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chain of islands encircling it, except on the N. and forming a 
natural breakwater. This archipelago consists of 29 islands 
situated between Lat. 3 °33’ to 5 ° 45’ S. and Long. 55 ° 
15’ to 56° 10’ E. and lie at a distance of over 900 
miles from Mauritius. Their authentic history commenced 
in 1742 when they were discovered by Capt. Picault of the 
Elizabeth who was cruizing in these seas by the order of the 
Mauritian Governor Labourdonnais. The group was then 
named after him and the largest called Mah6, but later their 
appellation was changed to Les Seychelles, after Vicomte 
Herault de Seychelles. 
“ These islands must have been known very early, probably 
to the PhcBnicians who were constantly trading up and down 
the African coast. There is certain evidence of their being 
known to the Arabs, as in the lie du Nord Arabic inscriptions 
have been found cut on the rocks. It is not improbable that 
the Arabs of the E. coast of Africa made them a refuge in 
their piratical expeditions. Who knows what horrid tragedies 
may have been enacted amongst the lovely scenery of this 
archipelago, equally dark and blood stained with those per- 
petrated by the Buccaneers of the West. A short time ago, 
on cutting down a large “ Bois Blanc ” in the forest at Mahe 
an arrow head of hard black wood was found embedded in its 
heart. It must have lain there for ages as the surrounding 
wood was quite discolored, and the wound was so perfectly 
closed that the arrow was only discovered on sawing the tree 
into planks. It is not improbable that the Arabs of the 
Zanzibar coast would man their boats with slaves from the 
natives tribes N. of the Lupata Mounts, many of which are 
skilled in the use of this primitive weapon, which is often 
used for killing birds. 
“ The second day after my arrival I hired a pirogue and 
proceeded to make acquaintance with the coral reefs in the 
Bay, which had about a foot of wrnter on them at the time of 
my visit, and are never quite exposed they tell me. I found 
the corals very similar to those at Mauritius. The blocks of 
Astrceas and Pontes are immense, and they are sawn into 
shape and used for building, being more easily worked than 
the hard granite of the mountains. 
