114 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 



the natives J he took advantage of a fliip 

 which had touched at the ifland, and which 

 was* going to Surat, to embark for that 

 colony with his whole family. Several mif* 

 fionaries, and fome Frenchmen^ followed 

 his example ; but fcarcely had the veflel fet 

 fail, Tvhen a fignal of diftrefs appeared 

 hoiflcd on the fort. The captain of the 

 veflel immediately ordered his boats to be 

 launched, and proceeded towards the fhure ; 

 but he arrived only time enough to pick 

 up, below the walls, a few miferable 

 wretches who had efcaped a general maf- 

 facre of the garrifon, which had been ef- 

 fe^cd in cotifequence of orders given j 

 for that purpofe, by Dian-Ramoufaye, and 

 other chiefs in the neighbourhood. Such 

 was the difmal end of a colony which might 

 have become flourifliing and ufeful to com- 

 merce, had not thofe w ho direded it taken 



every 



