172 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
time clouds of corbtgeaux and pailleneus came from the maiiYsea, and took refuge 
on the coast; the land birds and animals appeared in a state of disturbance; the 
inhabitants felt a secret apprehension, at the sight of a storm in the midst of a 
calm. 
“ On the 2d, in the morning, the wind sunk at once, and the sea increased; the 
swells augmented, and came from a greater distance. The shore, lashed by the waves, 
became white with foam, which had the appearance of balls of cotton: at the same 
time the vessels in the road strained on their cables. 
“ There now could be no longer any doubt of an approaching hurricane. The 
canoes, &c. which were on the pebbles, were drawn on the land. Every one 
hastened to support their houses with cords and beams; and the whole shore was 
lined with people, attracted by the extraordinary spectacle of the sea, and the danger 
of the vessels. 
“ Towards noon there was a great change in the heavens, and the wind began to 
blow fresh from the south-east. It was then feared that it would turn to the west, 
and dash the vessels on the coast. A signal was given from the battery for the vessels 
to depart; when they instantly cut their cables, and disappeared, in about two hours, 
in the midst of a very dark horizon, to the north-west. 
u At three in the afternoon the hurricane declared itself with a most alarming 
noise : all the winds blew : the sea, raging and agitated, threw clouds of foam, sand, 
shells, and stones upon the land: and the boats which were repairing at fifty yards 
from the shore, were buried under the pebbles. The wind carried away a part of 
the church roof, and ihe portico of the government house. The hurricane lasted all 
night, and did not cease till three in the morning. 
“ On the 6th, the two vessels which returned to the anchoring ground were a 
small boat and a galliot; they brought an account from the Penthievre, which had 
lost its main-mast. The different vessels continued returning till the 19th. 
Account of an Hurricane in the Isle of France , in February , 1771, 
by M. Rochon. 
“ It is absolutely necessary to have been an eye-witness of an. hurricane, to form 
a just idea of such a formidable phaenomenon. It is almost always accompanied 
with rain, thunder, and earthquakes: the atmosphere is on fire; and the wind blows 
with equal violence from every part of the horizon. An hurricane is a kind of 
