PREFACE. 
XVII 
and ill the country whose history has employed my pen; though I 
cannot but lament, that from the nature of it, 1 am so limited in my 
accounts of them. 
I have given to my narrative all the regularity which the nature of 
my materials would allow; and I follow the chronological order of 
events, without wandering from the geographical path. The subject 
possesses importance, as well as novelty; but I trust, that higher 
emotions than those of curiosity, will be gratified by it. 
An author must ever feel some disadvantage from being a stranger in 
the country where he writes; but, from the peculiar circumstances in 
which I am involved, I am disposed to hope for that indulgence, of 
which I stand in great need. 
The different quotations will be found to produce occasional 
repetitions ; but I am convinced, that a real advantage will re¬ 
sult from it, by the accession of authorities which are produced 
by it. The history of islands so little known as those of France 
and Bourbon, may be considered, in a great measure, as places 
of new discovery; to obtain a knowledge of which, it is neces¬ 
sary to examine the accounts of every navigator who has succes¬ 
sively visited them. Besides, each author whom I have cited, gives 
some specific information of his own, that has not been commu¬ 
nicated by others. 
As authenticity is the character which I wish, above all others, to 
attach to my work, I have preferred to let the authors whom I have 
quoted, speak literally for themselves ; so that I ought, perhaps, as 
it was my first intention, to have given to this volume, the title of 
Memoirs for an History of the Isle of France , &c. But it has been 
suggested by my friends, that the whole contains a sufficient degree of 
connection and interest to receive the title of an History, and I have 
submitted, as became me, to their suggestion. 
If the historians of all ages had given nothing more than simple 
c 
