xlvUi 



INTRODirCTlOpr. 



that defences to be knoivn. The mountain* 

 of the former are not high : the elevation 

 of the bighefl does not exceed fix hundred 

 and twenty-fix fathoms ; the foil of them 

 is ferruginous and productive. No vene- 

 % mous animals^ except fcorpions and. mille-' 

 pedes, are known here. For beauty of 

 climate, and falubrity of air, thefe ifles may 

 be compared to the Fortunate Iflands* They 

 are feparated from the Indian Ocean by an 

 archipelago abounding with fhoals and 

 quickfands. One of the principal objects 

 of my voyage was to determine the fitua- 

 tion of thefe flioalsj and it is to M. Foivre 



manners, arts, and agriculture of the people of Alia 

 .and AfricJi; a Metnoir th Preparaiimt and Dyhig of 

 St/i ; Rttmf'y pnihe HIJsry md Mamten of the Chinefe; 

 a Speech delivered iff ihe Inhabitants of the Ifles of France 

 nttd Bourhn i \\u\ fomc other manufcript trads, in 

 pofl'efTion of the academy t>f Lyons, of which he was a 

 mciiihiT. T. 



' " thai 



