290 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 



the fea breezes ; the north winds carry 

 ihefe exhalations along the coafts j and 

 drought and tranquil llty render their effects 

 more fatal. The Malegaches know, in a 

 fmall degree, how to prefer ve themfelves by 

 remaining in their huts, or houfes, amid ft a 

 thick fmoke ; yet the fobereft and moft rb- 

 buft of thefe ifianders cannot always wlth- 

 ftand the malignancy of the diforden It 

 is not furprifmg, therefore, that the Euro- 

 peans, who are obliged to refide on that 

 coaft, fhould fall victims to diftempers, 

 which attack e?en thole who are feafoned 

 to the climate. 



I was witnefs to the entire deftrudiion of 

 a fmail French eftablifliment at Foulepointe, 

 about the end of tlie year 1768. Though 

 afliflance of every kind was fpeedily given 

 to the unfortunate people who belonged to 

 it, not one of them could be faved. The 

 robuft as well as the weak all fell vidims 



to 



