JilSTORY OF MAURITIUS. 5 
on both sides the vessel, the channel being very narrow at the entrance of the 
harbour.” 
On a chart of the harbour on the north-west, and the forts of the island of Mau¬ 
ritius, taken at 20 deg. ia min. latitude, and 54 deg. 55 min. east longitude, from 
the meridian of London, the following directions for entering this harbour, were 
written by an English navigator. 
u A fleet, arriving at the island of Mauritius, from Europe, must bear away at first, 
towards the south-east part, and then double it, so as have the east side well open: 
then proceed west by north, till you enter the track pursued by the Shrewsbury, 
a ship belonging to the East India Company, keeping at the distance of about two 
miles from shore. The Shrewsbury cast anchor in the road, in about eight fathom 
water; the flag-staff of the town, being south-east by south, and the extremities of 
the land from south-west by west to the north-east, at the distance of about three 
miles from the flag-staff. I found by several observations taken in the road, that the 
variation of the needle is from 15 deg. 17 min. west. The island is situated in the 
latitude of the south-east trade winds: it is refreshed with frequent sea-breezes, which 
seldom fail blowing at the new and full moon from south to south-west for three or 
four days. If at this time a fleet should find itself near the island, it might, I think, 
safely run down the.west side, keeping at a proper distance, as far as the entrance of 
the road, and without being incommoded with any battery ; whereas, by entering on 
the east side, it. would be obliged to pass before a chain of batteries. The pilot in¬ 
formed me, that a chain or boom had been lately fixed, to reach from the Isle des 
Tonneliers to the point of Fort Royal. On doubling the side of the road, I saw 
several poles in the water, with white flags arranged or planted on the edge of the 
shore; but fearing some deception, I ventured* to examine them during the 
night; but when I approached one of the flags,. I found that it was fixed to a buoy, 
and the: rope tp which this buoy was tied, kept it floating two feet under the surface of 
the water, so that the flag seemed fixed in the sand at the bottom. On sounding I 
found eight fathom water. ” 
The following observations were written on a chart of the island of Mauritius, 
and signed J. B. supposed to be Captain John Blake. 
“ The body of the island is situated 20 deg. 10 min. south, 20 deg. 20. min. It 
is about sixty miles in length, and forty-five broad ■* is inhabited by the French, and 
* According to another copy of the same chart, the Abbe de la Caille determines the length of 
