202 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
nistration: it will be sufficient to observe, that they consisted not only of magazines, 
arsenals, batteries, fortifications, and barracks for the officers, &:c. but also mills, 
quays, offices, shops, canals, and aqueducts. The aqueduct in the Isle of France, 
which conveys fresh water to the port and the hospitals, is six thousand yards in 
length. This accommodation is attended with inexpressible advantages, both to the 
inhabitants, and the ships which arrive there for refreshment. 
It is well known that the Governor General exerted himself with the same inde¬ 
fatigable spirit, in every thing which related to the marine in the port of the Isle of 
France. Before his arrival, the inhabitants were so ignorant of every thing that 
related to ship-building, that they were not qualified to make the slightest repairs 
of their own fishing boats; but were obliged to have recourse to the carpenters of 
ships who put into their harbours. He therefore did not delay to avail himself of 
the numerous advantages which the island possessed, to acquire some degree of mari¬ 
time importance. He encouraged the inhabitants to support him in this patriotic 
undertaking; and, by their efforts, so large a quantity of wood had been cut down, 
fetched from the woods, and worked up into preparatory forms, that, in the course 
of two years, he found himself possessed of materials sufficient to commence his 
naval works. 
1 7 3 7-—He began by making pontoons to careen ships, as well as to load them, 
and lighters to carry water; he also built canoes and large boats, for the transport 
of materials and other daily service. In 1737, he undertook to build a brig, which 
proved an excellent vessel. In the following year he built two other vessels; and put 
a ship of five hundred tons on the stocks. In short, from his persevering spirit and 
indefatigable skill, they now build and refit ships as well at the Isle of France, as in 
any port of the East; nay, in consequence of certain machines, invented by M. de 
la Rourdonnais, ships are accommodated, particularly in obtaining water, with unri¬ 
valled expedition. 
Previous to his arrival, the captains of the Company’s ships had assumed a degree 
of independence, which by no means accorded with the good order and advantage of 
the service; nor could they conceal their dissatisfaction at being commanded by 
a man who was so lately their comrade. They were jealous also of the Croix de 
St. Louis, with which he had been honoured by his majesty. The service was in 
danger of suffering from these discontents, and required all the resolution as well as 
conciliating powers which M. de la Bourdonnais possessed, to restore good order 
