312 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
lest you should come upon it suddenly during the night. The reefs which sur¬ 
round the east part of it, and advance almost into the offing, would render an 
unexpected arrival off it very dangerous. 
“ This island is seen at sea at the distance of fifteen or sixteen leagues, in fine 
weather; though the clouds and fogs will sometimes prevent its being discovered at 
this distance. Its surface has a very irregular appearance, from the mountains of 
different heigths and forms, which rise from it. When you make the island in 
20° of latitude, on the southern part of it is seen a groupe of mountains, which 
are called the mountains of Bamboo, rising above the south-east port; and on 
the northern side four islets are discovered, which are to the north-east of the 
northern point of the Isle of France. It is between these islands, that the common 
passage is made to the north-west port, which is the principal place in the Isle 
of F ranee. * 
“ The Isle Ronde , which is the most advanced in the sea, is also the most remark¬ 
able on arriving from the east. It is visible at the distance of ten or twelve leagues. 
This islet, which does not exceed the third of a league in length, is in the shape of 
an hay-cock. On approaching it, another, but much smaller islet or barren rock 
appears, which is called the Isle au Serpent , which is to the north-north-east 5 0 east 
of the Isle Ronde , and is not more than a quarter of a league distant from it. 
fi The Isle Ronde is situated in 19 0 50' latitude; and when the Isle of France is 
made by this height, that island is more perceivable than the .great isle, particularly 
when the sky is somewhat cloudy, and there is a misty horizon. On arriving from 
the south, the Isle Ronde appears less, though its whole extent is discovered. But 
whether you arrive from this side, or from that of the east, it is necessary to steer, 
* “ In the year 1751 ,1 determined, by several different observations, the latitude and longitude of 
the north-west port, or Port Louis in the Isle of France, and the result was, that I found its situa¬ 
tion to be in zo° 9' 43" of south latitude, and of 3 11 40' 30" more eastward than the Royal Obser¬ 
vatory of Paris, which answers to 55 0 7' 30" west longitude. Another person (l’Abbe de la Caille) 
having occasion to make the same observations in 1753, with larger instruments than those with 
which I was provided, has formed the same calculation within two seconds, that is, 20° 9' 45" 
south latitude ; and 3 h 40' 32" meridional difference. 
“ I had also determined in 1740, and verified in 1751, the situation of the Isle of Bourbon, and I 
found the latitude of the town of St. Denis, to be zo° 51' 44", and its longitude 53 0 10'. I also 
found the latitude of the town of St. Paul, in the same isle, to be 20° 59' 44". The detail of these 
■observations will be found in the memoirs presented to the Academy, Yol. IV.” 
