VOYAGE TO 3j| 



France depends in a great meafure for its 

 fubfiftence on the Wand of Madjjgafcar, 

 and this dependence is abfolute in the time 

 of great calamities. The Cape of Good 

 Hope affords refourees then which are dif- 

 tant, espenfivc, uncertain, and, in every 

 refped, infufficient* It is doubtlefs much 

 to he wiOied that fome fixed and perma- 

 nent eftabiifliments could be formed in this 

 part ; but I have fhewn that the infalubrity 

 of the air is an obftacle which cannot be 

 fur mounted without facrificlng the lives of 

 a great number of men. From the month 

 of May, however, tiil the end of Odober, 

 thefe fliores may be frequented without dan- 

 ger. This is the period moft favourable 

 for commerce; it is likewife the time of har- 

 veft J and provifions of every kind may be 

 then procured. 



