VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 35 



Portuguefe power rendered them lefs the 

 objeds of jealaufy. An attempt was made 

 at Goa, about twenty years ago, to take ad- 

 vantage of this fufpenfion of hoftilities, in 

 order to form a Portuguefe fettlement at 

 Cape St. Sebaftian, in Madagafcar, The 

 intention of this eftablifhment was merely 

 religious. The Portuguefe thought of form- 

 ing a miffion, rather than a fadory 5 but 

 this proje^^: was not attended with fuccefs. 

 M. Boffe, an inhabitant of the ifle of Bour- 

 bon, faw the melancholy remains of this 

 eftabiifliment. 



It is furprifing that Mahometanifm has 

 not made greater progrefs in this ifland, 

 which has been fo much frequented by the 

 Arabs. HoweTer, if we except circumci- 

 fion, abftinence from pork, and fome few 

 trifling pra£tices, which have very little in- 

 fluence over the condud of thefe people, the 

 defcendants of the Arabs themfelves have 

 D 2 loft 



