more expeditious way than that generally adopted. When the nuts are cracked, the kernel is taken out and is ordinarily dried in the sun before passing it through the mill, a very slow process. We were treated with the usual kindness extended to strangers in Mahe and left on Tuesday morning. “ When, within some distance of the ‘ Trois Cascades,’ Mr Horne went on a head for Victoria and I remained behind. The reefs make off here to a good distance and I waded on to them. I found little to repay one, except a few shrimps, starfish, M. L. Bouton, m’ont 6te d’nn grand secours, ainsi que la Presse Mauricienne, pour la propagation de mes idees, et, arrive au terme de notre annee de travail, je remercie de nou- veau tous coux qui m’ont preto leur appui pour une oeuvre que je considere maintenant com me appeleo a devenir emi- nemment coloniale. “ J’ai a vous entretenir aussi d’uu autre ver a soie. 11 y a quelquo temps le Commercial Gazette publiait uu extrait d’un Journal de Natai oil il etait question d’un “ New Silk Worm.” Les oeufs avaient ete envoy es del’Inde, d’Assam par le Lieute- nant-Colonel W. Lowther. L’insecte est d^signe sous le titre de Gigantic Saturnia Atlas ; lepapillon est au Museum et vous pouvez voir qu’il a S pouces d’enverguve d’ailes. II est dit que le ver se nourrit dos feuilles du Zizyphus Jujuba, aussi de celles de Palma Christi. Je vous ai deja fait savoir que j’avais prie 1’ Honorable Beyts de demander desaiufs de ces especes dans l’Inde. J’espere d’apres ce qu’il m’a dit dernibrement qu’ils arriveront bientot. Mais puisque le ver est a Natal plus pres de nous et que nous avons dans la Colonie du Cap, notre an- cien Patron, Sir H. Barkly qui, d’apres sa derniere communi- cation suit avec tant d’interet nos progres sericicoles, le Se- cretaire pourrait, je crois, prior Sir Henry de faire espedier a la Societe quelques oeufs et un specimen de la plante dont ils nourrissent ces vers la-bas : Le Jujubier croit a I’etat de foret a la Biviere-Noire, (le Massonnier) quant au (Tang Tang.) nom vulgaire du Palma Christi, il n’y a qu’a seiner les graines et 2 ou 3 mois apres, on a les feuilles eu abondauce, plus tard des graines pour l’huile ; ces especes pourraient reellement devenir intcressantes dans quelques localites. Co ver, cepon- — 160 — dant, n’est pas nouvellement connu, car M. Laraarre Picquot, dfes 1825 en avail envove des oeufs en France. La soie donne des tissus imperissables comine vous le voyez, par l'extrait des 2 lettres du Colonel Lowther. RI. Channel a eu la complai- sance de m’euvoyer le Journal oil dies sont publiees, et je crois cette communication as3ez interessante pour Ini donner place dans nos Proceedings a titre de renseignements : A NEW SILK WORM. We have the pleasure of printing below two new letters from that indefatigable well wisher to Natal, Lieut. -Colonel Lowther, who sends his correspondent, Mr McKen, by each opportunity eggs of the gigantic Satnrnia Atlas moth. These Mr McKen has placed in the hands of Mr Arthur Harvey, Mr Walker of Umzinto, and Mr If. Millar of Durban. A portion kept by himself, he informs us, appear to be all right ; but from an extract of a note to us printed in our Summary we regret to learn that those handed to Mr Harvey had ap- parently been hatched in transitu. If we can succeed in in- troducing this moth it will be a great acquisition. Colonel Lowther states that the silk, even made in the rude native Indian way, is worth 2s. per yard, and is almost indestructible. Our Colony will furnish the worm with abundant food, as several species of the genus Zizyphus or Jujube tree abound native in our bush. The Palma-Ghrisbi or Castor-oil plant, if that is what Colonel Lowther means, is also abundant, but possibly this may be a slop of the pen Zizyphus Spina-Cliristi. Several species, however, of Satnrnia do feed, as Mr McKen informs us, on the leaves of the Castor-oil tree. “ We shall await with interest the result of this new experi- ment, and hope to be favored with the results by some of the various gentlemen named. The Atlas belongs tothe same family of insects with the common silkworm moth but greatly exceeds it in size, measuring eight inches across the wings ! In China, of which country it is also a native, the worm is said to feed upon the orange. If this is correct it might also be supported hero upon the Myaris iuwqvolis, a native belonging to that 161 — family which is plentiful around Durban, not to speak of our cultivated orange and lemon groves.” “ Jubbulpoor, July 2, 1871. “ My dear Sir, — I see by the Natal papers and Mr Sander- son’s card, that my small efforts are appreciated. I find there has been an annoying mistake about the parcel of Indian seeds ( Himalyan ) for you, my London agents having care- lessly sent the same to Mrs Lowther, at Bedford. However, as my friend Dr W. Jamesou, of Seharimpoor, promised you were to have a very large select batch of seeds just after that dispatch, I am in great hopes you will long ago have received the same. I have recently been catching- numbers of Saturnia Atlas moths (of the Tussur silk worm, wild), and think it worth the experiment to try a few eggs by post. There is a Ziyphus Jujuba, a tree of large size, ou my premises, which has bred a great number this year. But this insect is very plentiful here (as in other hilly districts with heavy rainfall) on other trees — Acacia Arablca, Phyllanthus, and I think on Palma Christi. Tou should first put the eggs on Acacia Caffra, covering well over with mosquito gauze, as bats, birds, rep- tiles, and large ants are all eager hunters of these worms. I trust these egss may arrive dormant and yet vital. It is a delicate experiment, and I am not sanguine a direct steamer (with an ice house on board) would vastly alter the attempt into a near certainty. If you can only naturalize this product along the coast, you will have done a great deal for the colony. The fabric here is seldom less than 2s. per yard. With English looms and reeling machinery you would reduce much of the outlay in spinning and winding even now and sell the stock in the colony. It would become a staple in time, and with cheap Indian supervision do a great deal for colonization. The Enia and Moonyu worms of Assam (mons- ters in comparison with S. Atlas) would, I think, also succeed wherever you have no frosts, and a good regular rainy season. The silk canvas produced by these splendid giants is almost imperishable. I wore it in the most thorny backwoods ; it was — 162 — so pleasantly soft and flexible; aud rarely to be bought, being made by the more wealthy Assamese for their own use, and handed down as Heirlooms. The worm is a lonely creature, and found in all the jungles abundantly, although devoured wholesale by hosts of enemies, winged and creeping. “ 1 am preparing two cases of moths, male and female, with sample of cocoons. You will have one of these boxes ; the other is for Algoa Bay. I applied for two years leave three months ago, and have not yet got my conge. I hope to catch the Gondolah if possible ; she will be in Calcutta immediately. I have various seeds for you, and will now indent on all my Botanical correspondents in India for further supplies. “ Since writing to you last, I have been busy among the Lapidaries, cutting and polishing all manner of minerals, among them fossil Bambusa and Cycas, of wonderful proportions, and the bones, too, of the tremendous quadrupeds who grazed thereon, all turned into hard, heavy stone. In these districts Saturnia Atlas silk is a leading article of jungle commerce, The aboriginal race called Gonds, collect the cocoons in sacks, and dispose of them at the frontier markets. — Yours, &c. “ W. IT. Lowtiieb, Lieut.-Colonel.” “ Jubbulpoor, 9th July, 1871. “ My dear Sir, — As I am detained here sine die (my appli- cation for furlough on private affairs — after thirty one years absence from Europe — being now three months old), I lose no time in sending you a second instalment of Saturnia Atlas eggs, and only hope they will be retarded (in transit) in their vitality that the experiment may prosper. If rough hand labor of the cheapest character can realize 2s. per yard or . even more for such silk, what would not organization and ma- chinery do for this hardy worm, a wild iusect indeed to which rain aud storm are necessary features of climate ! “ Zizyphus Jujuba could be raised to any extent in the barren soils where it flourishes ; and as to cold that matters not, for cutting frosts in the north west Punjaub do not seem to injure the tree ; moreover the grafted small wild Zizyphus with round berries mil rapidly into kind furnishes (under proper culture) a most pleasant sub acid fruit, the size of an egg-plum, I have made the fine oval fruited kind by manure, irrigation, and heavy lopping off of top branches combined. All you require for the Worm aud tree is a long, not, wet summer like ours. But I do not doubt you will find some equally good Forage Tree. Acacia Oaffra will to my idea prove an excellent substitute for our Acacia Arabica, from which such fine crops of Tussur silk are annually collected in the Lower Provinces, this district being rather too moist for the tree, as I notice it frequently, becomes reduced in character around Jubbulpoor. “ I have a bag of our local Bambusa for you ; it seeded largely this season. I find the grains very subject to attack by a tiny grub. This rice like grain was collected and sold in the markets at a fancy price, for the native considers it a de- licacy ! Oh, for the old pattern post ! I must now wait till when I know not ! “ This line towering, tapering, densely-clumped twiggy bamboo, I found of great utility in moro ways than one. In three or four years in this climate, and still sooner in humid Assam, it forms a gigantic fence, even elephant proof, while the twigs no less than the mature Bamboos are in the most constant demand for peasticks, border enclosures, creeper supports, Ac., Ac. .Nothing however will grow in or near the shade of any Bambusa, which I found an objection on the score of economy in my small tea plantation, but it has the powerful advantage of warding off hurricanes and high winds from valuable estates, being a dense screen of elastic strength. “ Gloriosa Superba ” seems to be one of the very few plants capable of enduring its cold shade. — Yours truly, “ W. IT. Lowtheg ” — 164 — STANCE DU JEUDI 25 JANNIER 1872. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DE M. H. C. D ESCROIZILLES. Presents : M. Ev. Dupont, Dr Le Juge, MM. V. Ro- billard, Ed. Serendat, L. Bouton, Secretaire. M. J. A. W. Arnott, propose it la derniere reunion, est elu membre resident. L’Honorable Juge John Gorrie est propose en cette meme qualiteparM. C. E. Bewsher — seconde desmembres presents a la reunion. Le Secretaire donne connaissance des trois reponses qu’il a rejues a ses lettres datees du 14, 20 et 21 No- vembre 1871, mettaut a la disposition du Gouvernement, de la Municipality et de la Chambre d’Agriculture, les plants d ’Acacia, decurrens attendus par la Malle de De- cembre. 1. Lettre du Secretaire Colonial, datee 22 Novembre 1871. 2. Lettre du Secretaire de la Ville, 22 Decembre 1871. o. Lettre du Secretaire de la Chambre d’Agriculture 22 Janvier 1872. Le Secretaire presente un Mammifere de l’ordre des Rongeurs, qui vient de faire il y a quelques jours sa subite apparition dans la rade du Port Louis. II s’etait probablement enfui de quelque navire, et des bateliers au Chien de plomb, le voyant nager vers la terre, s’ecrierent tous que c'etait un rat — un rat monstrueux et tel qu'on n’en avait jamais vu de semblable. Us l’attendirent, et h peine Panimal eut-il atteint la terre hospitaliere de Mau- rice, qubls Passommerent et le mirent litteralement en pieces. La pcau qui etait deja dans un etat avance de decofnpo- sition quand M. Majastrc, taxidermiste du Museum, Pa rc~ 9uedu Col. Pikefut assezbien preparee pour,etant une fois moutee, dom;er une idee dc cc mammifere et pouvoir Pe- tudier. — 165 — II reunit toutes les conditions dJun genre fonde par Coramersou en 1769 sous le nom de Myopotamus, de deux mots grecs, signifiant rut et Jleuve. Le corps rappelle par sa forme celle du Castor. Sa tete est large, ses oreilles sont petites et rondes, scs picds sont longs, et pentadac- tyles, ceux de dev ant sont libres, ct ceux de derriere pal- mes, les pouces anterieurs sont tres courts. La queue est allongee, coniquc, forte, rappelant sur une plus .grande eclielle celle du rat. II n'existe de ce genre qu’uue seule espece Myopotamus Coypus Is. Geoff. St-Ililaire, laquellc a ete decrite sous differents noms. II vit, dans des terrains au bord des rivieres, dans une grande partie de RAmerique meridionale. On rapporte que celui dont il est ici question s'etait echappe du navire President Our set. arrive de Buenos- Ayres. Un oiseau, Anaus sto/idus, tue h Mahebourg — oisean du reste tres commun sur le rivage de Maurice, a ete commu- nique et presentait, dans le specimen envove, cette ano- malie du fragment d’uue troisierae patte situee sur la partie laterale du sternum. Le Secretaire donne communication de la lettre suivante qu’il a rejue de M. M. Noel fils, Moka. “ Jo crois opportun de porter k votre connaissauce que j’ai seme a Beau Bois, Moka des graines d 'Acacia Bernier # de- mandees par moi a un negociant de Bourbon. II n’y a que dix neuf mois que j’ai fait ce semis, et je puis presenter au- jourd’hui des sujets mesurant yingt pieds de hauteur et con- verts de fleurs. “ Ces faits convaincront la Societe Royale des Arts et des Sciences, que cet arbre dont elle cherche a eucourager la cnlture a Maurice y reussira completement, a certaines alti- tudes du moius. “ Veuillez agreer, clier Monsieur, etc. * Nom sous Icquel est comiu a la Reunion V Acacia decurrens — parce que c’est i feu M. Bernier botanisto distingue qu’on on doit l’introduc- tion. — Ed. — 106 — Ce renseignement donne par M. Noel a virement iute- resse les membres presents a la reunion, en ce qu’ils out l’assurance que la plante introduite de Bourbon, reunit toutes les conditions voulues pour largement contribuer au reboisement projete, surtout dans les hautes regions de Maurice. La lettre suivante que le Secretaire a regue d’Hobart Town fait connaitre ^introduction du Saumon dans les rivieres de la Tasmanie, en merae temps que les tentatives faites dans certaines localites, pour se livrer it la culture de la betterave. Yoici la lettre en question : Tasmanian Public Library, Hobart-Town, 18tb Octobor 1871. Dear Sir, “ 1 had the houour many years since, to be appointed a Corresponding Member of your Society, simultaneously with my friend, the Baron Yon Mueller of Melbourne ; but I regret to say that an infinity of duties connected with the require- ments of a daily Journal, have hitherto prevented my aiding you in any way. You will, however, have seen from a Catalogue of Tasma- nian Public Library which 1 had recently the pleasure of sending you that I now hold the position of Secretary and Librarian to this Institution ; consequently have leisure to resume my scientific pursuits and think of my friends. With the Catalogue I forwarded a small pamphlet on Tasmania which the Government of this Colony is circulating to induce Emigration from Europe aud India. “By this outgoing mail, I send for the Society two pamphlets on the introduction of Salmon idee into Tasmania ; one on Beetroot culture, and a recently published Monograph of Tas- manian Land shells. With reference to this last I may men- tion that the author will gladly exchange Tasmanian Land. Freshwater, or Marine shells of this Islaud for any from the Mauritius. I also would be happy to send collections of the Flora of Tasmania should they be considered desiderata, aud those from your island might be sent me asopportuuitics offered. — 167 — “ I have requested the Secretary of the Royal Society of Tasmania to forward copies of their Transactions to your So- ciety which I trust may be acceptable. I may add, in conclusion, that for tho Tasmanian Public Library, as well as for my private collection of scientific works, copies of your Transactions would bo very acceptable. They might be sent, as opportunity offered in some one of the sugar ships direct to this Port, or to care of the Baron Yon Mueller, Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.” I am, Dear Sir, Yours very truly, Mr. L. Bouton, Secretary, Royal Society, Mauritius. Sam. Hannafodh. Le Secretaire communique quelques observations qu’il a faites depuis longtemps sur la nature et les produits des lies Seychelles compares a ceux de Maurice. Certains vegetaux ont des proportions considerables, compares it ceux d'ici — et rien ne pent egaler la magnificence, la splendeur, du Lodoiceu Seyc/iellarum ne croissant seule- ment que sur deux lies du groupe des Seychelles — Praslin et Pile Curieuse— et ayant tin mode de formation et de developpement qui lui est tout a fait particulier. D’un autre cote, M. Horne dit avoir rencontre dans ces lies et h une petite distance du rivage differentes cspeces d’Anui- nyllis dont les bulbes sont d’une grosseur considerable comparees aux autres bulbes du meme genre de plantes. Les animaux articules ~le Iule — Bete a mille patte s — le Scorpion , le Cent pieds, sont enormes mis a cote des memes animaux de Maurice. M. E. Lienard avait rapporte des Seychelles en 1834 on 1838 an Gecko sans pores aux cuisses et d’une tres grande dimension puisqu’il avait au-delil de neuf pouces de longueur total. J. Desjardins a decrit avec certains details, le lulus 168 — qui habite les lies Seychelles. Sa grande taille le rap- proche de V lulus maximus, raais com me il en differe ce- pendant.assez pour constituer une espece nouvelle il lui ai impose le nom de lulus Iusalarum Seychellarum. Enfin remontant au plus liaut degre de Fechelle des etres, on voit aux lies Seychelles, et chacun le sait, dans quelques families, des personnes d’une haute stature, ou douees d’une grande force musculaire. Or quelle en peut etre la cause? Est-elle due it l’emploi presqu’exclusif d’aliments, tels que poissons et tortues dont ces lies abondent ? est-elle due a la salubrite bien connue du climat, ou a la vie ac- tive des habitants, traversant chaque jour des bras de mer pour aller d’uue lie it une autre, ou gravissant des mon- tagnes escarpees ? Enfin cette haute stature et cette vigueur de quelques Seychellois ont-elles d’autres causes qui nous ont echappe jusqu’ici ? Telle est la question h resoudre. Tous ces faits ont paru etre d’une telle singularity au Secretaire de la Societe, qu’il a voulu les soumettre it ^appreciation de l’un des grands naturalistes du siecle, et plus apte que qui que ce soit a s’en rendre compte — a Charles Darwin enfin, et void la reponse qu’il en a reyue : La lettre porte au cachet la devise : cave et aude. Dear Sir, Down Beckenham Kent, October 26th 1871. “ I am much obliged for your kind and interesting let- ter what you say about the men of the Seychelles islands is quite new to me. The case seems nearly parallel, though of a reverse nature, with that of the difference in stature between the inhabitants of the lofty volcanic and low coral islets of the Pacific. “ With my thanks. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, Ch. Dabwin. Lc Secretaire fait savoir que le Comite tic revision ties Reglements tie la Societe s’est reuni Mercredi 10 du mois. Le Col. Pike, MM. Ch. Bruce, Ev. Dupont et lc Secretaire etaient presents. Cc travail avait deja necessite deux seances du Co- mite, — ct on n’etait jusqu’ici arrive qu5a la revision des trois premiers articles. A la reunion du 10, sur la re- marque faite par lc Col. Pike et apres avoir comme lui reconnu que les Reglements les plus concis et les plus courts sont les meilleurs, ou a procede avec ordre et avec celerite — et la tachc imposee au Comite a ete accomplie dans cette meme seance. Plusieurs articles ont etd sup- primes, d’autres retouches, et Eon espere pouvoir it la prochaine seance, la derniere de Eannee, presenter une copie de ces Reglements tels qu’ils out ete modifies et les soumettre it Eapprobatiou de la Societe. Le Secretaire a regu dc Eimprimcric L. Channell 127 exemplaires des Transactions 1870-1871. Deux ont ete adresses au Secretaire d’Etat pour les Colonies— un au Gouverneur et les autres aux Membres en activite. aux So- o ' eietes, ou aux corrcspondants en rapport avec notre Societe. M. Descroizilles informe la Societe que grace a la com- plaisance dc M. P. Ambrose, il vient encore de recevoir par la derniere Malle, un nouvcl envoi d'oeufs de vers it soie du Japon, cc qui le met avee le precedent envoi, en presence cl’uuc forte quautite d’oeufs qu’il croit etre d’ex- cellentes especes : - Ces ceufs avaient ete demandes par lui dans un but special, — mais il explique, qu’il nc cherche pas it en hater Eeclosion n’elevaut encore qu’a la Ville, ou il lui est souvent difficile d’avoir les feuilles fraiches et de Eago voulu pour fairc convenablement des educations destinees specialerqent a -la reproduction — “ du dernier envoi de ces oeufs,” “ j’ai dit-il, cependant dejit un cer- tain nombre dc vers; — j’eleve en meme temps en re- gard,— des vers provenant d’oeufs Mauricicns” — (que tout me porte a croire etre aussi d’origine japonaise) — je pour- rai done faire des comparisons lorsque les vers fileront leurs cocons.” M. Descroizilles ajoute “qu’il est satisfaisant de consta- ter que Fon parait s'occuper activement de planter des mu- riers dans bien des localites : On commence enfin, gene- ralement a reconnaitre quhl devient opportun et indispen- sable pour notre avenir agricole, de developper d'autres industries qui puissent un peu venir en aide a notre unique source de revenus : Maintenant on voit d’un ceil plus favorable et meme avec attention, les efforts faits dans ce but, e’est qu’en eftet, les petites choses peuvent finir par en produire de grandes, surtout lorsque les sources peuvent se diviser a Pinfini, ainsi la soie, ainsi les plantes utiles et textiles, ainsi les oleagineuses dont il a lui-meme souvent fait mention.'” (< J’aqdit-il, “place la Serigene au ler rang pareeque j'ai et j’aurai toujours la ferine et inebranlable conviction que cette industrie bien colonisee, tucra le Pauperisme , e’est- a-dire une de nos plates, envahissante et devorante, et qu^elle est destinee, si elle est dirigee conveuablement, a developper en meme temps qu’elle, d’autres industries aussi faciles et ayant d’excellentes chances de succes.” Au sujet des plantes oleagineuses. 11 rappelle ce qui avait ete dit it une des seances de la Societe sur le Tour- nesol “ Helianthus annuus ” sous un point de vue hy- gienique et sanilaire; aujourd’hui il croit que cette plante devrait etre aussi envisagee sous un point de vue iudus- triel : a ce sujet il communique h la Societe l’extrait sui- vant du British Guiana que M. Bewsher vient aussi de lui envoyer en le priant d’en donner connaissance a la Societe, si elle le trouvait comme lui interessant. The Sunflower. 11 This plant is cultivated in the Colony, more ou account ol its large, yellow flowers, which make a show in gardens and pleasuro-grounds, than for the valuable proposes'for which it may he used : In America, where it is more extensively culti- vated, it is looked upon as a most profitable article of pro- duction. In American publications, the seeds are said to be more oleaginous than those of the Flax plant, and combine the qualities for table use of the best Olive oil ; for burning, of the best sperm, without its smoke ; and for painting, it is said by painters who have used it to be superior to linseed, and it is more rapid in drying, equally easy in spreading, and without forming a much denser coat : Prepared and eaten as artichocks the young cups of the plant are very esculent and pleasing to the palate ; the stalks are an excellent substitute for hemp or flax, and for Bee pasturage it is equal to any plant, yielding, from its luscious and numerous nectaries, an abundance of the best and most palatable honey. One writer says, that on sui- table soil, with proper cultivation, it will yield on an average of from eighty to one hundred bushels of seed to the acre. — From five to seven quarts of oil are calculated on per bushel. — If this is not over estimating its productiveness — and if it can be raised as cheaply as wheat or Indian corn, ordinarily consi- dered the most valuable crops cultivated — the Sunflower must be a very profitable production. We have, heretofore, cul- tivated it on a small scale, usually in vacant spots, by the fences, and in places where the cultivation of other vegetables was ineligible, and, so far as our experience goes, it corro- borates the above assertions. We find that the green leaves are very excellent fodder for coius, especially when the feed in our pastures gets low, in seasons of scarcity, and drought. We generally commence plucking them in July, taking the lower leaves first, and feeding them out at night ; or, if the scarcity of feed is great, in the morning before turning them from their yards, we have sometimes given them corn top- pings and the leaves of the Sunflowor at the same time, and have found that the latter are invariably preferred. The seed of the Sunflower is a most desirable food for poultry, its high- ly oleaginous nature wholly superseding the necessity of animal food.” Le Secretaire communique de la part de M. E. Hery la uote suivante, au sujet des plants d’ Acacias qu'il a fait parvenir h. la Societe : De V Acacia de la Nouvelle Hollande. De son importance comme arbre de reboisement. De V application de sa gomvie et de son ecorce dans V Industrie. “ En presence des consequences funestes du debasement irreflecbi, chacun cst justeinent preoccupe de la question du reboisement. ‘‘ Nous ne saurions done trop appeler 1’attention des pro- prietaires sur la culture de l’acacia de la Nouvelle Hollande. “ Comme le filao, l’acacia exige fort peu de soms ; comme lui il se plait daus les terrains les plus ingrats, oil les autres plantes refusent de pousser. “ II y aurait un grand profit a planter des acacias dans tons les terrains jusqu’ici improductifs et qui ne peuvent etre em- ployes a aucune autre culture. “ Tout a son utilite dans eel arbre precieux qui poussc tres vito et se multiplie indefiniment par les racines, “ Son bois est un excellent combustible et son ecorce tres estimee dans la tannerie. “ Sa gomme est employee dans la pliarmacie, mais trouve surtout son application daus l’industrie manufacturiere oil elle est tres recherchee a cause du beau lustre qu’elle donne aux soieries et aux toiles glacees. Enfin son feuillage est uno bonne nourriture pour les betes ii cornee. “ Nous avons envoye un echautillon de gomme en France, a M. Bories, pharmacieu de l’hopital militaire, qui on a trouve lo placement a raison de 3 f. lo kilo. II nous a ecrit qu’il espere trouver mieux. *' TJne plantation d’Acacias peut donner, au bout de 5 nns une moyenne annuel I e d’un kilo do gomme par arbre, ce qui n’emp6cbe que bien avant ce laps de temps ello peut entrer en rapport. “ Nous avons ete jusqu’a recueillir 3 kilo de gomme sur le m6me arbre. — 173 “ Voici. pourquoi 1’Acacia donno plus do gorntno dans la region moyenne. “ C’est qu’il y prcnd moins do developpement et n’y fleurit jamais. “ Le trop pleiu de sa seve s’ecoule alors par des fissures qui se formenfc dans son ecorce. “ L’ecoree de l’Acacia plante dans uno altitude do plus de 400 metres est tres lisse, celle de l’aeacia venue dans une ele- vation inferieure a toute la rugosite de l’ecoree des autres arbres. “ Sur les hauteurs de la Commune de St Louis, le long do la route de Cilaos on voit des acacias gigantesques et pour- tant ces arbres etaient inconnus il n’y a pas 12 ans. “ Six ans apres 1’introduction de l’acacia a Bourbon, on exploitait son bois eomme combustible, on en fait d’excellent cbarbon. “ Ce n’est que depuis tres peu de temps qu’on est fixe sur la valeur de sa gomme et de son ecorce. “ L’acacia doit etre plante & 4 metres de distance dans les altitudes superieures a. 400 metres, et a 2 m. G6 dans la region moyenne. Dans les pentes tres inclinees il doit etre plante a 2 metres pour empe -her la degradation des terres par les eaux pluviales. “ Jusqu’ici on s’est servi de drageons pour propager l’acacia, nous ne pouvons pas encore nous prononccr pour les plants renus de graines. ‘‘ Il suffit, pour faire une bonne operation, que le drageon sevre au prealable soit bien enracine et pris dans une tente. ‘‘ Quand on pcut se procurer les plants sur les lieux monies, on peut se passer de tentes, on plante a la motte on merne a poils les drageons qui doivent toujours etre sevres. “ Cette derniere operation no doit se faire que dans les localites ou il pleut souvent. “ Il est bon de garantir les jeuncs plantes de l’ardeur du soleil pendant quel que temps. “ La tente doit disparaitre a un ponce au-dessous du sol quand le plant qu’elle contient est assez fort ; quand le plant est petit, 6 lignes suffisent. — 174 — 4‘ L’aeacia est un excellent couvert pour les coura d’eau, il eat en merne temps un fort joli arbre d’ornement. “ Disons pour terminer, que des plantations d’acacia faites sur une grande echelie, auraient pour resultat, dans un avenir prochain de rendre tr&s productifs des terrains jusqu’ici ste- riles, en les affectant a une Industrie peu couteuse et lucrative ; et de procurer un bon combustible dont la source serait ine- puisable. Ces plantations auraient aussi pour effet de rendre au climat sa salubrite, et de retablir l’equilibre meteorologique detruit par les defrichements inconsideres qui sont la cause de toute la perturbation atmospherique qui desole les colonies de Maurice et de la Reunion.’’ E. H. SEANCE DU SAMEDI 9 MARS 1872. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DU D1' CH. R J5 G N A U D. Presents : Col. N. Pike, MM. J. A. W. Arnott, Ed. Bouton, H. C. Deseroizilles, H. Finniss, A. Langlois, P. Lemiere, V. Robillard. L. Bouton, Secretaire. Apres lecture du proces-verbal de la derniere reunion, Son Honneur John Gorrie propose h la derniere reunion est elu membre resident. Le Secretaire presente de la part de M. Ch. Darwin un exemplaire de son premier ouvrage, A Naturalist’ s voyage round the world , or a Journal of researches Sfc. during the voyage of H. M. S. Beagle. Mr Ch. Darwin a bien voulu ajouter a ce gracieux present sa photographic quhl offre egalement a la Societe. M. C. E. Bewsher euvoie une chenille qu’il a trouvee » Yacoa sur la tige d’une jeune plante, c^est selon toutes s apparences celle decrite par Boisduval et donnant nais- ance h un papillon erepusculaire tres connu a Maurice — le Cyllo Leda — existaut egalement a Bourbon et a Mada- gascar, sur la cote occidentale d'Afrique, etc. ; elle se trouve sur les feuilles de graminees en general. — 175 — Cepenclant le Col. Pike ne partage pas celtc opinion et pense cjue cette chenille est figuree clans Pouvrage de Maillard, et que c’est celle de V Hesperia Borbonica. En tout cas, la chenille sera conservee jusque dans son etat parfait et les cloutes seront alors eclaircis. * Trois specimens de Lepidopteres provenant de la Reu- nion et que le Museum ne possedait pas, sont presen tes k la Society ce sont : 1. Papilio Desparilis, 1 2. Aganais Insularis, >Boisduval. 3. Macroglossa Apus. J Enfin le Col. Pike fait voir un autre papillon qui a ete pris a Flacq par M. A. Regnard et qu’il croit etre une espece nouvelle du genre Danais . II est probable qu’elle se sera introduite a Maurice soit de Madagascar ou de la cote d’Afrique. M. Ev. Dupont fait don au Museum de deux Ophidiens de la Reunion que nous nc possedions pas : 1. — Reptile du Jardin Botanique : Typhlos Braminus , Cuv. 2. — Couleuvre, Lycodon aulicum. Boie. Le Col. Pike a trouve sur le Bananier Gingili un co- leoptex’e qui commet sur Parbre les plus grands desastres ; il s’introduit dans Pinterieur meme du Bananier et en detruit en peu de temps toute la substance medullaire. L’insecte est bien certainement de la tribu des Curcu- lionees. Selon le Col. Pike, il constituerait une espece du genre Attelabus, mais le Secretaire est dispose a croire que c’est plutot une espece du genre Calandra, identique a celle qui se trouve en abondance chez les manguiers ou elle fait les plus grands ravages sur les jeunes feuilles qu’elle detruit entierement ct en peu de temps. M. A. Lauglois a fait voir de belles mouclies-feuilles f * La metamorphose complete a fait voir que lo papillon en question est veritablcment lc Cyllo Lcda. f I'lij'llies. — 176 — des Seychelles clout il a reussi a elever line grande quan- tity sur sa propriety aux Plaines Wilhems. II a pa en distribuer seance tenante et fournir de beaux eehantillons qui remplaceront ceux faisant partie de la collection du Museum et dont la coulcur cst entierement disparue. Les transformations auxquelics sont sournis ccs insectes ne sout pas' ties connues. M. A. Langlois a promis de faire a ce sujet quelqucs reeherches qu’il communiquera h la prochaine seance. Le oecietaire a rappcle un fait, au sujet de ces mouches- feuilles, qui lui avait ete rapporte par M. Ch. Telfair, k 1 epoque ou celui-ci etait t ommissionnaire aux Seychelles. C/est que quand ces insectes se jettent avec avidite sur les arLics dont ils depouillent les feuilles, ceux qui sont der- riere les premiers prennent leurs aiies pour de veritablcs feuilles et les ddvorei t. Le Col. Pike dit de sou cote avoir egalement constate ce fait aux Seychelles. A . de Lobillard 1 ait voir de tres beaux specimens de coquiiles provenant dc Pilot Barkly, it communique k ce sujet la note suivautc : lo. Ld madrepore dans l’interieur duquel se sont devc- loppes quatre Spondylus plui ispinoms. “ 2()- Un Ci/prea 6'cottii trouve sur Pilot Barkly, cetto co- quilic, jusqu a present, n avait ete rencontree que sur Ja cote Sud-Ouest de l’Australie. Cost la premiere fois, dit M. E., qu’une coquille habitant les rners de l’Australie, a ete trouvee a 1 ile Maurice. Cc fait est curieux a con stater pour ccux qui s’occupent dc conchyliologie-. C n Mill'd mvcUy especc ties rare, dont peu de specimens existent dans le3 collections d’Europe. EJlc vient d’etro trou\ec sur 1 Hot Barkiy. J’cn ai vu un specimen provenant des Seychelles dans la hello collection de M. E. Le Vieux. 1) apres la Monographic faite par Eeevc sur le genre Mifi'a, cette especo aurait ete rencontree pour la premiere fois sur les cotes uo Idle d' Annan, uno des nombreuscs llesappar- ienant a Parchipel Maumotou. Elio avait etc decrilc par — 1 77 — Broderip en 1835, sous le nom tie Tiara nivea ; mais comme cette coquille a lo caractere bien marque dea Mitrea, Beeve, en faisant la Monographic do ce genre, lui a donne place dana cette famille qui renferme de si jolies especes. Cette coquille en est une ties plus remarquables par la nuance qu’elle poa- Bede et sa forme gracieuse. “ Un Conus festivus, coquille qui avait ete trouvee aux Ilea Philippines, il y a peu d’annees ; espece rare et recherchee ties amateurs. Ce Cone porte bien son nom, en raison tie la richesse de coloris tie sa belle robe tie fete.” “ V. de Bobillard.” M. H. C. Descroizilles met a la disposition de la Societe pour etre distributes, des graines mures du Joliffen Afri- cana, et communique a ce sujet la note suivante : “ J’ai le plaisir tie deposer entre lea mains de Monsieur L. Bouton et pour etre distributees ties semeuces du Jolijjia Africana •, Elies provienuent tie fruits bien murs, recueillis par mon frere, M. H. Des'croizilles, sur sa propriete Beaubois, a la Savanne : Les fruits out ete fecontles : Cette operation consiste a porter le pollen de la fleur male qui croit sur une lianne, sur la fleur femelle qui surmonte uu petit fruit tout forme, qui est sur une autre lianne ; comme je l’ai plusieurs fois dit deja, tout me porte a croire que cette plante, vu son immense developpement doit deyenir un bon assolement : Quant a l’huile des semences dont chaque fruit contient de 100 a 150, au dire des connaisseurs, elle est superieure a l’huile cl’ Olives vierge. J’ai deja distribue, de mon cote, une certaino quantite tie ces graines.” • M. H. Descroizilles fait voir aussi des cocons provenant des ceufs de vers a soie qu’il a reyus du Japon. “ Yoici quelques Cocons des vers a soie eleves par moi et provenant des oeufs que j’ai re9us du Japon : Les Cocons sont d’un jaune verdatre et beaucoup plus petits que ceux tie Mau- rice arrives h ce point de perfection par suite d’educations successives et soignees ; mais ces Cocons sont fermes, bien constitues et de forme regulibre ; j’ai deja recueilli quelques anil's provenant ties vers eleves h Maurice : IIs oft’ rent cette particularity notable, qu’ils adherent au papier comme s’ils y etaient soudes, tandis que ceux de nos vers acclimates, n’ad- herent pas du tout, ou tres peu : Par des soins convenable3 et des croisements, ces vers du Japon arriveront a produiro d’aussi beaux cocons ; mais il faut pour cela ce quo je n’ai pas toujcurs, c’est-a-dire du temps et de la feuille en qualite requise. Sur un echantillon, mes cocons blaucs, cxpedies h Marseille, out ete estimes 24 francs le kilo ou § 4.80, soit S 2.40 la livre de cocons secs : Ce prix vient demontror la superiority do notre climat pour cette industrie qui, colonisee convenablement, est sans nul doute destinee ?i devenir d’uu grand secours pour cnraycr le pauperisme qui grandit et se decele chaque jour. La ou il y a des muriers, on pourrait facilement les utiliser au profit des pauvres et necessiteux qui se livreraient volontiers sans aucuu doute a des travaux fa- ciles et meme attrayants : Il sera a propos de rappeler qu’a- vec (40,000) quaranfe milliers de feuilles (non mondees), une magnanerie (en paille et palissades) de 5 onces, et un mobi- lier economique, on peut produire annuellement (2,000) deux millo livres de cocons qui, au prix ou on les paie actuelleinent, 50 c. la livre, representeraient $ 1000, produit du travail de 400 & GOO journees de femmes, enfants, vieillards ; le rapport de la feuille au cocon est fixe, comme on le voit, a 20 liv. feuilles pour 1 liv. de cocons ; on a obtenu jusqn’au double en France, et puisqu’il est incontestablement prouve que notre climat est superieur, pourquoi ne ferions-nous pas aussi bien, si nous suivons les bonues methodes qui seules peuvent mener au succos ? “ J’ai annonce.que je delivrais des vers provenant des oeufs du Japon, qui naissent chaque jour par petites quautites do 150 a 200 des 200,000 oeufs que j’ai re^us en dernier iieu : De G a 7 heures le matin, ils eclosent chaque jour. ‘‘ J’ai aussi expedie a la Reunion hier, des ooufs Mauriciens et Japonais qui m’avaient ete demandes.” Le Secretaire fait savoir que la seance du jour est la derniere des reunions mensuelles de la Societe, que la — 179 — seance annuelle aura lieu probablement la seraaine pro- cliaine ; et qu’avis cn sent clonue aux membres aussitot que lc jour aura etc lixe. Le Secretaire communique a la Seauce unc copie du Proces-verbal dc la premiere Seance tenue par la Societe, fonclee, aiusi qu’on lc sait, lc 19 Aout 1829 sous la denomi- nation de Societe d’llistoire Naturelle de File Maurice. Ce proces-verbal n;a jamais ete imprime, car h cette epoque la Societe n’avait pas a sa disposition les moyens suffisants pour subvenir a des frais depression. Lc Secretaire a pense que les jeunes membres de la Societe devenue aujourd'hui Societe Royale, prendront un certain iuteret a jeter un coup d’oeil retrospectif sur le proces-verbal de cette seance tenue, il y a plus dequarante ans, et bien avaut la naissance de la plupart d’cntre cux. SOCIETE DU1ST0IRE MTURELLE 1)E L’lLE Ml NICE Lecture faite a la 1 ere Seance Annuelle le 24 Aoiit 1830, par M. Julien Desjardins, Secretaire de la Societe. Iro Partib : — Fondation de la Societe d’Histoirc Naturelle de l’llo Mau- rice.— Etat des Sciences Naturelles de cette lie antoriourement a cette fondation. “ Depuis plusieurs annees, quelques personnes s’occupaient avec un certain succes dans cette lie de l’etude des scien- ces naturolies ; les decouvortes qu’elles faisaient dans cette partie etaient communiquees aux Socictes savantes de l’Eu- rope et la Colonic qui etait le theatre meme de ccs decou- verte3 ne jouissait que tres tard des avantages que le monde savant en retirait. Maintes i’ois cepeudant, il etait venu dans l’idee a ces memos personnes de creer au Port Louis une So- ciete oil chacuu put communiquer scs decouvertes et s’aidcr mutuellement de ses rechcrchcs. “ Jq vais, avant de vous entretenir de la fondation do notie Societe, parler de differentes tentatives ct memo de plusieurs — 180 — travaux qui doivont servir d’introductiou a son histoire. Lors du passage des gabarres le Geograjphe etle Naturaliste en 1801 dans cette lie, plusieurs naturalistes de cette expedition restc- rentparmi nous ; il y en eut un, M. Bory de St. Vincent dont le zele et les ouvrages sont si conuus et qui forma avec M. Lis- let Geoffroy une Societe qui aurait pu devenir interessante. No- tre He reunissait a cette epoque Messieurs Du Petit Thouars, Michaux, Martin Moncamp et Delisse qui etait de cette expe- dition ct qui est aujourd’hui notro collogue et plusieurs de ccux qui par la suite, fonderent la Societe d' Emulation. Mais cette Societe d' Emulation institute le 21 Mars 1S05 n’est elle- meme qu’un perfectionnement de celle que je viens d’indiquer puisqu’tdle avait pour titre Societe Hire d’ Emulation ; elle est bien connue par plusieurs de ses memoires publids ainsi que la liste de ses membres dans pluscnrs ouvrages savants. Ses travaux n’etaient pas speciaux comme ceux de notro Societe, ils embrassaient toutes les brauebes des connaissances bumaines et meme les beaux arts et les metiers; jusqu’en 1 81 G cette Societe a continue ses travaux daus lesquels on distingue de loin en loin des articles d’histoire naturelle. Eu 1818 elle tint sa derniere seance lors du passage de la cor- vette frai^aiso VUranie : e’etait un hommage rendu a M. le Commandant Freycinet et aux savants de cette expedition qui se sont fait depuis un si beau nom dans les Sciences.. II est surtout interessnnt d’observer que Son Excellence lo Gouverneur Sir llobert T. Farqubar a longtemps figure comme President Ilonoraire de la Societe d’ Emulation. “ Sous le Gouvernement Fran^ais le General Decaen avait, lors de la fondation du Lycee, pense a l’objet qui nous occupe. De concert avec le Colonel de genie Richemont, il avait arrete qu’une des salles de cet Etablissement serait destinee a rccevoir une bibliotheque,un cabinet d’histoire naturelle, des instruments tie physique etde mathemaliques. Je nc sais qui a pu cmpecher rexecution de ce projet vraiment liberal et dont les Sciences auraient retire de si grands fruits. Messieurs Catoire, Ma- tbien, Stadtman et quelquos uns des membres de la Societe 6’ Emulation auraient ccrtainement faitfairc de grands progrfcs a Fhistoire naturelle de c. tte He. Quoique ceci no suit pas — 181 — uue histoire detaillbe cles progres des scieuces naturelles de cottc region da Globe, il convient de dire que biea avant les epoquea ct les Societes donfc je viens de vous entretenir, plu- sieurs homines parmi lesqucls on en cite qui out acquis une celebrite bien moritee, avaient fait connaitre au monde savant les productions de uotre He. Aublet, Commerson, SonnernL J ossigny, leVicomte deKerhoent, si souvinfc cue par Buffon, 1’inteudant Poivre et Bernardin de St Pierre meine out autaut contribue a l’avaucement de ces sciences a File Maurice, quo les personnes que j’ai deja citces et j’ajoutcrai encore a ces nonis ceux de Coasigny, Beauvais, et Cere. ‘‘ Pour rcvenir a l’epoque actuelle, je vous rappellerai que deux d’entfe nous avaient offert sous la date du 18 Mai 1820 a S.Ex. le Gouverneur Sir Lowry Cole lours collections deja assez considerables, ct cela sans aucune retribution, pour former au College le noyau d’un Museum colonial. J'ai peine a expliquer comment leur offre genereuso est resteo sans reponse, surtout lorsquc je vois le nom de cct ancien Gouverneur a la teto d’une Societe dans le genre de la notre : nous savons tous que Sir Lowry Cole est dans sou gouvernement du Cap de Bonne Es- perauco, Protecteur du South African Institution. “ Sans une transition trop brusque et sans sortir de mon sujet je puis dire ici qu’un des autres Gouverneurs que nous avon3 cu a Pile Maurice, le General Darling est aussi Protecteur d’uue Societe d’Agriculture et d’ Horticulture a la Nouvelle Galle du Sud oil il est depuis quelque temps Gouverneur. La veri- to veut que je dise que les deux personnes qui avaient offert leurs collections sont M. L. Bouton, mon meilleur ami et cn mfime temps notre collogue, et moi. Depuis, sous la date du 12 Septembre 1 G28 j’ai eu l’honneur de soumettre a plusieurs d’entre vous un Prospectus dans le but de reorganiser la Societe I' Emulation. J’ai depose dans nos archives ce Pros- pectus et la lettre a Sir Lowry Cole. A peu pres a la ineme epoque M. Ch. Telfair avait propose deux differents projets ; celui d’une Societe d’Agriculture et plus tard d’une Societe Asiatique qui devait correspondre avec cell, s do Calcutta et de Londres. 182 — l< Me voici rendu a l’endroit de moil travail qui traite exclusi* vement de la Sod etc d’Histoirc Naturelle de Vile Maurice. Le 11 Aout 1829 M. Ch. Telfair, dont lo nem figure dans line foule d’ouvrages d'histoire naturelle et qui cst inembre de plu- sieurs Societes savantes, eut i’idee dc reunir chcz lui quelqucs naturalistes dont les intentions lui efaient connues. II invita M. Jacques Delisse a lire quelques reglements provisoires en 15 articles quo les 29 personnes presontes approuverent et signerent. Le but de cstte reunion qui prit aussitot le nom de Sod tile d 'ffistoire Naturelle de Vile Maurice, etait non pas de donner a plusieurs jeune3 gens de cette lie le gout de l’histoire naturelle qu’ils avaient deja, tt qui se developpait cliaquejour dc plusen plus, mais de leur donner les conseils dans la marchc a suivre pour l’etude de cette science. Ce jour mcme on crea un Bureau par voic dc scrutiu et les personnes suivantes furent nominees, savoir : M. Ch. Telfair, President, M. Jacques Delisse et M. \\renceslas Bojer, Vice-Presidents, M. Julien Desjardins, Secretaire. “ Par la suite, le 6 Aoiit 1830, on nomma de la meme maniere un Tresorier et cc fut M. Lienard pore qui reuuit le plus de suffrages. “ La Socictc a tenu sa premiere seance le 24 Aoiit 1829, jour anniversaire de la naissancc du Baron G. Cuvier qui cst sans contredit le savant le plus distingue de notre epoquo et cclui qui a donne un si grand essor a toutes les branches des sciences physiques et naturellcs, et memo aux sciences du- plication qui sont comprises sous cette denomination. C’est avec un plaisir bien grand et meme avec un certain orgueil quo j’ai vu quo ma proposition de fixer a pareil jour la premiere seance et fete annuellc de la Societe avait etc reyue et accept ee a l’unanimite. Depuis lors la Societe d’Histoire Naturelle a tenu ses seances tous les mois dans le memo local appartenant it M. Ch. Telfair, President de la Socictc. On a entendu de la part de ceux des membres qu’on ne devait considerer que comme eleves, des lectures et des descriptions qui figureront dans les Mcmoires que la Societe se propose do publier. ‘‘ De nouveaux Beglements out etc fails en Dccembre 1829. Ils sont diviscs en deux litres et 31 Articles et sont bases — 183 sur ceux de la Societe d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris. Son Ex- cellence le Gouverneur Sir Charles Colville a recu en Fevrier 1830 une copio’de ces Reglements et le resume ties travail x de la Societe jusqu’a cette epoque. Son Excellence a bien voulu, d’apres tine adresse signee par tous les membros de la Societe, acquiescer a la demande qu’on lui a faite d’etre notre Protecteur et elle a memo daigne offrir une salle a l’Hotel du Gouvernement pour tenir les seances de la Societe.” 2me Part ie : — Analyse des Travaux de la Societe. “ Avaut de passer a ehacuue des branches dont la Societe s’est occupee pendant cette 41 remiere annee, jo vais parler des Dis- cours que quelques uns de ses membres out prononces dans diverses seances, ainsi quo les vues generales qui y ont ete de- veloppees. “ A la seance d’ouverture du 24 Aout 1S29, M. Ch. Telfair a prononce un Discours fort interessant et rempli de vues pliilo- soplvques et oil son amour pour les sciences utiles a I’humanite se fait voir en bien des endroits. Habitue a conduire sa plume avec habilete, on a pu voir quo oe n’etait pas son coup d’essai et malgre la modestie de cc digne President qui ne semble considerer cette production qu’avec peu d’attention, plusieurs membres en ont pris des copies et ap^es une lecture a tete re- posee, ils ont pu se convaincre que jusqu’a present onavaitfait fort peu de chose de ce genre dans notre Societe qui put meme souffrir la comparaison. Je crois que e’est ici qu’on peut placer a tres justes titres les remerciments que la Societe doit a. M. Ch. Telfair pour avoir, pendant tout le courant de l’annee, su en- tretenir l’uuion et 1’intclligence parmi une Societe composite de membres dont les ages, les conditions et les professions sont si difforentos, et je le dirai, parmi des personnes qui ayant ap- partenu tout recemment a des nations rivales, ont sous le regi- me de ce digne President, oublie qu’elles etaient d’origine diffe. rentes. “On devait generalcment s’attendre qu’a la premiere seance d’une Societe qui s’orgauise daus un pays et pour la premiere — 184 — fois surtout clans rson genre, plusieurs de ses membres ex- poseraient leurs vnes, et les souls travaux qu’ils se proposeut de poursuivre. “ Un deuxieme discours a etc en effet lu a la memo seance par Mr L. Bouton qui, depuis plusieurs annecs, travaille en Botanique, c’est sur cette etude qui fesait les delices des der- niers moments de J. J. Rousseau que notre collogue s’est etendu. II a lu quelques pages on Ton peut facilement voir qu’il connait bien son sujet et qu’il marcbe d’un pas assure dans cette carriere. “ Dans uue autre seance M. L. Boutou en rendant compte d’un ouvrage qui parut au Cap de Bonne Esperance sous le nom de South Africain Quarterly Journal a sounds quelques idees d’amelioration que la Societe a sans doute appreciees, car d’un commun accord tous les membres presents ont vote pour l’impression de son travail dont une Gazette de notre lie n’a reproduit qu’une tres-^etite partie et qui est aussi la moins interessante. “ M. J. Desjardins a aussi prononce un discours dans lcquel il a passe rapidement en revue non-seulement les differents travaux des Sciences Naturelles mais encore les Sciences qui se rattaehent a cedes dont la Societe doit s’occuper. La Geolagie est une partie qu’il etudie, mais bien convaincu de cette phrase do Mr. Cuvier, qu’elle est si immense queebaque chose doit etre en quelque sorte le partage d’ecrivains particuliers. 11 ne s’est borne a n’etudier de ehacune que co qui lui convient de savoir pour pouvoir un jour offrir une Faune de l’lle Maurice oil les animaux des classes superieures sont peu nombreux, si Ton n’en excepte les poissons si varies do notre lie. “ M. Faraguet, eleve de l’Ecole Polytechnique et qui est. reste dans notre lie lors du passage de 1’ Astrolabe il y a deux ans, a lu dans une des seances monsuelles quelques pages oil il a developpe des idees fort justes et qui tendent a donuor plus de solidite a la Societe et plus d’extension a ses travaux. Doyen elfeve do l’Ecole ou il a puise ces idees de developpe- ment des facultes intellectuelles, nous devons nous leliciter — 185 — grfiee a sa residence dans cetto lie do posseder onfiu uno chaive de Physique au College Royal. PHYSIQUE F.T MliTlSOROLOGirj. stst-* a. f c — 198 — % Lienard pere, qui remplit les fonctions de Tresorier de la Societe, vous fera connaitre, avec plus de details, I’etat des Recettes et des Dcpenses. Nous devons je crois le remercier prealablement du zelo qu’il a mis a remplir cette fouction delicate. “ Avant de terminer le Rapport quej’ai eu l’hoimeur de vous faire Monsieur le President et vous tous Messieurs mes eollegues, je vous prie dc m’excuser si involontairement quel- ques omissions ont on lieu dans mon travail, ou si je n’ai pas rendu a quelques uns d’entro vous le juste tribut d’eloges qu’il merite. Je reclame ici votre indulgence et si vous m’en jugez digue, je suis oncoi’e pret a remplir, avec le mome z&le et la memo exactitude que vous me conuaissez, les fonctions de Secretaire de la Societe que vous m’avez si genereusement conferees lors de notre premiere reunion, il y a un an. (Sigue) Julies Desjardins, Secretaire dela Soeiete d'Histoire Naturelle de Pile Maurice. M. Y. de llobillard presente la note suivante sur les toquilles provenant de l'Australie, de lies Salomon, Lord How, parmi lesquelles plusieurs especes de terrestres vien- nent d'etre decouvertes : Cyprrea umbilicata. Helix sophia. ,, comptoni . ,, lambei. Voln: fa fusiformis. ,, tricolor. „ norrisii. „ ambrosia. „ zebon. „ merzeriana. Bulimuh bivaricosus. ,, boivini. _ „ hongreveu. ,, coxi. „ ■ eddystonensis. „ erinaceus. „ palmarum. ,, macleyi. ,, dufresnii. ,, aphrodite. Helix cunninghami. ,, sellersi. „ wformis. ,, gondalcaojentH.r'H ,, rambirdi. ,, bipartita. „ launcestonensis. Hargravesia polita. „ o’ connellensis . Pupina meridionalis. ,, croftoni. Vitrina suberba. „ xanthocheila. Helicina pr-otguittrt. /Sr/r t fsss /isr* • 199 Un des membrcs distingues de la Societe, Le Dr. F. Edwards, Inspccteur Sanitaire, a bi ti voulu comrauni- quer le Rapport sur le mouvement de la population h Maurice pendant Fannee 1871, dont sont extraits les passages suivants : Population. The Resident Population of Mauritius according to the Census taken on the 10th of April 1371 was composed of 51,771 Males of the General Population and 48,013 Females and 141,804 Males of the Indian Population and 74,454 Fe- males—Total 316,042. Between the 10th April and 31st December, the excess of Births over Deaths in the former class amounted to 479 Males, and 579 Females. In the latter there was an excess of 136 Deaths in the Males, and an excess of 823 Births in the Females. The arrivals, however, of Indian Immigrants exceeded the departures by 433 Males and 364 Females, thus raising the Total Resident Population to 318,584, classified as under General Population. Indiau Population. Males, Females. Males. Females. 52,250 48,592 142,101 75,641 It has been found impossible to follow the movements of the General Population, or even of those of free Indian Pas- sengers, since the repeal of Ordinance No. 24 of 1850. The Total estimated Population on the 31st of December, Male and Female, may be taken as correct ; but as the Births and Deaths of some Creole Indians, number at present uncertain, have been registered as belonging to the General Population, the latter is probably a little over-estimated. Marriages. The Totai number of Marriages registered in the year was 739, being an increase of 47 on those of the preceding year, 42 of which were Indian. If the fluctuations in the Marriages are a fair indication of the condition and prospects of a people, then the first 4 years of the last Decado were those of greatest prosperity. In the year 1866 the Marriages — 200 — of the General Population fell from 557 to 411, and those of the Indians from 213 to 1G3. In the following year 1867 — that of the great Epidemic — they declined to 372, and 112, in the two classes respectively. Erorn that period there has been a tolei’ably progressive improvement, but Marriages among the General Population have never in any year since 1S65, reached the number registered in either of the preceding 4 years ; and even among the Indians, notwithstanding the progressive increase of Females in that class of the people, tho improvement has been by no means commensurate. The exceptional habits and condition of the Indians are sufficient to account for the low Marriage Eate (2-6 per 1,000) in that class ; but that the Marriage Eate cf the General Population should be so low a3 9. per 1,000, with a Birth Rate of 37. is somewhat remarkable, and does not tell well for the general morality of tho people. In England tho average Marriage Rate is 161 and the Birth Rate 33’ per 1,000. Births. t Tho Total number of living Births registered was 11,803, being an increase of GIG on tho preceding year. Of that Total number 6,046 were Male and 5,757 Female Births, tho excess of Males being a trifle over 51 per cent. The Births among tho General Population numbered 4,449, among tho Indian 7,354. Tho excess of Births over Deaths in the former was 1,729 ; in the latter 1,903. General Population, excess of Males 796, Females 933. Indian Population excess Males 337, Females 1,566. To account for the excess of Male Indian Deaths over Births between the 10th April and 31st December as stated in tho first Table containing the estimated Popula- tion at the end of the year, it should be explained that all those Births which occured before the 10th April and were registered after that date, were necessarily deleted. The annual Birth Eate of the General Population was 415 . that of the Indian 3'40. Tho exceptionally high Eate of tho former tends to strengthen the suspicion beforo expressed that a certain proportion of Indian Births are carried to tho credit of the General Population ; whilst the Total Birth Rato — 201 — is so high a3 to lead to something more than a suspicion that the resident Population of the Island is larger than is repre- sented in the Report of the Census Commissioner. The Birth Rates varied in the several Districts from 4*19, highest in Port Louis, to 8T2, lowest, in Pamplemousses. The Total Birth Rate was 3'73. Deaths. The Total number of Deaths registered in the year was 8,171 against 7,426 in 1870, an increase of 745. The number of Deaths among the General Population was 2,720, among the Indian 5,451. Of the former 1,488 were of Males and 1,232 of Females. Of the latter 3,425 were Male and 2,026 Female. The excess of Male Deaths in the General Popula- tion equalled 1 7 per cent, in the Indian 40- per cent ; but as the excess of Males over Females in the former class of the Population, according to the Census recently taken equalled only 7‘ per cent, whilst in the latter it equalled 90- per cent, it follows that the proportional mortality of Males in the General Population was considerably higher than in the Indian , and yet the Death Rate of Males was not remarkably high in either class, as will be seen from the following Table : General Population. Indian Population. Male Deaths to Male Population. Male Deaths to Male Population. 2-87 241 Female Deaths Female Deaths to Female Population. to Female Population. 2-56 2-70. The annual Death Rate of the General Population was 2'72, that of the Indian 2'52. The Total Death Rate was 2 58 ; a lower Death Rate than has been recorded since 1861, with the exception of that of 1870, which was 2-28. The Death Rates in each District are given in the following Table : General Indian m , , Population. Population. Port Louis 2‘82 3’74 3 21 Pamplemousses 2-59 2' 38 244 202 General Population. Indian Population- Total . Riviere du Rempart .. 2-17 2-34 2-31 Flacq . . 2*38 1-92 2-02 Grand Port . . 2-95 261 2704 Savanna .. 3-16 2-87 292 Plaines Williems. . . . . . 2-84 2-21 2-409 Black River . . 2-40 255 2-508 Moka .. 2-53 211 2-23 SEANCE ANNUELLE DU JEUDI 11 AVR1L 1872. SOUS LA PRESIDENCE DE l’hONORABLE E. NEWTON, PRESIDENT DE LA SOCIETE. Sont presents : Le Dr. Cli. Regnaud et le Dr. Ed. Le Juge, Vice-Presidents ; — L. Bouton, Secretaire ; — Colonel N. Pike, Consul Americain. — MM. A. Bestel, H. C. Des- croizilles, N. Desjardins, A. Langlois, P. Lemiere, Ch. Meldrum, A. Regnard, V. de Robillard, Ed. Serendat, F. Sevene. La seance est ouverte par la lecture que fait le Secre- taire du Rapport des travaux de la Societe pendant l’an- nee commen9ant le 31 Mars 1871 et finissant le 11 Avril 1872. Apres la lecture de ce Rapport, le President se leve et, le passant rapidemeut en revue, adresse des felicitations a M. Descroizilles, sur le succes qu’obtient chaque jour PIndustrie Sericicole dont il est un des principaux mo- teurs ; il dit que des plantations de muriers ont ete faites sur divers etablissements du Gouvernement. 11 adresse aussi des eloges au Dr. Regnaud sur le plein succes de la derniere Exposition. Le Dr. Regnaud propose eu retour un vote de remerci- ments aux deux communications qui viennent d’etre faites par le Secretaire et l’Hon. President de la Societe. — 203 — Le President sJetant retire, on a procede aux elections des Officiers du Bureau pour Fannee prochaine, et les no- minations suivantes ont eu lieu : MBMBRES OFFICIELS : L'Hou. Ed. Newton, Dr. Ed. Le Juge, } Dr. Ch, Regnaud, i President . Vice-Presidents. A. Desenne, Tresorier L. Bouton, Secretaire. H. Finniss, \ Ev. Dupont, i Vice- Secretaires. MEMBRES 1NOFFICIEL8 : Col. Pike, P. Lemiere, Ed. Serendat, N. Desjardins, A. Begnavd, A. Bestel. L. Le Juge, 'v L. Pitot, ] Auditeurs. La seance est levee a 4 lieures. *\ \ Nous reproduisons & la fin du Rapport le compte rendu de ^Exposition du mois d’Aout, tel qu’il a ete publie dans le Commercial Gazette du 25 Aout 1871. EXHIBITION. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. 24th August 1871. “ At the appointed hour, Thursday, Lady Gordon and His Honor General Smyth arrived at the Royal College where the Exhibition Committee and a large concourse of visitors awaited them. After a rather hurried inspection of the different sections Her Ladyship and His Honor took their seats on the platform prepared for the occasion. At this moment the ceremony was most imposing. “ The President of the Exhibition Committee then ad' dressed the distinguished visitors. He passed in rapid review the different Exhibitions in Mauritius and stated why the preference had been given in this instance to the Royal College. He further stated that His Excellency Sir A. Gordon had taken a warm interest in their work ; the prizes he had so generously given and the assistance- received from His Honor the General, the Colonial Se- cretary, the Mayor of Port Louis and the General Mana- ger of Railways had largely contributed to the success of the Exhibition. The presence of Lady Gordon was a further proof of the interest of His Excellency, and in the name of the Committee he thanked Her Ladyship and His Honor the General for their presence. “ His Honor General Smyth on presenting the first — 206 — medal to Mr C. Descroizilles addressed the assembly in the following terms : “ I am desired by Lady Gordon to express to you the great pleasure it affords her Ladyship, to deliver to you this medal presented by His Excellency the Governor for the finest specimen of Silk — and which has been awarded to you by the Judges of the Intercolonial Exhibition. “ I am at the same time charged by the Governor to express to you all, with what real regret and disappointment His Excellency has found himself prevented from being per- sonally present this day to deliver not only his own medals but also to distribute the various other prizes which have been open to competition at this Exhibition. “ Previous to his departure His Excellency specially enjoined me to impress upon the Committee and all con- nected with this Exhibition, in as strong terms as I choose to use, that he would on no account have been absent from this useful aud highly important annual display of products, had he not felt bound to redeem a promise made long ago to visit Seychelles about this time, upon matters of important govcrmental duty. “ The opportunity which presented itself of a passage in the Flag ship — a favorable chance of such very rare occurrence — and the unavoidable departure of Her Ma- jesty's Ship “ Forte ” on Saturday last, have unfortunate- ly deprived the Governor of the gratification which he assured me, and over and over again begged me to assure you all, he had so long anticipated. “ I wish also to be permitted to observe that in the name of the Governor and of Lady Gordon, I heartily congratulate each of the successful competitors, upon the result of their enterprising exertions to introduce into this Colony and to improve the propagation of so many valuable native productions. And I trust sincerely on my own part that those laudable efforts may be eventually crowned with permanent reward, not only to yourselves, but to the future benefit and advantage of this Colony in general. “ It is also a great pleasure to take this opportunity of complimenting the President, the Vice-President and the Committee of this Exhibition upon the complete and unprecedented success of their exertions upon a scale as I am informed far surpassing that of previous years. “ No one can look round the show rooms of this Building, adorned as they are by so many interesting varieties of Art, of Science, of Agriculture, and of Ma- nufactures, without feeling a desire to contribute an ex- pression of praise and admiration at the excellent good taste and the manifest interest and labor that have cha- racterized the patriotic endeavours of the Committee. “ To those who have been unsuccessful in obtaining prizes I may also perhaps be allowed to say a word of encouragement and of assurance. I "would say, try again. We know that the great battle of life is only fought through a series of struggling competition from the lowest degree to the highest spheres of Science ; and rest as- sured, that by such friendly emulation, beneficial results must not only accrue to yourselves individually, but also to this, the Land of your adoption, your favorite Island home. And though you may have been surpassed for the present, there can be little doubt upon whomsoever may devolve the pleasure of distributing similar distinctive rewards in future years, they will find many a new com- petitor come to the front, amongst those who will choose to adopt for their precept and their guide, the downright and inspiriting old maxim, “ bright hope shall be my Guilding Star, my Motto Persevere ! ” (General marks of approbation. )” — 208 The following were the medals awarded : — Medals and Special Prizes awarded by the Jury at the Exhibition of August 1871. and distributed on Thursday 24 th August 1871. Section I— Sugars. Gros Bois Estate — Messrs Currie, Cloupet & Stein.— Large Do. do. Silver Medal for Eiucst AVliite Sugar. — Messrs Currie, Cloupet & Stein. — Large Medine do. Bronze Medal for Einest AVliite Syrup Sugar. — Mrs AVidow Ivoenig — Small Silver Medal Do. do. for Finest Grained Sugar. — Mrs AVidow Koenig — Small Bronze Medal Mauricia do. for Second Finest AVliite Sugar. — Mr Hard. — Small Silver Medal for Finest Triolet do. Yellow Sugar. — Mr Guthrie. — Small Bronze Medal for Finest Yellow Syrup Sugar. Section 11— Machinery. Messrs Paturot & Co. — Large Silver Medal for set of Machi- neries. Mr H. C. Dcscroizilles — Hon. Newton’s prize of £2 for beat Machine for reeling Silk. Section III. — Manufactures. Mrs H. C. Descroizilles.- Governor’s Geld Medal for finest specimen of Silk. Mr U. C. Dcscroizilles — Municipality’s Prize of £ 5 for finest Cocoons. Mrs II. C. Descroisilles. — Large Bronze Medal for AVorks in Cocoons. Miss Canonville. — Small Bronze Medal for A\rork in Cocoons. Messrs Lcsidancr & Co. — Governor’s Prize of £ 5 for Aloes Rope. — 200 Mrs Marie (Reunion). — Large Brouze Medal for Superior Hopes. Mr C. Pitot aine Municipality’s Prize of £ 5 divided as Mr IP. Maingard > follows : Mr. Pitot £ 3, Mr Maingard Mr C. Yally J £ 1.10 and Mr Yally 1 Os— for Fibre3 ' from Colonial plants. Mr A. Lecorgne — Governor’s Silver Medal for Colonial made Bricks Ac. Messrs Keisler freres — Large Brown Medal for Carriages Mr E. C. Suzor — Dr. Le Juge’s £ 4> prize for American Car- riage. Mrs Widow Grassy — Large Brown Medal for collection of Leather prepared in the Colony. ' Section IV. — Works op Arts, Plans. &c. Mr E. Baya — Governor’s Prize of £ 5 for best collection of Indian Jewellery. Mr A. Gonard — Small Bronze Medal for a plan of Agalega Island. Mr 0. Alleaume— Small Bronze Medal for plan of Broker’s Boom. Mr A. Dardenne — Broker’s Prize of £ 4 for Lithography. Section Y. — Fine Arts. Mr C. Pitot aine — Hon. E. Ducray’s £ 3 prize for Pencil Drawings. Mr de Bouclierville — Mr J. Holloway’s £ 3 prize for Pencil Drawing (by a schoolboy.) Mr A. Richard — Large Silver Medal for Oil Painting. Mrs Davidson — Small Silver Medal for Water Color painting. Major Brown — Water Color painting. Mr L. Le Juge — Large Brown Medal for Oil painting. Miss de St. Felix — Small Bronze Medal for Pastel. Mr J. Cudenel (Reunion) — Small Bronze Medal for Pencil drawing. Mr C. Carbonel — Small Silver Medal for Photography. — 210 — Section VI,— Ladies Wobk. Mrs Rochery — Hon. E. Ducray’s Prize of £ 2 for finest Car- pet in Wool. Miss C. Azor — Loge la Triple Esperance’s Prize of £2 for Needle Work, Shirts. Miss L. Sauzier — Members of Committee's Prize of £ 1 finest work in Privolite. Miss E. Dueray — Small Silver Medal, Parasol covered with English Lace work. Mr3 V. GefFroy — Small Bronze Medal for Wool Carpet. Section VII. — Natural History.. Mr de Robillard — Hon. Newton’s Prize of £2, Collection of Mauritius Shells. Mr A. Majastre— Dr. Regnaud’s £ 2 prize for collection of Crustacee. Mr A. Carie — Mr. E. Dupont’s £ 1 prize for Collection of In- sects. Mr C. E. Bowsher — Small Bronze Medal for collection of Crustacee. Section VIII. — Sugau Cane. Messrs Coutanceau and Lousier, Ferney Estate — Small Bronze Medal, for collection of Sugar Canes. £4 to be distributed amongst the Indians of the Botanical G arden in charge of the Sugar Canes. Section IX. — Cut Flowers & Bouquets. Committee’s Prize of £ 2 divided equally between the two Exhibitors for Bou- quets. Section X — Plants. Mr Macpherson. — Committee Prize of £ 1 for 12 Chinehona Plants. Mr C. Vankeirsbilck. — Large Bronze Medal for collection of flowering Plants. Mr Vankeirsbilck Mr II. Wiehe 211 — Mr L. Breteille. — Large Bronze Medal for collection fo flowering Plants. Section XI— Fruits. Mrs Lambourn. — Hon. Naz’s Price of £ 1 for Figs. Mr Seick Mamode. — Large Bronze Medal for Oranges. Mr E. Franfois. — Small Silver Medal for Strawberries. Section XII. — Vegetables, Mr Bignauthoo. — Loge La Triple Esperance Prize of £ 1 for collection of Vegetables. Mr Ramjectsing. — Mr Ambrose Prize of £ 1 for Asparagus. Mr F. Pelletier. — Small Silver Medal for Calbages. Mr F. Marie. — Large Bronze Medal for collectiou of Vegeta- bles. Section XIII— Grains & Roots. Mr Thibaut.— Loge La Triple Esperance Prize £ 1 for Grains. Do. — Large Bronze Medal for Egible Roots. Section XIV. — Miscellaneous. Mr Tbibaut.— Small Bronze Medal for Tobacco. Mr J. Baissac. — Small Bronze Medal for chemical Produce. Mr Hewetsen. — Largo Bronze Medal for Rum. Mr D. Houghton. — Small Silver Medal for Cheese and Butter. Mauritius Ice Company. — Special Prize of £ 5 for Ice. Section XV — Poultry. Mr Tennant. — Hon. Newtons’ Prize of £ 2 for Fowls, Section XVI. Mr Hewetson,— Large Silver Medal for Pigs. Mr Pougnet. — Small Silver Medal for a young Creole Mare. Mr J. Robinson.— Small Silver Medal for Dogs. Mr Martin. — Large Bronze Medal for one Xanguroo Dog. Mr C. Bruce in the name of the Committee said that a Medal of Honor had to be awarded, but the Committee — 212 — found that four were well merited and had decided to give the following : lo. To Mr Descroizilles for his efforts to propagate the Silk industry in Mauritius. 2o. To Mr Lesidaner for the preparation of colonial fibres and the manufacture of cordage. 3o. To Madame Moon for her drawings of canes and Mauritius plants. 4o. To Mr Chaumon for a piano made in this colony. The Medals were presented accordingly, the first name was received with bravos and acclamation. These medals were beautifully designed and executed by Mr. G. Lewison. REPORT OF ME SECRETARY TO ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS A1 SCIENCES D USING THE YEAR 1871. Gentlemen of the Royal Society of Arts and Science : I have the honor to submit a Report of the Transactions of the Society, during the year commencing in March 1871, and ending on the 1 1th April 1872. But, previously, I beg permission to mention the changes which have taken place among the members during that period. Eight members have been added during the year, and the following is the order of their election : 1. The Honorable Emilien Ducray, Mayor of Port Louis ; 2. Mr. Victor Remono, Notary’s clerk ; 3. The Honble. Swinburn Ward, Auditor General ; 1 1 4. Mr. Charles Stapylton Bo Joux, Laud Surveyor; 5. Mr. Arist icle Sauzier, Merchant; G. Mr. Alfred Latiglois, District Cashier ; 7. Mr. J. A. W. Arnott, Merchant ; 8. His Honor Justice John Gorrie. The Danish Captain Andrea, residing at Copenhagen, was admitted as a Correspondent member. Wo have received intelligence of the death of Mr. Emile Vinson, Pharmacopolist, who was during several years one of the most intelligent and zealous correspon- dent members of our Society at Reunion Island. But the loss most deplored and most keenly felt, not alone by our Society, but by the Island at large, is that of Sir Gabriel Fropier. Our regret at his death has been recorded more than once in our minutes. Several notices in the Local Papers have recalled to memory the services rendered to our country by this excellent man, and we will not dwell on to the melancholy subject. Several questions deeply interesting the future industry of the Colony have been discussed by the Society, and appear to have been settled. Thanks to the intelligent perseverance of one of our distinguished members, Mr. II. C. Descroizilles, the breeding of the Silk worm, and the reeling of its valuable thread have been successfully accomplished. We all remember that it was in Mav 1870, that the eggs of the insect were introduced in the Island, thanks to the influence of our Honorary Member, Sir Henry Barkly, and to the good offices at Reunion of our colleague and excellent friend Doctor Aug. Vinson. Quite recently, through Mr. Povah Ambrose, Mr. Descroizilles has received eggs from Japan, where the finest silk of Commerce is produced. The impetus once given, several proprietors have com- menced making plantations of Mulberries on a tolerably large scale. Those who already possessed Mulberry trees, procured eggs which were liberally bestowed by Mr. Descroizilles, and that splendid industry bids fair to pro- duce important results, if not checked by mismanage- ment. Already smothered cocoons arc purchased for exporta- tion by a Mercantile Firm of Port Louis, the head of which is a Member of our Society, Mr. Hardwick Wilson, and is known to hold out encouragement to all industries besides our staple industry, the production of Sugar. Long before, the Society had called attention to another highly useful, industry : viz the manufacture of ropes, and pointed out plants growing wild in the Island, which would yield fibres more or less soft, or more or 1/ y less fine. In a Report laid by us before the Society on the 25th October 1855 ; when Mr C. J. Bayley Avas President, and Sir James M. Iligginson, Patron : 1 wrote as fol- io avs : “ "We all know that Mauritius possesses plants Avhicli are essentially textile — and some Avill remember that during the Avar which was Avnged at the end of the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, by two Powers now so closely united, Avhen all exterior communication Avas cut off, the inhabitants themselves manufactured all the ropes that were required for their marine and their ordinary Avants. There is still in the central part of the toAA'ii a street, as every body knows, called “ Corderie street”— a name which is a commemoration, a living memento of the industry which Avas then carried on in former days. At a later period, when the town increased in size, other establishments Avere formed at “ Plaine Yerte ” and on the beach close to the “ Chaussee Tro- melin ” which were in operation for some time under the direction of Mr. Bega and some other persons.” It is well known, that the China Grass , Bcehmcria Nievu IV which was for some time and is even now, cultivated at the Botanical Gardens, Pamplemousses, upon the recommen- dation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, con- tains a silky fibre ; mixed in a certain proportion with cotton, it produces a tissue which preserves the beauty and the softness of satin. Besides the Agave , the Furcrea, the Plantain and the pine apple, there are several plants belonging- to the genus Sida, one of which the Sida retusa is said to yield a fibre of most excellent quality. The initiative has just been taken by Mr. Lesidaner, one of our members. He recently delivered a public lecture on the fibres generally, which are produced by- several plants growing in Mauritius. Especially, he point- ed out the advantages to be derived from the fibres of Agave commonly called Aloes. We have just heard that a Society is in the course of formation for the establishment of a manufacture on a large scale. Visitors at our two last Exhibitions may have noticed, close to the cocoons spun or unspun, ropes and fibres carefully prepared, and the highly perfumed pod of the Vanilla. Three different industries, and three distinct branches of our foreign trade. A question of a very peculiar nature has suddenly been raised among a few Planters, vizt. : the possibility of forcing the sugar cane to produce seed. It was expected that from seeds, strong and healthy plants would be obtained, and the cane might thus be regenerated. A report was even, at one time current that seeds found in the cane-flower had been sown and had grown. Your Secretary to whom some of the alleged seeds were sent, was pressed to give his opinion on the subject. He, knowing that the Hon. Dr leery possessed a micros- cope of a great power, scut him a few of these supposed seeds, requesting him to examine them, V Dr. leery ascertained that the organs of the flower1, pressed in their covering, could not possibly open, and in that abnormal condition resembled what had the ap- pearance of seed, and was believed to be such. Your Se- cretary also sent a few to Dr. Jacob de Cordemoy and to Dr. Aug Vinson, corresponding members of our Society at Reunion. There followed a correspondence between these two learned gentlemen, which we will take the liberty of publishing with the next No. of our Transactions, and will no doubt be considered one of the most interesting portions thereof. At last, as a final test, your Secretary referred this sup- posed case of fecundation of the Cane flower to an unim- peachable authority, viz. : The Director of the Botanical Gardens, at Kew, and the following is his reply : “ 1 have carefully examined the supposed saccharine “ seeds, and find nothing but unexpanded flowers with “ stamen and pistil complete. Assuredly no young plants “ were ever raised from these. “ Signed : Dr. J. D. Hooker.” The question is therefore finally settled. I hope to be excused if I have entered into these details, but the sugar cane plays such an important part in our domestic economy, that anything connected with it cannot fail to be listened to with more or less interest. A mutual interchange of good offices has been the result of the care taken by your Secretary to keep up a regular correspondence with foreign Societies and with scientific men in foreign parts. Dr Hooker, in particular, has eagerly seized every oppor- tunity of enlightening us, whenever we have had doubts as to the determination of certain plants. For instance, the Phaseolus commonly known as the s< Pois d’Acherv — the bean of which is, in certain con- VI difcions, perfectly innoxious and excellent eating, although in other conditions it becomes a violent poison; this Phaseolus , the species of which we could not determine either here or at Reunion, has been recognized by Dr. Hooker and Dr. Bentham, to be the Phaseolus lunatus Lin., a native of Bengal, and which there, as well as in Mauritius, produces a great many of varieties, of different size and colour, some innoxious and others poisonous. Prof. De Candolle, who, with the assistance of several botanists, continues the publication of the Prodromus, commenced by his illustrious father, mentions in the last volume of that great work, several species of plants from Mauritius which bad been sent to him by us. In his letters he asks for information respecting a tree, the fruit of which drawn by “ Gaertucr fils ” under the name of Calvaria , was forwarded to him sometime ago, fiy Bojer, but the habitat of which is not sufficiently indi- cated. Being in uncertainty, we sent to Professor De Candolle, by one of the last Mails, the singular fruit of the tree known at Seychelles as the >• MAURITIUS “ CKKJffefiX ” PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT 1878.