HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
loses itself in the woods. It cannot be doubted that this vault, for it is certainty 
made by the hand of nature, rests on a bed of earth, and that this bed im the course 
of time being carried away by the water, a cavern will remain in its place t perhaps 
the cavern already exists. In fact, at the mouth of this same river at the distance of 
two or three leagues, there are several caverns of great depth. A great part of the 
road which leads from the river of the rampart to Flacq, is formed on beds of rocks: 
in some places it appears to be hollow, and resounds beneath the horses’ feet. 
A part of the plantations in the highlands of Flacq, are absolutely horrible, from 
the quantity of rocks which they contain. There are also plots which consists only of 
one single rock, some parts of which are rather more elevated than the others, and 
have the appearance of flag-stones. The low plantations, which are nearest to the 
sea shore, have fewer rocks, and a better soil, which is maintained at the expence of 
the highlands, whose earth is carried off by the waters, and spread on the lower 
grounds. 
So many facts and circumstances, and many others of the same kind, which are 
visible to every eye, seem to contradict the opinion of volcanoes in the island, and 
an universal change in the state of it. 
Observations on the Isle of France , by M. le Gent'll. 
M. le Gentil also delivers the following opinion. <s They say in the country, that 
(l volcanoes have pervaded every part of it. If however, there have been any volca- 
“ noes in the Isle of France, the part which I saw had been preserved from them; for 
“ what must have been the force and explosion that could have shattered it as a mine 
fS would have done, and have lifted up enormous rocks from its bowels, to scatter 
“them about upon its surface; while this same force should have suffered them to 
“ remain in their horizontal positions, an hundred feet deep or upwards, in the 
u ravines, as well as in many other parts?” 
Volcanoes never fail to leave traces of their ravaging power; such as calcined and 
melted stones, pumice stones, lavas, cinders, &c.; but none of them are to be seen 
in the Isle of France. The mountains aye in general indented with points like the 
comb of a cock. Those which are flat on the summits, present the appearance of 
a pavement, and no signs of a funnel are to be seen in any part. These mountains 
have been covered with earth and trees; but at present their summits are almost 
entirety naked. The same change has taken place with respect to them, which is 
