The History of Mauritius, or the Isle of France, and the neighbouring islands from their first discovery to the present time, composed principally from the papers and memoirs of Baron Grant ... by his son, C. G [assisted by W. Combe] . Illustrated with maps

Front matter

THE HISTORY OF MAURITIUS, OU THE ISLE OF FRANCE, AND THE NEIGHBOURING ISLANDS; FROM THEIR FIRST DISCOVERY TO THE PRESENT TIME; COMPOSED PRINCIPALLY FROM THE PAPERS AND MEMOIRS OF BARON GRANT, WHO RESIDED TWENTY YEARS IN THE ISLAND, BY HIS SON, CHARLES GRANT, VISCOUNT DE VAUX. ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES. Suave mari magno turbantibus æquora ventis E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem. !Non quia vexari quemquam est jucunda voluptas ; Sed, quibus ipse malis careas quia cernere suave est. LUCUETIVS. LONDON : PRINTED BY W. BULMER AND CO. CLEVELAND-ROW, ST.JAMEs's, FOR THE AUTHOR ; AND SOLD BY G. AND W. NICOL, BOOKSELLERS TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL; J. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY; AND B. UPHILL, BRYDGES-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. 1801. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENR'Y DUNDAS, ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES OF STATE, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL, <£rc. &c, &c. THIS HISTORY OF MAURITIUS, IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY HIS MOST OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, CHARLES GRANT, Viscount de Vaux.

Feb. 2, i8or. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. HIS MAJESTY'S LIBRARY. Admiralty, the Right Hon. the Lords Cazenove, Charles Theophilus, Esq. Chalmers, George, Esq. Commissioners of, 1 2 copies Agnew, Van6, Esq. Christin, F. H. Esq. Cook, Rev. Thomas Cosway, Richard, Esq. Courtenay, Thomas, Esq. Courtenay, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Anichkoff, — ; — , Esq Arrowsmith, Mr. Cox and Greenwood, Messrs. 2 copies Cumming, George, Esq. Bathurst, Right Hon. the Earl of Bath, Right Hon. Lady Breadalbane, Right Hon. the Earl of, Bredalbane, Right Hon. the Countess of Belgrave, Right Hon. Viscount Dundas, Right Hon. Henry, 2 copies Des Banes, Governor Banks, Right Hon. Sir Joseph Bellegarde, Viscount de, Badenham, Charles, Esq. Dundas, William, Esq. Dunlop, William, Esq. Bedford, Charles, Esq. Bentinck, Governor Berkeley, Robert, Esq. Berkeley, Miss East-India Company, the Hon. the Directors, 4 0 copies Edwin, Mrs. Berkeley, Miss Jane Boigne, General de Fawkener, William, Esq. Flint, , Esq. Forbes, William, Esq, Forbes, Mrs. Bosanquet, Charles, Esq. Bound, Miss Bushby, William, Esq. Forsyth, Mr. Isaac Frazer, James, Esq. Cabell, William, Esq. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

VI Glenbervie, Right Hon. Lord Jones, John, Esq. 3 copies Glvnne, Ladv Jones, William, Esq. Gebhardt, A. G. Esq. Jones, Major Gordon, James, Esq. Lambert, Anthony, Esq. Grand, George Francis, Esq. Lane, Mr. Minerva Printing Office, 3 copies Grant, of Grant, Sir James, Bart. 8 copies Lee, Richard, Esq. Grant, Lady, 4 copies Lee, Richard, William, and E. Messrs Grant, James Thomas, Esq. Patna, 2 copies 2 copies Lee, Mr. Grant, Major Lennox, William, Esq. Grant, Sir William, Solicitor-general, 5 copies Lewis, Rev. John Grant, Charles, Esq. India House, 5 copies Montrose, His Grace the Duke of Moira, Right Hon. the Earl of Morton, Right Hon. the Earl of Mackensie, Colin, Esq. Grant, Richard, Esq. 2 copies Grant, Mrs. Grant, James, Esq. 2 copies Meheux, John, Esq. Menan, Mr. Grant, Mr. John Grant, Mr. Manning, William, Esq. M. P. Morgan, Captain Charles Grant, Mr. Grant, William, Esq. Morgan, Thomas, Esq. Morgan, Miss Grant, Henry, Esq. Harrington, Sir John, Bart.

Chapter I

Observations on the Harbours of this Island, Page i.— Exact Dimensions of it, 2, 3. —Directions for making the Inland by the Port Louis, 3, 4.— Directions for making the Island, by an English Navigator, 5.— Observations by Captain John Blake, 5.— Remarks Port Louis, 6.— Letter from Captain John Blake, respecting Port Louis, 7.— PLAN OR MAP OF PORT LOUIS, 8.— Details on the Isle of Tonneliers, and Fort Blanc, 10. — Port Bourbon, 12.— General State of the Air through the Year, 13. On the Climate of Mauritius, by M. le Gentil, 14.— Geographical Positions of the principal Points of the Island, and the Height of the Mountains, 16. — First Settlements in the Island by the Portuguese, 17 ; by the Spaniards, 19 ; by the Dutch, idem ; by the French, 27. — List of the Governors of Mauritius, from the taking Possession ofthe Island by France, in 17 15 and 1721, down to the present Time, 29.

Chapter II

The Soil, Page 32. — Natural Productions of the Island, 33. — Agriculture, according to M. Poivre, 34. — Trees natural in the Island, 36. — Trees and Plants, &c. brought from the North Part of Madagascar, by M. Rochon, in the Year 1768, 32. — Exotic Plants, brought into the Island, according to M. de St. Pierre, 48. — The vegetable and fructiferous Plants, 50. — Garden Flowers, 51. — European Trees, 54.— Foreign ornamental Trees, idem. — FruitTrees^'. — Marine Productions, — Fish, 57. — Shell-fish, 60 — Madreporæ, 63 . — Ambergris, 64. — Native Animals, 65 Animals brought into the Island, 69.

Chapter III

Manners of the Inhabitants, Page 72. — Accounts of the Blacks, 74. — The Theory of the Island, and of its Caverns, 76. — Observations on the Isle of France, by M. le Gentil, R. Academician, concerning the Ground of the Island, of the Mountains, the Rocks, the Coasts, &c. 12. — Luminous Globes, &c. 90.— On the Agriculture of the Isle of France and Bourbon, by M. le Gentil, 92. — Iron Mines at Mauritius, 94. — Coffee, 95. — Nutmegs and Cloves, 98. b CONTENTS. X

Chapter IV

An Account ofthe Island of Rodriguez, or Diego-ruis, Page ioo. — Its Situation, according to the Admirals Cornish and Kempenfelt, idem. — Extract from the Voyage of le Guat and his Companions, lelative to this Island, 102. — Circumstances of their Arrival there, 103. — Their Establishment in this Island, 105. — Description of Rodriguez, 107. — The different Sorts of Trees of Rodriguez, no. — Animals, 114. — Fish, 115.— Birds, particularly the Solitaire, &c. 1 1 7. — Inconveniences, 122. — Occupations and Employments of le Guat and his Companions there, 125. — Preparations for their Departure from Rodriguez, 127. — Their last Adieu to the Island of Rodriguez, 131. — Their Arrival at Mauritius, 133. — Their Residence on the Rock Island near the Coast of Mauritius, 138. — Observations of le Guat on Mauritius, 142. — Description of the Bird called Dodo or Dronte, 144.

Chapter V

Historical Description of the Isle of Bourbon, — the Origin of its Establishment, Page 146 An Account of the Governors from the Year 1664, till the present Time, 147. — Extract ofthe Voyage of Rennefort in 1665, 148. — Voyage of M. de la Haye, in the Year 1670, &c. 150. — Account of the Isle of Bourbon, from the Discovery of it by the Portuguese, 152 Extract of the Narrative from M. Du Quesne, respecting this Island in 1690, 153. — Some Accounts of the Isle of Bourbon, by the Abbe Raynal, St. Pierre, Rochon, Poivre, Admiral Kempenfelt, l'Abbe de la Caille, 155. — Observations on the Isle of Bourbon, by Admiral Kempenfelt, in the Year 1758, 159. — Observations on the Isle of Bourbon in 1763, by an Officer in the British Navy, 163. — By Captain Castleton, of the Pearl, in 1613, 164. — Descriptions of the Hurrica.ies in the Isles of France and Bourbon, 171. — Idem, by M. Rochon, 172 By M. Brunei, 175 — Account of these Hurricanes in the two Islands, taken from the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences, 1754, 176. — Extract of a Letter from Pondicherry, 1787, taken from the Journals of the Isles of France and Bourbon, 180. — Account of the Volcano of the Isle of Bourbon, by M. Rochon, idem. — Description of the same, by M. Brunei, i8r. — Observations on the Volcanoes of Vesuvius and Etna, to serve as a Comparison, 183. — The Agriculture of the Isle of Bourbon, by M. Poivre, 186.

Chapter VI

Letters of Baron Grant, respecting the Isle of France, Letter II. in 1741, containing, first, his Description of the Island, 189.— Secondly, Account of the Life and Operations of M. de la Bourdonnais, Governor of this Island, to the Year 1744, 196.

Chapter VII

The Letters of Baron Grant continued, Letter III. in the Year 1742, concerning the interior State ofthe Island, Page 209.— Letter IV. in the Year 1743, same Subject, 212.— Letter V. 1:1 same Subject •— Narrative of the Shipwreck of the St Geran, and CONTENTS. XI os Virginia, according to M. de St. Pierre, 214 — Letter VI. in the Year 1745, containing an Account of the Grenville Family, 217.— Interesting Circumstances relative to Colonel Grenville, 219.

Chapter VIII

The Letters of Baron Grant continued, Letter VII. in the Year 1746; containing some Account of the Island, Page 223.— A further Account of the Operations of M. de la Bourdonnais, 225. — Letter from M. Orry, Minister of the Navy, to M. de la Bourdonnais, 228. — Letter of M. de Bourdonnais to the Directors ofthe East India Company, in the Year 1746, 234.— Important Letter of M. de la Bourdonnais to M. St. Martin, Governor of the Mauritius, per interim, from the Isle Marotte in the Bay of Antongil, at Madagascar, 242. — Letter of M. de la Bourdonnais to M. Dupleix, 249.

Chapter IX

The Account of the Operations of M. de la Bourdonnais continued, Page 253. He makes the Siege of Madras, 257. — Capitulation of Fort St. George, and the Town of Madras, in the Year 1746, 262.

Chapter X

Letters of the Baron Grant continued, Letter VIII. in the Year 1748, containing Observations on the Island, Page 282. — Third Epocha of the Operations of M. de la Bourdonnais, to his Death, 282.

Chapter XI

Letters of Baron Grant continued, Letter IX. in the Year 1749, containing Accounts of the Animals in the Isle of France, Page 295. — Hunting, 296. — Circumstances respecting theMaroon Negroes, Slaves, &c. 297. — Arrival of M. David, who succeeded M. de la Bourdonnais as Governor-general, 298. — The Island threatened by Admiral Boscawen, 299. — 111 success of the latter, 300.

Chapter XII

Some Account ofthe Island of Madagascar, from the Observations of Admiral Kempenfelt, Page 301. — Curious History of a Princess of Russia, at Mauritius, extracted from the Letters X. and XI. of Baron Grant, in the Years 1750 and 175 1, and from the Secret Memoirs of M. Duclos, 305.

Chapter XIII

Instructions for sailing to India by the Isles of France and Bourbon, Page 309. — An Account "of the Winds that prevail in the Eastern Seas, 316. — A Memoir on the Archipelago, and the Dangers to which ships are particularly subject, to the North and North- East of Madagascar and Mauritius, by M. d'Apres de Mannevillette, 318. b CONTENTS. XII

Chapter XIV

The Course by the East of Madagascar, during the Period that the South-west Monsoon prevails in India, extracted from M. d'Apres, with important Surveys on the Coast of Madagascar, St. Marie, &c. 338.

Chapter XV

The Course, on leaving the Isles of France and Bourbon, to proceed to India during the South-west Monsoon, Page 346. — The Course from the Cape of Good Hope to India, during the South-west Monsoon, passing to the East, and in sight of the Island of Rodriguez, 349. — Voyage to India, during the North-east Monsoon, 351.

Chapter XVI

Extracts from the Registers of the Royal Academy of Marine, March, 1775, Page 353. — On the Archipelago to the North and North-east of Madagascar, 356. — On the Chart of the Islands and Dangers situate to the North and North-East of Madagascar, between the fourth and eighth Degrees of South Latitude, and sixty-eighth and seventy-fifth of East Longitude, 357. — Introduction to a Chart of the Ethiopian Sea, 361. A CHART OF THE ETHIOPIAN ARCHIPELAGO.

Chapter XVII

Extract of the Life of M. D'Apres de Mannevillette, Page 363

Chapter XVIII

Letter XII. of Baron Grant, in the Year 1753, containing some Details on the Isle of France, 370. — Journal of the Voyage of Abbe de la Caille, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Isle of France ; his Journey and first Operations in this Island, 371. Brief Description of the Isle of France,, by the Abbe de la Caille, 377. — Continuation of his Journal, 379.

Chapter XIX

Astronomical Observations made on the Isle of France, &c. &c. in the year 170 by the Abbe de la Caille ; extracted from the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences Page 380. — Astronomical Tables of the Observations and Calculations respecting the Distances of the Tropics from the Zenith, by the Abbe de la Caille, 383, 384.— Observations on the Variation of the Needle, during the Course of three different Passages, in his Voyages to the Cape of Good Hope, and to the Isles of France and Bourbon, 385. Observations on the Latitude and Longitude, by the same, 386.— -Observations ofthe Longitude ofthe Island of Madeira, by the Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites, observed by M. Bory, Lieute- CONTENTS. XIII nant in the Royal Navy, compared with those of the Abbe de la Caille, in the Isle of France, by M. de Lille ; Extracts of the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences, anno »754» 387-

Chapter XX

Extract of the Life of M. l'Abbe de la Caille, Page 390.

Chapter XXI

Extracts from the Observations of M. le Gentil, Royal Academician, respecting the Southern Hemisphere, &c. in a Series of Letters to M. de la Nux, Royal Academician, at the Isle of Bourbon, Page 398. — On the high Seas, 399. — Sea Birds, 400.— On the Voyage to China, 401. — Navigation from the Isle of France to Cadiz, 404. — Inclination of the Needle of the Compass in the Indian Sea, 406.

Chapter XXII

Extracts from the Letters of Baron Grant ; Letter XIII. relative to the Isle of France, Page 410. — Observations on India,— Pondicherry, 411.

Chapter XXIII

Extract of the Life of Hyder Aly Khan, &c. Page 422.

Chapter XXIV

Extracts from the Correspondence of Baron Grant, during the Years 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759;— Letter XIV. Page 440. — LeUers XV. and XVI.— and Extract from General Lally's Instructions, given him by the French East India Company, 441. — Remarks on a Memorial of the French East India Company, delivered to the Count d'Ache, Chef 4'Escadre, &c. in the Year 1756, 443 —On another Instruction to the Count d'Ache, in 1757, 444.— Instructions given by the Directors of the East India Company to the Governor of Mauritius and Bourbon, 24th of May, 1761, 445.— Letters XVII. and XVIII. of the Correspondence of Baron Grant, 447.— Further Extract of the History of India, during the seven Years War, 448.

Chapter XXV

Summary of the Life of Count de Lally, Page 455— Journal of Expeditions in India, under the Command of Count de Lally, 456.— Report of the Siege and Conquest of Pondicherry, by the English, in the Year 1760, 461.— Condemnation and Execution of the Count de Lally, 462. CONTENTS. XIV

Chapter XXVI

Observations of Admiral Kempenfelt on the Isle of France, in 1758, Page 464.— By M. Rochon, 470.

Chapter XXVII

An Account of the Isles and Sand Banks between the Maldive Islands and the Isles of France and Bourbon, by M. Rochon, Page 474. — Description ofthe Comora Isles, by Spilberg, &c. 478 — 481.

Chapter XXVIII

Excursion of M. de St. Pierre in the Isle of France, Page 490. — Description of the great Cavern, 492. — Tour round the Island, &c. 495. — Account of an Hermit, 501. — Commerce, Agriculture, and Defence of the Island, ibid. — Observations on the Isle of France, by the Abbe Raynal, 504. — An Account of the Isle of France, by Captain Munro, 511.

Chapter XXIX

Observations on the Isle of France, by M. de Cossigny, who was Governor of this Island in the Year 1791, Page 516.

Chapter XXX

Conclusion ofthe Author, Page 522. — Abstract of Events that have happened in the Isle of France, up to the Year 1800, 524. — Proclamation of General Malartic, Governor of Mauritius, in January, 179s-!, 532. — Narrative of the Proceedings of Tippoo Sultaun's Ambassadors, in their Voyage to Mauritius, 535 — 537. — Circular Copy of a Letter from the Secret Committee of Directors, to the Government in India, November, 1798, 547. Letters from General Bonaparte, at Cairo, to Tippoo Sultaun, in 1799, 550. The Governor-general (Lord Mornington) orders the Army of Coromandel and Malabar to assemble, &c. 551. — Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant-general George Harris, to the Chairman of the Court of Directors, dated Seringapatam, 6th May, 1799, 553 Capture of Seringapatam ; Death of Tippoo ; Conduct of his Sons; Interment ofthe Sultaun, &c. 554. — A Continuation of the late Events, which took place in the Isle of France, until 1800, 559. — Population and Military Force of the Isles of France and Bourbon in 1799, 566. — Expence of the Isle of France in 1798, to be charged to the French Republic, 567.— The present State of Agriculture in the Isle of France, 568.

Colonial Commodities which the Isle of France may produce in 1800, 560. Actual State of the Commodities in 1800, 570. — Remarks on the Isle of France in 1800 f-7-1.

Preface

. I Present an History of the Island which gave me birth, to the Country that affords me protection. I shall only mention the Revolution in France, in order to observe, that the class of its people to which I belong, has had a full share of its miseries. I foresaw them all; and, being invited hither by the elder branch of my family in Scotland, I chose for my abode, the country which possessed a constitution, that I had openly proposed, while such propositions could be made, in my own. I have endeavoured to alleviate my misfortunes, by literary pursuits ; and having long formed the design of composing an History of the Isles of France and Bourbon, from the original materials which I inherited from my father, who had resided in the former of them during a period of twenty years, I have at length accomplished my purpose.

It may be said by some, that it is an indiscretion in me, to unfold the circumstances of these colonies, which have been, and, in some respects, still are, subject to the French Government ; but it is not necessary, that this objection should be made to me, for I had long since made it to myself; and such a reflection had already delayed the publication of my work. I had flattered myself with the hope, that a general peace, founded on the enlarged principles of public justice, would place every one in his former situation : but being at length persuaded, that a termination of the present calamities is distant, or at least uncertain, I no longer delayed my work, which, being purely historical, may be considered as belonging to all governments, and every age.

PREFACE.

. In writing the history of a place, which is not without political interests, I had in view principally the advantages of my countrymen, the inhabitants of these colonies. I am well acquainted with the critical situation which they have for some years experienced : agitated by various civil commotions, they could scarcely be said to acknowledge any government ; while the decree which abolished slavery, not only kept them in continual alarm for their property, but even for their personal safety ; so that they were compelled to fortify their harbours, and prepare for resisting their mother country. Nay, dreading the execution of that decree, they had several times been on the point of applying to the protection of a foreign power. By their courage, prudence, and energy, they not only prevented the fatal effects which would have resulted from the fulfilment of that decree, and repelled the force which had been sent, in the time of Robespierre, to subject them to it, but had also delivered themselves from the armed and seditious banditti, who had threatened, more than once, to drench the island with blood.

Under these impressions, I felt an additional motive to accelerate the publication of this work; from the hope I entertain, that the inhabitants of these colonies will thereby be no sooner known, than they will be found to deserve friends, as they have proved them selves superior to the attempts of their enemies. I shall now proceed to lay before my readers, the plan of my work, and the arrangements which circumstances have obliged me to adopt in the order of it. The description of the Isle of France is collected from my father's correspondence; the accounts given or communicated to me by my friends, as well as authentic papers which I have been permitted to examine, and the printed works of distinguished writers. I experience a sensible pleasure in unfolding the observations and important operations of those eminent persons who have acted their parts on the seas,

PREFACE.

. XVII and in the country whose history has employed my pen ; though I cannot but lament, that from the nature of it, I am so limited in my accounts of them. I. have given to my narrative all the regularity which the nature of my materials would allow ; and I follow the chronological order of events, without wandering from the geographical path. The subject possesses importance, as well as novelty ; but I trust, that higher emotions than those of curiosity, will be gratified by it. An author must ever feel some disadvantage from being a stranger in the country where he writes ; but, from the peculiar circumstances in which I am involved, I am disposed to hope for that indulgence, of which I stand in great need. The different quotations will be found to produce occasional repetitions ; but I am convinced, that a real advantage will re sult from it, by the accession of authorities which are produced by it.

The history of islands so little known as those of France and Bourbon, may be considered, in a great measure, as places of new discovery; to obtain a knowledge of which, it is necessary to examine the accounts of every navigator who has succes sively visited them. Besides, each author whom I have cited, gives some specific information of his own, that has not been communicated by others. As authenticity is the character which I wish, above all others, to attach to my work, I have preferred to let the authors whom I have quoted, speak literally for themselves ; so that I ought, perhaps, as it was my first intention, to have given to this volume, the title of Memoirs for an History of tbe Isle of France, &c. But it has been suggested by my friends, that the whole contains a sufficient degree of connection and interest to receive the title of an History, and I have submitted, as became me, to their suggestion. If the historians of all ages had given nothing more than simple c

PREFACE.

. facts, supported by authentic documents, it would have been better for the world ; the most important of all sciences, that of knowing the history of men and nations which have preceded us, would not then have been enveloped in obscurity and contradiction; but the desire to shine as brilliant writers, a passion for the marvellous, a rage for systems, or prejudice in political and religious opinions, and other similar motives, have frequently rendered it impossible, in many works of great character, to separate truth from falsehood. The general plan of this volume, which is more detailed in the table of contents, is as follows. It begins by instructing the voyager in the mode of approaching the harbours of the Isle of France, which is accompanied with a general description of the place, the nature of the air, water, and soil, and the geographical positions.

But before I enter upon a detail of these circum stances, and the branches of Natural History, which arise out of them, I give a succinct and chronological account of those persons who have been appointed to the government and superintendance of the Island, from its first colonial establishment, to the present moment. — I then proceed to give a particular history of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms : some account of the inhabitants, both white and black, succeeds, with their manners and customs; and is followed by a description of the beautiful scenery with which the Island is adorned. I naturally introduce the reader, in the first place, to the Isle of France, which is the appropriate object of my History ; but I suspend its historical narrative, in order to describe the Archipelago, with its various islands, that surrounds it: such as those of Bourbon, Rodriguez, &c. all of which is so necessary to be known, to facilitate the naviga tion of those seas.

I then return to the Isle of France, to describe its agricultural, maritime, and civil, establishments, as formed by M. de la Bourdonnais. I display all the various operations of that distinguished character, and his successors ; with the astronomical, geographical, and

PREFACE.

. XIX maritime observations of the learned professors and eminent navigators, whom my father successively knew during their official visits to the Island. — I then proceed to state and explain the connection of India with the Isle of France, in all its different epochas ; which conducts me through a long succession of curious and interesting events, to the death of Tippoo Saib, which rendered England the mistress of Indostan. Such is the nature of my work : nor shall I endeavour to deprecate criticism, by stating the difficulties with which I have struggled, in bringing this volume into the form which it now bears. — It would indeed, have been less liable to the censure of the critic, if I had written under more auspicious circumstances ; and it would have been more deserving the attention of the politician and the philosopher, if I could have had recourse to the books and authentic papers, which are to be found in the libraries and public offices of Paris ; but still, I am rather sanguine in the hope of its being generally acknowledged, that I have enlarged the acquaintance of Great Britain, and of the public in general, with a very important part ofthe Eastern world.

I add the following letter of my father, in order to authenticate his original design of collecting those materials, which form a very consi derable part of this History. C XX

PREFACE.

. First Letter of the late Baron Grant to his Father, on his arrival in the Isle of France. Isle of Fiance, October 15, 174-0. " After four months and an half of a pretty successful voyage, I am at last arrived at the place of my destination. I avail myself of the first ships that sail for France to send you some news of me. " I have here met with every thing equal to my most sanguine hopes. My uncle, who is in perfect health, received me in the tenderest man ner, and shows me all possible kindness. We often speak of you, and you are never out of my thoughts, which, I flatter myself, you will most readily believe. I am never oppressed with sadness but when I think of the distance which divides us, the length of time which this separation may endure, and of the impossibility of receiving intelligence of you as often as I could wish.

" You will see, by my journal, that I had, altogether, an agreeable voyage. " The description of the Island will follow my journal of the mari time observations of the voyage,* because the first objects which natu rally present themselves on our arrival in a country, are those which belong to local situation. " I shall afterwards begin its history, the events of which I shall place in chronological order, from the epoch of its discovery ; and I shall re new my narrative on the arrival of Mr. de la Bourdonnais, of my friend Count de Rostaing, and myself, at the island : in short of all those who have contributed to its settlement, as well as of the Isle of Bourbon. " In the mean while, until I am better informed, I can assure you * The journal and maritime observations are not printed in the present work, but may here after appear.

PREFACE.

XXI I that I am in a country, in every respect, delightful. I already per ceive that no one is tormented here by law-suits, as in Normandy and elsewhere, and that whatever is possessed may be enjoyed in tran quillity. " The climate is charming, and the society is very agreeable : but you must first be acquainted with all that formerly related to this little terrestrial Paradise, before you read what is actually passing in it, or what I may hereafter experience in common with the other inhabitants of it. (Signed,) " Grant."

Chapter I

Observations on the Harbours of tbis Island.— Exact Dimensions of it, according to the Geometrical Operations of Monsieur D'Apres, in 1751, and those ofthe Abbe de la Caille, in 1753. — Directions for making the Island, and sailing into its Harbours, according to the Account of John Black, an English Captain, and otherManuscript Journals of Mr. Dalrymple and Mr. Parry, (ic. — Particulars of tbe Forts of the Isle of Tonneliers, Fort Blanc, (ic. which defend the Entrance of Port Louis, and the Town. — State of the Air throughout the Year. — Geographical Positions of the principal Points of the Island, and the Height cf the Mountains. — Account of the several Settlements in it by the Portuguese, Dutch, and French. — The Governors, from the taking Possession ofthe Island by France in 1715 and 1721, down to the present Time. 1 here are two harbours in this island.

That to the south-east is called the Grand Port, or Great Harbour; and there the Dutch first established themselves; some vestiges of whose buildings are, still visible. It is entered with great ease, with the wind right aft; but it is very difficult to get out by the same passage, as the winds are almost always in the south-east : there is, however, another entrance by which vessels might clear out with a leading wind, if a certain point of this passage, where there are not more than three fathom water, were cleansed and deepened; an ope ration which is very practicable, and would communicate a free enjoyment of all its other advantages. B The lesser harbour, called Port Louis, is situated to the north-west, and it may be entered or quitted with a leading wind. It is situated 20 deg. 10 min. south lat. and 55 long, east of Paris.