HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
CHAPTER I. 
Observations on the Harbours of this Island.—Exact Dimensions of it, according 
to the Geometrical Operations of Monsieur D'Apres , in 1751, and those of the 
Abbe de la Caille, in 1753 .—Directions for making the Island , and sailing into 
its Harbours , according to the Account of John Black , an English Captain , 
and other Manuscript Journals of Mr. Dalrymple and Mr. Parry , &c. — Particu¬ 
lars of the Forts of the Isle of Tonneliers, Fort Blanc, &c. which defend the En¬ 
trance of Port Louis , and the Town.—State of the Air throughout the Tear .— 
Geographical Positions of the principal Points of the Island , and the Height 
of the Mountains.—Account of the several Settlements in it by the Portuguese , 
Dutch , and French.—The Governors , from the taking Possession of the Island 
by France in 1715 and 1721, down to the present Time. 
There are two harbours in this island. That to the south-east is-called the Grand 
Port, or Great Harbour; and there the Dutch first established themselves; some 
vestiges of whose buildings are still visible. It is entered with great ease, with the 
wind right aft; but it is very difficult to get out by the same passage, as the winds 
are almost always in the south-east: there is, however, another entrance by which 
vessels might clear out with a leading wind, if a certain point of this passage, where 
there are not more than three fathom water, were cleansed and deepened; an ope¬ 
ration which is very practicable, and would communicate a free enjoyment of all 
its other advantages. 
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