244 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
“ The Insulaire arrived from the Point de Lar'e on the 28th, with no more 
than fourscore bullocks; but as this provision was not by any means sufficient, I 
ordered her instantly to return and renew her traffic. On the 2d of May she set 
sail, when the Parfaite returned with all the masts, rigging, and furniture of the 
,Neptune t as well as the crew and passengers. I was also informed by M. Desjardins, 
that Betandre* had offered to provide us, at Manahar, with any quantity of 
bullocks and rice we might require. I made a signal therefore to the Insulaire to 
come to an anchor, and then ordered her to change her course for Manahar. 
“ It is a frequent and very just observation, that misfortune is sometimes a bless¬ 
ing in disguise ; for it is certain, if the Neptune had not been lost, we should have 
been detained here for a long time, notwithstanding all my exertions. I should have 
been compelled to leave the Lys here, and to abandon the only ship which had 
remained with us in our distress; but the wreck of the Neptune has furnished us 
with the means of refitting her with masts and rigging, and putting her in a condition 
to follow the squadron. The surplus of cordage was serviceable to the Achilles , as 
well as that which was made here by our ropemakers. At length I succeeded, by 
various means, and unremitting efforts, in putting the ships in as good condition 
as they were before the storm; and I hope in a few days to weigh anchor and pro¬ 
ceed to the Indies. I propose to sail from hence on the 20th, without fail. 
" I dispatch the Parfaite to inform you of all these circumstances, and to acquaint 
you at the same time with the loss of two ships from India, the St. Pierre and the 
Neptune , in order that you may make such arrangements as you may judge neces¬ 
sary to remedy that misfortune. 
“ That which I have sustained, has made me lose the advantage which I should 
otherwise have had over the English ships, on their return from Surat to Europe, 
if I had arrived in India at the time I proposed; but I trust that I shall yet be in 
time to meet the ships of war of that nation. 
“It is necessary also to inform you, that I was very much alarmed lest our 
blacks should desert during our stay at Madagascar. The manner of treating them 
on board the squadron is by no means harsh, so that we have lost but thirty by 
desertion; and by a bribe of gunpowder to the chief of Manahar, several of them 
have been restored to us. 
“ I must beg of you not to make any change in the arrangements I settled with 
• One of the petty sovereigns of the country. 
