HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
337 
the other, in search of food, and in a state of uncommon misery and distress; nay, 
they were even on the point of losing their canoe, which was become their only 
resource. 
<f After having sojourned on these islands till the winds set in which would take 
them to India, and having constructed a catamaran, to carry the provision of 
cocoas requisite for their sustenance, as well as made the necessary cordage from 
the filaments of the cocoa, they departed from the isles on the 22d of June, and 
took their course towards the coast of Malabar, without any guide but the sun and 
the stars, and their own maritime experience ; as during their abode on the islands 
they had lost their compass. 
“ On the 24th, their catamaran overset, and they saw themselves reduced to the 
small provision of cocoa-nuts in the canoe, which lasted only till the 10th of July, 
when they were actually without food. From that period they every day suffered 
from the weakness incident to their situation, and the painful consequences of 
hunger and thirst. At length, however, a period was put to their sufferings, 
and they landed at Cananore ; from thence they proceeded to Make , and so on to 
Pondicherry.” ? 
