HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
301 
CHAPTER XII. 
Some Account of the Island of Madagascar, from the Observations of Admiral 
Kempenfelt *—Letters of Baron Grant continued.—Curious History of a Princess 
of Russia, &c. 
The Isles of France and Bourbon are so connected with that of Madagascar, by 
the continual commerce which is carried on between them, that the history of the 
latter is, in some degree, essential to the history of the former. 
Madagascar is one of the largest isles in the world, and susceptible of many 
advantages; having an excellent soil, a fine climate, commodious bays, and navi¬ 
gable rivers. The only commercial objects which it produces are rice, cattle, and 
slaves. The natives are brave and honest, but extremely ignorant, though they 
are so often visited by European vessels. The French frequent the eastern side of 
the island; Saint Mary, Foule Point, Fort Dauphin, & c.; while the English prin¬ 
cipally visit the western side, in the Bay of Saint Augustine, See. The French are 
actually establishing and fortifying a colony at Fort Saint Mary. 
The subsequent communications, afforded by Admiral Kempenfelt, were origi¬ 
nally received by him from M. Reglade, who had been in the service of the French 
East India Company for upwards of fifty years. He was on board the ship called 
la Paix, when it was wrecked on the Isle of Bourbon, and returned to France as 
a passenger, in the same ship with the Admiral. 
“ The King Massilige appears to be the most powerful prince in the island, and 
greatly favours the French in their commerce with him. He has a fort built of mud, 
in the European manner, in which there are from thirty to forty large cannon, and 
a numerous garrison of his own soldiers. M. Reglade had seen several thousand of 
them armed with musquets, and well disciplined. 
“ His palace is built in the European style, and has two stories; it contains a reserve 
* As we lately mentioned the Negroes which are obtained from Madagascar for the service of 
the Isle of France, we have thought this a proper place to introduce the observations of Admiral 
Kempenfelt, on the former of these islands. 
