HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
247 
The government of the isles comprehends that of France, which is about forty 
leagues in circumference; and that of Bourbon, which is about the same extent. 
They have each of them a supreme council, similar to that of Pondicherry, and 
M. de la Bourdonnais presides over them both, in quality of Governor-general. 
These three councils, as well as the respective governors, are independent of each 
other. 
In whatever manner these colonies were first established, whether by force of 
arms, or conventions formed with the sovereigns of the country; it is certain that 
they can subsist no longer than while they maintain a friendly intelligence with the 
nations on whose territories they are settled. 
It is noteless necessary to mention the nature of the monsoons, whose changes, 
which are well known to seamen, determine all the voyages and maritime enter¬ 
prises that are undertaken in India. They are regular winds, which blow six 
months one way, and six months the other: their change takes place either a 
month before, or a month after, the equinox; and is announced by some remark¬ 
able variations, or a complete calm: they sometimes declare themselves by a 
violent gale. It is evident, therefore, that every season does not allow of navigating 
certain parts of the Indian seas; and that the navigation is practicable at one time, 
and impossible at another. 
For example: On the Coast of Coromandel, on which Madras and Pondicherry 
are situated, the south winds terminate from the 15th to the 30th of October, when 
they are succeeded by those which blow from the north : it is necessary, therefore, 
to quit the coast from the 15th to the 25th. To answer some important purposes, 
ships may risk wintering on the coast; as in the Indies, as well as elsewhere, the 
winters are sometimes calm, and at other times boisterous. 
In the year 1741, M. Dumas and M. de la Bourdonnais, with their respective 
squadrons, remained on the coast till the 2 2d of October, without experiencing a 
gale of wind. In 1746, the squadron of M. de la Bourdonnais suffered very 
severely from a violent gale. In 1747 and 1748, the English squadrons remained 
on the coast, without suffering from the winds during the winter; and on the 24th 
of April, 1749, there was on the same coast such a furious hurricane, that fifty 
or sixty vessels of different nations perished. It appears, therefore, to be an act of 
prudence, to quit the coast between the 15th and 20th of October. 
The orders which M. de la Bourdonnais had received, respecting the operations 
