HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
2 95 
CHAPTER XI. 
Letters of Baron Grant continued.—Some Account of Animals in the Isle of France, 
Hunting , &c.—Circumstances respecting the Maroon Negroes , Slaves , &c .— 
Arrival of M. David , who succeeded M. de la Bourdonnais as Governor- 
General—his Character and Conduct.—The Island threatened by an English 
Squadron , &c. &6.—ill Success of the latter. 
LETTER IX. 
Isle of France, June, 1749. 
A s the climate is very warm, I frequently remain for several successive days and 
nights in the forests and mountains, to enjoy the pleasure of the chase. 
I most frequently hunt the stag,* and the cabri , a kind of wild goat, which is very 
active, runs among the mountains, leaps from rock to rock, and delights in ascend¬ 
ing those narrow ledges and sharp points of the rocks, which are inaccessible to 
every other living creature. This mode of hunting is very dangerous, from the 
narrow and difficult ways we must necessarily pass in pursuit of our game. 
We have had for some time a charming little animal in our woods, called the 
gazelle, or antelope. M. David brought it from Senegal ; t but unfortunately the 
hunters of the island have, in a great measure, destroyed them. Different sorts of 
* The stags (supposed to have been brought to Mauritius by the Portuguese) are smaller, and 
of a greyer colour than those of Europe. 
f In Senegal and on the Gambia great herds of these little gazelles may be seen. It is, accord¬ 
ing to M. de BufFon, the cbevrotin, (tragulus, Brisson.)—cervus perpusillus, juvencus guincensis, 
cervus Africanus pilo rubro, Seba, Sec. “ They are, (says Bosnian,) the prettiest little creatures in 
the world ; they are not much larger than a rabbit: the Negroes call them the little kings of the 
stags. Their legs are about the size of a goose quill; their horns are also very small, and of a 
bright black: they are so light that they seem to fly amongst the bushes ; however, the Negroes 
catch them sometimes. These little animals are too delicate to be brought here, as they can only 
live in the hottest countries.” 
