HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
W' 
come to our assistance: and to aid us in such a project, the latanier afforded its 
cotton, and the turtle its oil. Other arguments might have been used, but those 
which I had already employed did not receive a favourable attention. 
“ We are losing time, exclaimed one of the most determined among us, and we 
have had enough of prosing; so follow me, my friends, and let us think of the readiest 
means to quit this irksome solitude. At this summons, every one rose up as if it 
had been uttered by an oracle; and nothing was now thought of but to prepare for 
the voyage. I ventured to make additional propositions, and thereby gained some 
little time ; but, at length, it was resolved that we should embark on the day of the 
full moon. 
“ As nothing worse could happen to me, than to live and die alone in an island 
at the extremity of the world, I resolved, though not without some degree of hesi¬ 
tation, to depart with my adventurous friends. 
Their Adieu to the Island of Rodriguez. 
« The appointed day being arrived, we bade adieu to this charming island, and 
embarked once more in our miserable boat, on the 21st of May, 1693. At 
first we were obliged to use our oars, there being little or no wind, in order to 
gain, with more exactness, the course marked out by the buoys; so that we passed 
the breakers without any accident: but in a few moments afterwards one of our 
oars broke, in consequence of a powerful effort made to escape from the rapidity 
of the current, which threatened us with no common danger; at the same time the; 
calm rendering the sail useless, it appeared to be impossible for us to escape ship¬ 
wreck. At length however a gentle breeze sprung up, which, with the assistance of 
our remaining oar, just preserved us from destruction. There was also another 
point about two leagues distant, towards which the current, that overpowered the 
wind, was driving us: but as we had by this time contrived tb mend the broken oar, 
we employed it so effectually as to escape this second danger. It was very fortunate, 
indeed, that we were able to restore to its practical use this instrument of bur de¬ 
liverance, as the rapidity of the current continued to demand our utmost exertions 
to resist it. The sea broke with a fearful impetuosity against the rocks which were 
the objects of our alarm; and night coming on, redoubled our apprehensions and 
our toil. To complete our misery, the sea sickness, which was Occasioned by the 
agitation of our little vessel, so entirely overcame us, that we were, in a great 
S 2 
