8 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
stance, lest any of our vessels, passing near this island, and perceiving a building 
and smoke, may imagine that they are persons cast away, and lose their time, as I 
did, in the endeavour to get them off the island. The vessels which come here (to 
Mauritius), endeavour to put in there; and although our charts place the rocks that 
surround it at five leagues distance, it does not exceed more than two miles. 
“ On the 24th June, steering west-north-west, I discovered the Island Mauritius, 
fourteen leagues distant, having 16 deg. 30 min. west variation; I bore towards 
the north-east part of the island, until I had passed near the Round Isles, keeping 
two miles without the coast of the island, until I arrived at a mile’s distance from 
the Coin de Mire. The French Captains told me, that the sides of this rock were 
so perpendicular, that a ship may approach near enough to admit almost of throw¬ 
ing a biscuit ashore. After I had passed this point, I bore away towards the land, 
south-west by south, and south-south-west, until I was near a ledge of rocks 
which run out before the long point, for about two miles from the shore, though 
they may be approached to at the distance of a mile without danger : I found no 
bottom with sixty fathom line, at the distance of two miles, after which there is no 
hazard. The town and the mountain of Peterbotte are then visible; the latter 
of which is very remarkable, and serves for the point of direction to enter the 
harbour. 
“ After having passed the ledge, which has just been mentioned, and keeping close 
to it, as the wind blows offshore, you may cast'anchor in fifteen or twenty fathom 
water, though the bottom is not very good till you arrive near the port. I mention 
this circumstance, because if you sail during the night, the currents are so strong, 
particularly near the island, that they would carry the vessel to the leeward before 
it was day, and it would be absolutely necessary to bear away to the east, to regain 
the wind. There is no danger whatever between the ledge and the port: so that you 
do not get into less than twelve fathom water, you may sail by night as well as by 
day. Every vessel that arrives here, after having passed the ledge and drawn near 
the land, must hoist her flag and fire two guns. If in the night, the lantern must be 
lighted up, when a pilot comes on board, who brings vegetables with him, and steers 
the ship to the entrance of the port. The port captain then comes on board, with 
a boat, chains, &:c. to assist the ship in entering the harbour, and to moor it there, 
which he sees properly done before he quits the vessel. As the channel is very nar¬ 
row, and the wind is generally contrary, it is frequently necessary to tow vessels 
