VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 305 



mailer of the adjacent country. Have I 

 not in this rendered a very eflential fer- 

 vice to France? Could anything more 

 ** be expedled frona the forces and funds 

 which were at my difpofal ? Would a 

 other in my place have done more ? — 

 ** Would he have done as much ? M. dc 

 Belcombe fmiled, and faid^You fent word, 

 ** governor, to the muiifter of the mariue, 

 ** that you had laid the foundation of a 

 large town, which you called the Piain of 

 ** Heali/j, Where is tliat town ? — What is 

 ** become of it ? — Has it difappeared ? for I 

 ** fee nothing here but a few miferablt; 

 huts. 



To this embarraffing que ft ion Beny- 

 *' owilvi replied, that his funds had failed. 

 ** My citadel, added he, hascoft more than 

 ** I expeded. It was neceflary that I fhould 

 *' firflpay attention to the fafety of the town, 

 ** the plan of %vhich I will now Ihew you ; 



X " this 



