mmODUCTIO^?. 



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chipelago enables navigators, at prefent, to 

 atteinpt, in both feafons, a more dired 

 route, I flatter myfdf that I have, in fome 

 meafurcj rendered lhar f^r?ice to navigatioTj, 

 as I was the firft, who, by aftronomical 

 obfervation, tletermined the.pofition of the 

 raoft dangerous of thefe fmall iflanfls. Plow- 

 ever little verfed people may be in the 

 fcience of- navigation, they muft be fenfible 

 that refearches of this kind are aceompa- 

 nied with continual dangers. The principal 

 places, the fituation of which I determined, 

 are the Secheyles iflands, the flat of Car* 

 gados, Salha de Maha, the ifland of Diego- 

 Garcia, and the Adu iOes. 



The ifland Secheyles has an exceeding 

 good harbour. It is fituated in the latitude 

 of 4^ 38' fouth, and in tlie longitude of 

 S3* *S' eaft from Paris. This ifljnd is co- 

 vered with wood to the very funimit of the 

 mountains. It abounds witli land and fea 

 d 2 tortoifes. 



