104 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
“ On the 28th, about four o’clock P. M. we observed an opening, which had the 
appearance of answering to our wishes, but night coming on, we stood a little out 
to sea, and lay to till break of day : about eleven o’clock in the morning, on the 
29th, we were becalmed, a circumstance which threatened considerable danger, as 
a rapid current was evidently carrying us among the rocks, which stretched out 
more than a league into the sea. In short, we approached so near them as to cause 
the most serious alarm, when a favourable wind fortunately sprung up, and saved 
us from approaching shipwreck. We doubled the cape towards the north point, 
and at noon the boat was hoisted out to go in search of some inlet. In the evening 
we sailed towards the north-east point, and the long-boat made a signal to inform 
us that they had found an anchorage. As we were upon rock, in no more than 
eight fathom water, we were continually obliged to take soundings. At length, 
however, we anchored in nine fathom, in a sandy bottom, having been towed thither 
by the long-boat. The following day, being the 30th of April, at an early hour 
in the morning, we cast anchor in nine fathom, with a similar bottom, and were 
sheltered from the east and south-east winds, which predominate in this country. 
" The island had a very inviting appearance, both at a distance, and on our near 
approach to it. This little new world seemed to us a seat of delight; though we 
did not see so many birds as appeared on the shore of the Island Tristan j nor 
was the air so perfumed with flowers as when we passed the Isle of Bourbon, about 
a month before. But the aspect of this island was so delightful, that we could 
scarce satisfy ourselves with gazing at the little mountains of which it is composed, 
covered as they were with large and beautiful trees. The rivulets, whose course we 
could discern as they sunk into the vallies, after expanding in various branches over 
a considerable space of country, which I shall not call either a plain or forest, though 
either denomination might be applied to it, flowed immediately before us into 
the sea. 
These scenes brought to our recollection the famous Lignon, and the various 
enchanting spots which are so agreeably described in the Romance of M. d’Urfe. 
But other, and more important considerations soon arose in our mind. We admired 
the secret and extraordinary operations of Providence, which, after having permitted 
us to be ruined in our country, and to be cruelly driven from it, had at last suffered 
us to dry up our tears in this earthly paradise to which we had been conducted, and 
where it depended upon ourselves alone to be rich, free, and happy; by employing 
our tranquil life in the calm enjoyment of what we possessed, in glorifying the 
