HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
34i 
north-north-east of Tamatave , and about two thirds of a league from the nearest 
part of the Madagascar shore. The trees with which it is covered are visible at 
the distance of five leagues. 
“ Three leagues to the north-north-east of the Isle aux Prunes , breakers are 
visible which are occasioned by a bank of rocks. A league and an half further on 
the same line, there is a shoal, with three fathom water; and another at a league to 
the north-north-east of the latter, in four fathom water, on which I have struck. 
These dangers are but a league from the coast. 
“ The land of Madagascar, from the Isle aux Prunes to Foul Poitite , is of a mo¬ 
derate height, very unequal, and covered with wood; it afterwards rises by small 
degrees, and in the interior part, double and triple high mountains are visible. The 
shore, which is of white sand, is bordered with a breaker at the distance of three 
cable’s length. When the Isle aux Prunes is on the north-west point of the com¬ 
pass, at the distance of about two leagues, a small mountain is seen to the north, which 
approaches nearer than any other to the sea-shore, and forms two paps, which are 
called the Paps, or Mamelles de Natte, from a village of that name, where the natives 
sometimes hoist a white flag. Many vessels have taken this place for Foul Pointe, 
which is distant from it three leagues to the north. It is very easy, however, to 
avoid that error, on observing that, from the village of Natte , the Isle aux Prunes 
is always visible, whereas it ceases to be seen on approaching Foul Pointe. 
“ When you lose sight of the Isle aux Prunes , and that it rests upon the compass 
at 30° south-west, then Foul Pointe is 15 0 to the north-east. 
" The cove of Foul Pointe , where the vessels anchor, is formed by a large 
reef, which begins at the third of a league below the village, and extends after¬ 
wards three quarters of a league to the north-north-east. You must approach it 
within a quarter of a league, and range along it, so as to double its northern point 
at a good cable’s length. The breakers are very visible there, but they appear less 
at high water, and with a light breeze. From thence, keeping the wind, you will 
come to an anchor under shelter of the reef in six fathom, with a sandy bottom, 
mixed with mud. The northern point of the reef will remain to the east by north, 
and east-north-east; the southern point of the cove south by west, 5 0 west; the 
village to the south-west the third of a league.* The northernmost land towards 
“ * By a course of observations of the sun and stars, I determined the latitude of the village 
of Foul Pointe to be in 17° 41' 20". I also observed during the night from the 30th to the 31st 
