RELATION DE L'ILE KODPJGUE. 339 



formation about the other land-birds. There is reason, then, for 

 supposing that the extinction of these species, which probably 

 commenced at the date of Leguat's stay, progressed with an ever- 

 increasing rapidity, and attained its maximum between 1730 and 

 1760. 



" The documents forwarded to the Minister of Marine leave no 

 more doubt on this subject, and, thanks to them, not only can we, 

 so to speak, assist at the destruction of one of the animals which 

 was formerly in abundance at Rodriguez (I mean the terrestrial 

 tortoises), but render as well a fair accotmt of the causes for their 

 disappearance. The causes which have led to their extinction 

 are, in all probability, those which have also extirpated the 

 birds. 



" We see in the reports addressed to the Compagnie des hides, 

 and preserved in the archives of the Ministry of Marine, that the 

 Island Rodriguez was considered as a sort of magazine of supplies, 

 not only for the Isles of France and of Bourbon, but also for the 

 ships which frequented these seas. They came regularly to find 

 the tortoises. Already, in 1726 or 1727, M. Lenoir, during his 

 visit to the Isle of France, wrote to the Council of the French 

 East India Company : — 



" ' It cannot be permitted that ships going to the Indies, and 

 returning thence, should go without hindrance to despoil the 

 neighbouring islets of the land-tortoises ; and it is necessary to 

 prohibit captains from sending their boats to take them, unless 

 the commandant of the island gives permission, and gives the 

 number which they may take away.' ^ 



" Butchei's' meat is often scarce in the Isle of France, and we 

 find that by degrees a regular service of supply from Rodriguez 

 was organised. The diffei'ent Governors frequently despatched ships 

 which returned laden with tortoises, and which had no other 

 destination. In 1737 M. de la Bourdonnais organised expeditions 

 of this kind ; but he has not left an exact account of them, and 

 we cannot judge of their importance. On the other hand, 



1 Manuscript documents collected under the title of Code of the Isle 

 of France, 1556 o 1768. (Archives de la Marine.) 



z 2 



