chap. ii. BOURBON AND MAURITIUS FROM THE SEA. 49 to preserve, but that he had not done so. A little attention which I had shown the poor fellow in a time of sickness had probably made him my friend, and saved my plants. Eighteen days after leaving Madagascar we saw the lofty volcanic land of Bourbon. This island is much higher than Mauritius, more compact in form, and its scenery consequently less picturesque and beautiful. We were probably sixty miles distant when it was first seen, and though clouds rested on its higher portions, its summit and the greater part of its outline were often afterwards clearly visible. The coast of this island is much exposed in consequence of the absence of sheltering reefs and deep bays. While sailing along in sight of it, we were told by some on board with us that there were great numbers of tamarind and other fragrant trees, and that at certain seasons of the year the odours from the tamarind blossom and other flowers were wafted far over the ocean, perfuming the air, to the great enjoyment of those sailing near its coast. We were, however, beyond the reach of these odorous breezes, or the tamarind and other fragrant trees were not in blossom, for none of the perfume reached us, or we might have realised the truth of Milton’s lines— “ As when to them who sail Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow Sabean odours from the spicy shore Of Araby the Blest ; with such delay Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league Cheer’d with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. ” On Sunday, the 28tli of August, we obtained our first sight of Mauritius, but wind and sea were against us, and two nights afterwards it blew a gale, which our ship, in its crippled condition with regard to rigging, was but ill able to bear. During the day we sailed as near the land as practicable, and at night stood out to sea. Nothing could surpass the beauty of the scenery of Mauritius as viewed from the sea. The E