HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
II 
His return was for the purpose of ascertaining why the 
East India Company had not sent him the promised sup¬ 
plies ; and Pronis, who still remained on the island, and 
was married to a native woman, was left, during the absence 
of Flacourt, once more in command. 
On his arrival in France, Flacourt found that the East 
India Company’s charter was about to expire, but that the 
Marshal Meilleraye was desirous of uniting in a continua¬ 
tion of the enterprise at Madagascar. Whether, upon a 
renewal of the charter, this union actually took place, does 
not appear in Flacourt’s work; he was, however, again 
appointed governor, and, about the year 1659 set sail, 
with a valuable cargo, to resume the command; but on his 
voyage to Madagascar he was overtaken by a violent storm, 
in which his vessel was wrecked, and himself and all on 
board perished. 
Flacourt appears to have been entirely neglected by the 
Company during his stay on the island. In the seven years 
he resided there, he received no supplies, either of forces or 
provisions, from France; and the settlers generally having 
failed to insure the affections of the natives, who were kept 
in subjection solely by the fear with which his military force 
had impressed them, it was but natural that, after his 
departure, the French interest in the island should rapidly 
decline. 
In the year 1655, Fort Dauphin was utterly destroyed 
by fire. Although the manner in which this work of 
destruction was effected has never been ascertained, there 
is reason to believe it was done by the natives. The 
French, however, did not exert themselves to rebuild it 
until further supplies arrived from their own country, which 
did not take place until five years afterwards. 
The governor appointed by the East India Company to 
