VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 85 



ing certain fubfiftence^ be objected, I £hall 

 obferve in reply, that a few floops, loaded 

 ■with proviiions^ hatchets and fire-arms, 

 would anfwer the double objefl of procur- 

 ing a fafe landing, and providing againft 

 want. With fuch light veffcls one may clear 

 the moft difficult bars, and approach the 

 moft dangerous rtiores. With regard to the 

 poflibility of fubfifting in places near the 

 fea^ the hxftory of navigation does not per- 

 mit us to doubt of it. I could fupport my 

 aflcrtion by a multitude of fads j but I fhall 

 confine myfelf to quote only one, with the 

 particulars of which I am perfedly acquaint- 

 ed. Bcfides, this fad is one of the moft 

 conclufive. Seven negrefles lived on brackifh 

 water and fhell-fifh, for fifteen years, on a 

 ^hoa^ in the Indian Sea, known under the 

 name of the IJle deSabie. This fad is well 

 authenticated, A corvette, called La Dau^ 

 fhm^ conveyed them to the Ifle of France, 

 Ga in 



