23 * 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
France did not arrive. On the 28th of July, the Expedition frigate brought him 
intelligence, that the Achilles , the St. Louis , the Phenix , the Lys, and Due 
d'Orleans , would arrive at the Island in the month of October. 
In consequence of these advices, M. de la Bourdonnais delayed his departure 
for India till the month of November; and, as the monsoon would not then permit 
him to pass by Madagascar, where he had determined to join the ships which he 
had sent there to victual, he dispatched orders for them to return to the Islands, 
that he might avail himself of the monsoon, to conduct them to Pondicherry. But, 
unfortunately, the ships which he expected from France in September or October, 
1745, did not arrive till January, 1746. This delay was attended with circumstances 
of extreme discouragement and difficulty. 
In the first place, it left him too short a space of time to complete the repairs of 
his ships: nor was this the greatest obstacle. An epidemical disease had carried off 
the greatest part of his naval artisans: he was, therefore, compelled to form a new 
set of workmen to supply their place, from among those whose occupations had 
no connection whatever with the dock-yard. Fie accordingly employed house- 
carpenters to shape the ship-timbers, locksmiths to forge nails, and tailors to make 
sails. Nor would it have been possible for him to have succeeded, if he had not 
possessed a perfect acquaintance with the science of ship-building, and made a 
practical application of it to the necessities of the moment: he accordingly fur¬ 
nished models, regulated the admeasurements, and superintended every class of 
workmen, with unceasing activity and attention: he sometimes even assisted them 
in their manual operations. In short, his knowledge and activity supplied all his 
wants ; and at length he surmounted those difficulties, which appeared to all but 
himself as altogether insurmountable. 
But another, and still more alarming obstacle presented itself, in a general 
deficiency of provisions and equipments. 
The ships which composed the first armament, had consumed their provisions in 
waiting for the arrival of those which were expected from Europe; and the latter, 
having been victualled only for fourteen months, had, after their long voyage, 
no more than four months provisions. It was therefore absolutely necessary to 
revictual both squadrons. 
The crews, on their arrival, were also in a very bad state; and the Achilles 
alone was equipped as a ship of war; the others were armed only as merchantmen. 
