74 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
kind that might contribute to the success of the establish¬ 
ment. 
The labours in which the colonists were under the 
necessity of engaging, were of such a nature as to reduce 
them to great distress. The station was surrounded with 
marshes, which rendered it very unhealthy, and which, 
consequently, required great exertions in filling them up: 
the fortifications likewise demanded immediate attention, 
in order to be prepared against an attack from the natives; 
and these labours of the day, rendered doubly severe by 
the excessive heat of the weather, were succeeded by the 
military services of the night. To add to the calamities 
of the settlers, they were destitute of almost every accom¬ 
modation. Without a surgeon, and with few medicines in 
the hospital chests, or stores in the magazines, deprived 
also of the promised supplies by the governor of the Isle 
of France, it is not surprising, that both the health and 
the spirits of the Count should have failed him, so that he 
was obliged to seek the healthier climate of the Isle 
D’Aiguillon, until his strength was sufficiently restored to 
enable him to contend once more with the accumulated 
trials of his post. 
To add to his distress, he found, on his return, that the 
lieutenant-colonel and fifteen volunteers had died during 
his absence of a fortnight, and that many more were ill. 
He was, therefore, induced to send a detachment up the 
river Tingballe, in order to find a situation more healthy, 
to which he might transport the invalids. M. Marigin, 
who commanded the detachment, after sailing about nine 
leagues, came to a place, called by the natives, as they sup¬ 
posed, the Plain of Health, which appeared suitable for 
the purpose, being at a distance from the marshes, very 
extensive, well sheltered, and commanded by a mountain, 
