224 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
During six months of the year it is impossible to approach this coast, on account 
of the hurricanes, which torment these seas, and destroy every thing. The remains of 
our brave troops and sailors are arrived under jury masts, having sustained a loss of 
eight hundred men, who were drowned. 
Many of the inhabitants of this island are anxious to dispose of their plantations, 
being persuaded, that the change which has taken place in our government, will be 
attended with inevitable disadvantages to them. It will indeed be very difficult to 
find such a Governor as M. de la Bourdonnais. Nevertheless, from the manner in 
which M. David, our new Governor, speaks and acts, we shall derive considerable 
advantages from his administration. He says that the India Company, being now 
assured that the island produces plenty of provisions and refreshments for their ships, 
will order them all to stop at this port, which will be considered as a principal maga¬ 
zine for their commerce; at the same time every possible encouragement will be given 
to promote industry and advance cultivation. 
The different undertakings for raising cotton and indigo have failed. One sugar 
plantation has, in some degree, succeeded, whose produce resembles the coarser 
honey of Europe: time and industry, however, will bring it to perfection. The 
more wealthy adventurers are absolutely starving, by being compelled to purchase 
the provisions necessary for themselves and their people. They have had the incon¬ 
siderate ambition to burthen themselves with large bodies of slaves, before they 
had provided the means to maintain them. 
Our late Governor, M. de la Bourdonnais, will leave this island to return to 
France, in the month of March next: I shall avail myself of that opportunity to send 
you this letter, in which,! shall inclose a continuation of his operations. 
Grant. 
