HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
127 
" As we had flesh and fish in abundance, with herbs, roots, fruit, and palm wine, 
there was no reason to apprehend any inconvenience from a dearth of provisions: 
on the contrary, we were nourished with very wholesome and even luxurious' food, 
which never occasioned the least sickness or indigestion, though we were without 
bread : the captain had, indeed, left two large barrels of biscuit, which was principally 
employed in thickening our soup. 
Preparations for their Departure from Rodriguez. 
“ We had already been more than a year in this island, when we became uneasy 
that no vessel had arrived there; nor were we free from alarm, that a portion of the 
best part of our lives might be passed in this unprofitable solitude: it was at length 
resolved among us that, after having waited for news from M. du Quesne during 
two whole years, we should do our utmost to get to the Isle of Mauritius,, as vessels 
arrived there every year from the Cape of Good Hope. 
44 That island is hot more than eighty leagues from Rodriguez, though, in our 
situation, it was natural to consider it as a very long passage ; but as the wind blew 
regularly on that quarter, it was determined that we should instantly build a boat 
in the best manner in our power; and if there was any probability of its being 
capable of service, attempt the voyage. 
“ The undertaking appeared to be pregnant with difficulties, but not altogether 
impracticable: we were, indeed, to construct a large boat, without intelligent work¬ 
men, and with few tools. Besides, we had neither pitch, tar, ropes, anchor, or 
compass ; in short, a thousand other obstacles presented themselves to the reflection* 
and filled us with alarm. It was, nevertheless, resojved to set about the work, and 
if we did not lose our labour, to proceed on the voyage. Accordingly, without 
apprenticeship or experience, we, in an instant, became carpenters, rope makers, 
sailors, &c. and proceeded to employ our united efforts to forward the important 
object we had in'view. The sea had fortunately thrown upon the shore a large 
square oak beam of sixty feet in length, which was sawed into planks; but as the 
saw broke three times in performing this office, and was also handled with little 
skill, they were of unequal thickness, and altogether indifferently shaped. 
44 Our bark was twenty-two feet long at the keel, six broad, four deep, and 
round at both ends: we were provided with a small quantity of nails; and Jean 
de la Haye, the goldsmith, who had some instruments of his trade along with 
him, forged others, as well as some useful iron tools: he had also contrived 
