6S X^OYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 



nimoufly refufed to fupply the colony with 

 provifions. An abfolute famine, therefore, 

 was now added to increafe the defolation 

 occafioned by fevers and other diftempert?, 

 which had reduced the number of the 

 French to eighty men. 



The eftablifhment at Fort Dauphin was 

 on the point of being totally ruined, when 

 the arrival of a veffel, commanded by Ker- 

 cadio, a gentleman of Brittany^ fufpended 

 for fome time the evils with which the co- 

 lony was afflt(£led. 



Diforder and confuflon had never ceafed 

 to prevail among the French from the time 

 that they firft formed a fettlement in Mada- 

 gafcar. The ifianders deteftcd, and even 

 began to defpife them. They were in- 

 cenfed at our tyranny ; and our inteftine 

 divifions had weakened that fentiment of 

 terror, with which the fuperiority of ouc 

 arms had at firft inipired them. Captain 



Kercadio 



