HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
3^ 
or to carry intelligence, will approach the island on the north-east side, at the distance 
of half a league; then ranging along the reefs, till the northern point of the isle 
appears to the south-west, you may either lay to, or make short boards, to wait 
for the chaloupe, which must be sent off in time, that it may not be exposed to fall 
to the leeward of the settlement. 
“ Those who would wish to anchor in the cove which is formed by the reefs, will 
range along the northern point, at the distance of a musket shot; and when the flag 
belonging to the settlement shall appear in a direct line with the south-west point of 
the compass, you must haul on the larboard tack, steering to south-west a quarter 
south, in order to pass to the leeward of several rocks which line the reef, and 
where there is anchorage in nine fathom, with a sandy bottom, at a pistol shot from 
it. From this position, the point of the reef which forms the cove on the eastern 
side, will be about the third of a league to the north-east: the flagstaff of the settle¬ 
ment, half a league south-west and by south; and the Isle of Diamonds, which is 
the nearest to the principal island, a league west by south, 5 0 south: the Islet au 
Foux , which is the most distant, is west by north, 5 0 north; and the point of the 
breakers on the starboard, is north-west by west, five quarters of a league. 
“To the north, 5°west of this place, at the distance of half a league, there are 
three or four small ledges of rocks, whose extent is about a quarter of a league from 
east to west, and the eighth part of a league from north to south. There is about 
eight or ten feet water in the shallowest parts. 
“ In setting sail from this anchorage, provided the vessel has not driven much in 
getting under way, it will be sufficient to stand on your course to the north, in 
order to pass the eastern extremity of these ledges, in ten or twelve fathom water, 
where the bottom may be clearly distinguished; but if you steer to the north-north¬ 
east, or north by north-east, you must hold the middle of the channel, between the 
rocks and the reefs. 
" You may also pass it to the leeward; that is, between the rocks and the western 
reef, by steering immediately north-west by north, 3 0 west, and then to the north; 
and when you are between them, you will pass about half a league over a bottom 
of rocks, which are very distinctly seen beneath at least eight fathoms water. 
“ It is reckoned that the Isle of Rodriguez is one hundred leagues from the Isle 
of France: when you have not seen the former, and the distance from the other is un¬ 
certain, you must attend to your course towards the latter, with continual precaution, 
