VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 287 



learned that Benyowlki had been appoint- 

 ed to the important ftation of governor -of 

 Madagafcan 1 am entirely iinacijuainted 

 with the fedacing arts which this adventurer 

 employed to accompUfh his ends : but 

 Poivre, when he heard this intelligence, faid 

 to me : We hav^ feen fwarms of kicitfts 

 ** devour, in an inftant, abundant crops ; we 

 " have feen two terrible iiurricanes threaten 

 " the Ifle of France with entire deftrud:ion: 

 ** Madagafcar ferved to repair the evils 

 " caufed by thefe formidiible fcourges j bur, 

 ** in future, the Ifle of France will have no 

 ^ refource. It mufl: link under its misfor- 

 ** tunes, and perifli if afiBi^ted with fucli 

 ** difafters. Under Benyowfki*s govern- 

 mentj Madagafcar will not fupply this 

 ** colony with provifions t we can no longer 

 ** have in our diftreffcs but dlRaat and pre- 

 " carious fuccours. I have been much ac- 

 ** cuftomed to fee the fuccefs of impoftcrs 



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