33° 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
“ This island is a league in length from north to south, and about three hundred 
fathom broad towards the middle. The soil is a mixture of sand and white coral. 
The reef, with which it is surrounded, begins at its north point, and then runs off 
towards the south, so that the southern point of the isle is about half a league distant 
from it. The reef continues from six to seven leagues to the south, and its greatest 
breadth, which is near the middle of it, is about two leagues. The whole space which 
it contains is filled with banks of sand and coral, some of which are above the water; 
so that at low water a canoe could scarce navigate there; and even at high water there 
is considerable danger, which must be watched with great attention. 
The Isle de la Providence is covered with cocoa trees on the southern side, 
and to the north with a tree that resembles the fig-tree of Europe, and is of a very 
spongy texture. These trees are strait, and rise to about forty or fifty feet, having 
knots like the bamboo, at a regular distance of six feet. The fruit resembles small 
mangoes. * There is also a creeping kind of wood of a red colour, and very hard. 
It is a very singular circumstance, that the ashes of wood that has been burned here, 
having been wetted by rain, hardens in such a manner, that it is necessary to employ 
an hammer to break the petrifaction: the inside is shining like the shells of a fish. 
“ There is great plenty of turtle, and a species of land crab, which is very large, 
and good to eat: some of them weighed six pounds. There are also great numbers 
of rats, which make their nests in the cocoa trees. 
tf The latitude of the island, according to four observations, two of which were 
made when the sun was on the north side of the island, and two when it was on the 
south side, was determined to be 9 0 7 '; the variation according to observation, was 
11° 45' north-west. 
“ After having exerted themselves during two months on the island, in endea¬ 
vouring to lengthen their canoe six feet, and to refit it for sea, the shipwrecked 
crew embarked in her, to the number of thirty-five men, on the 8th of November, 
and fortunately meeting with a north-east wind, they in four days after landed at 
Madagascar, at eight leagues south of Cape d'Ambre ; from whence they proceeded 
to reach Foul Pointe , where they arrived in about a month. They continued their 
course in the canoe, and in their passage, between Cape d'Ambre and the Bay of 
Vohemare i they crossed three fine harbours, which appeared to them well worthy 
of attention. 
* Cereiba, Mahot, Cereibuna. 
