TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
871 
Port Louis .] 
situation: my voyage, shipwreck, and anxiety to pursue the steps of isos, 
our celebrated navigators. Let him suppose himself to have executed Wedaea. 21. 
so much of the same task, escaped the same dangers ; and under the 
influence of powerful motives to reach England with expedition, to 
be arrested on the way, his misfortunes either not heeded or con- 
verted into proofs of delinquency, and himself treated as a spy; and 
this is done by the representative of a government which had pro- 
mised assistance and protection, and moreover owed him a return for 
the kind treatment recently experienced by Frenchmen in the port 
from whence he came. Let him suppose himself writing to his op- 
pressor with these various recollections crowding on his imagination; 
and the allowances he would then desire for himself, I request of 
him to make for me. 
On the day following the transmission of the letter, my servant Thursdays*, 
was brought on shore from the prison ship, where he left Mr. Char- 
rington and the seamen closely confined ; but no answer was re- 
turned either on the 22nd or 23rd, nor did we hear any thing that Friday 2s. 
could give an insight into what further was intended to be done. 
We suffered much from the heat of the weather and want of fresh 
air; for the town of Port Louis is wholly exposed to the rays of the 
sun, whilst the mountains which form a semicircle round it to the 
east and south, not only prevent the trade wind from reaching it, but 
reflect the heat in such a manner, that from November to April it is 
almost insupportable. During this season, the inhabitants whose 
affairs do not oblige them to remain, fly to the higher and windward 
parts of the island ; and the others take the air and their exercise 
very early in the morning and late in the evening. We who were 
shut up in the middle of the town, and from having been three 
months confined to a vessel of twenty-nine tons were much in need 
of exercise, could not but feel the personal inconveniences of such a 
situation in their full rigour ; and the perturbation of mind, excited 
by such unworthy treatment, did not tend to alleviate their effects on 
otir health. But the heat and want of fresh air were not the worst evils. 
