HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
107 
construct the vessel, which will be hereafter mentioned, as well as to succeed in the 
manufacture of hats, which proved so useful to us. I shall also remark, that, 
excepting Pierre Thomas, and R. Anselin, who were of a low origin, we were, all 
of us, superior to want, and had not thrown ourselves from despair on a desart island, 
or from not having a place where to rest the soles of our feet. Many of the party 
were persons of good family, and some property; but as this colony of M. du 
Quesne made some noise, and we were young, healthy, active, and without any 
incumbrances, the spirit of enterprize induced us to make this voyage. 
“ The trees which were scattered about our little town, were the remains of a much 
larger number, which we thought proper to clear away. This was no very difficult 
task, as the soil is very light, and the roots easily separated from it. When we had 
finished our humble habitations, the captain of the frigate, who had remained fifteen 
days in the road, bade adieu to us, when he had provided the necessary refreshments. 
He did not however think proper to leave every thing which had been designed 
for us : nor did we fail, in our letters to Holland, to give him the character which 
he deserved; but, as we were afterwards informed, he very discreetly did not deliver 
them to the persons to whom they were addressed. 
“ He however left us a quantity of biscuit, with fire-arms and ammunition, tools 
for agriculture, saws, hatchets, and the necessary implements for building; some 
household utensils, mills, fishing nets, and linen; besides, each individual had his 
own baggage and private stores. The medicine chest by some inadvertence, as 
may be supposed, was not brought on shore. 
“ Pierre Thomas, who has been already mentioned, had quarrelled with the 
captain, and being afraid of returning with him, wished to remain in the island; so 
that he would have repaired the loss of one of our companions who died at sea, 
near Mascaregnas; but the captain, on the very eve of his departure, came on 
shore, and took away two of our companions, Jacques Guignies and Pierrot, sa 
that the whole of the little colony consisted of no more than eight persons. 
Description of this Island , and of its Natural Productions. 
li When the ship was gone, and we were all of us recovered from our fatigues, 
we made a tour round the island, to discover if it afforded a more eligible spot than 
that which we had chosen; but though there were several situations equally conve¬ 
nient, there was. not one which equalled that which we had selected, in point of 
beauty; we therefore adhered to our first choice. 
P 2 
