f 
418 A VOYAGE TO [At Mauritius . 
CHAPTER VI. 
Parole given. Journey into the interior of Mauritius. The governors 
country seat. Residence at the Refuge, in that part of Wilhems Plains 
called Vacouas. Its situation and climate, with the mountains, riven, 
cascades, and views near it. The Mare aux Vacouas and Grand 
Bassin. State of cultivation and produce of Vacouas; its black 
ebony, game, and wild fruits ; and freedom from noxious insects. 
1805. My first visit after being liberated from the Garden Prison, was 
August. ^ ca pt a in Bergeret, whose interposition I considered to have been 
the principal cause of this favourable change ; he obligingly offered 
me the accommodation of his lodging whilst in town, but M. I itot 
had previously engaged my residence with him. Next morning I 
accompanied captain Bergeret to the town-major s office foi the pur- 
pose of giving my parole, which colonel Monistrol proposed to take 
verbally; but to avoid all future misundertanding, I desired that it 
might be taken in writing, and two days afterward it was made out 
as follows. 
* 
His Excellency the captain-general De Caen having given me 
permission to reside at Wilhems Plains, at the habitation of Madame 
D’Arifat, I do hereby promise, upon my parole of honour, not to go 
more than the distance of two leagues from the said habitation, with- 
out His Excellency’s permission ; and to conduct myself with that 
proper degree of reserve, becoming an officer residing in a country 
with which his nation is at war. 1 will also answer tor the proper 
conduct of my two servants. 
Town of Port Ngrth-west, Matthew Flinders. 
August23, 1805 
The habitation, for sq plantations are here called, which was 
