OF LA PEROUSE. 373 



guns were fired, it always fuffercd fome very per- 

 ceptible damage. 



The garrifon was compofed of about two hun- 

 dred men, the greater part of whom were na- 

 tives : the reft were fome foldiers of a company 

 come from Europe, and a weak detachment of 

 the regiment of Wirtemberg. 



Moft of the European foldiers were tormented 

 with the deflre of revifiting their country, but 

 not one of them could 'shave the fmalleft idea of 

 the moment when he would be allowed to return 

 thither : fome who had been flattered with this 

 vain hope for feveral years afforded to the reft 

 an example that faddened their fouls. 



The fmall number of foldiers who furvive 

 their ftay in India render thofe that have paffed 

 fome years in the country ftill more valuable ; 

 and indeed, the Dutch Eaft- India Company are 

 feldom faithful to the promifes they have made 

 them, to allow them to return to Europe when 

 their time is expired. At flrft, every method is 

 ufed to induce them to enter into a fecond en- 

 gagement ; and thofe who carefully avoid every 

 offer that is made them to prolong their ftay in 

 the ifland, do not fooner obtain their liberty. I 

 met with fome of thele unfortunate men who had 

 been detained upwards of twenty years ; although 

 at the expiration of their engagements they mould 

 have been free. 



b b' 3 The 



