THE ISLE OF FEANCE. 293 



may of the fair sex in his native neighborhood, who 

 had set their caps for him. This fact is so well known 

 and widely spread, that I never, whilst in the Indian 

 Ocean, heard the name of the island mentioned, 

 without being compelled, from politeness, to listen to 

 a repetition of the love passage. 



The following day, at five o'clock in the afternoon, 

 we sighted a school of sperm whales, consisting of 

 cows and calves. After several hours chasing, we 

 were obliged to relinquish the pursuit as futile. 



On the afternoon of the 2od we stood close in to 

 the land composing the Isle of France; it is rugged 

 and mountainous, covered by immense fields of 

 nature's own green, which we judged to be the 

 different plantations of coffee and sugar-cane, for 

 which the island is celebrated. At nio-htwe beat to 

 windward, having to direct us the beacons of two 

 light-houses, which designate the entrance to the 

 harbor. Next morning we stood into the roadstead, 

 which is easy of access, but only presents a secure 

 anchorage at certain seasons of the year, being en- 

 tirely unprotected from the winds. At 10| A. M. 

 on the 23d we let go our anchor, amid some twenty 

 Vessels, most of which fly either the French or Eng- 

 lish flag — these two nations carrying on the principal 

 trade to and from the port. These vessels were of 

 the most ancient models, not a clipper to be seen 

 amongst them ; all betrayed too plainly that Yankee 

 ingenuity had nothing to do with their construction, 

 but that their models, rig, and lumbering appearance 

 were all owing to some clumsy English shipwright, 

 or French bungler in the same line. 



The town, or rather that part of it which can be 

 25* 



