HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
3°3 
inhabitants, than by any perfidy or cruelty on the part of the latter, as they are, in 
general, found to be a civil and hospitable people ; but they will not be insulted 
and treated as slaves in their own country: an error common to many European 
nations in those parts of India where they have settled and received encourage¬ 
ment. None have been more subject to this error than the French, which has 
already produced very disagreeable consequences, and will, it is to be feared, pro¬ 
duce more. 
“ The King of this part of the island was called Tom Simcols, according to the 
French pronunciation, and as he and his sister both pronounce it. They were the 
children of an English pirate, and spoke the language of their father tolerably well; 
but from their commerce with the French, they spoke that language still better. 
The King treated the French established in his country with the greatest distinction: 
nay, they pretended that, before his death, he had settled his kingdom upon them; 
and when that event happened, they took possession of it, but were soon after driven 
by the natives from their presumptive claims. 
** When M. de la JBourdonnais was dismasted by a violent gale of wind on this 
coast, he put into the Bay d’Antongil, in whose woods he found trees fit for masts, 
which enabled him, though with infinite difficulty, to complete his repairs. 
“ According to the relation of a French officer, the ships of that nation trade with 
the inhabitants on the coast of Madagascar in the following manner : 
fTwo muskets; 
“ A man or a woman 
thirteen to forty 
Ten bails; or fifteen hundred balls, or 
For a bullock 
seventeen hundred flints. 
One musket, or twelve or fifteen pounds 
“ For an heifer 
of powder. 
Two cartouch boxes, or ten pounds of 
“ A fat capon 
For two heifers 
powder. 
One musket. 
A knife, or seven balls, or ten needles, or 
“ A fowl 
a pair of scissars. 
Eight needles, or four balls, or six flints. 
See. 
