HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
347 
* f The ships the Lys and the Union, commanded by M. M. de Boisriou and 
Baudran, in 1723, were the first who attempted a new course, on the report of some 
pirates who, having fled to, and being established under a general pardon at the Isle 
of Bourbon, offered to conduct them. One of them, whose name was Walkin, was 
chosen on this occasion. 
“ These two ships set sail from St. Paul, in the Isle of Bourbon, on the 2 2d of 
August, and at six P. M. were from fourteen to fifteen leagues to the south-east by 
south of the middle of the island. On the 27th they made Madagascar, in 13 0 of 
latitude, and discovered that the north part of that island was marked on the chart of 
Pietergoos sixty leagues too much to the east. From this view, they first made good 
their course to the north, and afterwards to the north-north-east. They passed the 
Equinoctial line on the 4th of September, in 49 0 of east longitude, without seeing 
Jean de Nove , or any of the Amirantes , which they ought to have fallen in with, 
according to the ancient charts. On the 20th of the same month they made the 
coast of Malabar. At length, on the 6th of October, these ships arrived at Pon¬ 
dicherry. 
“ From that time this track has been followed by all our ships. It is nevertheless 
to be remarked, that those, who have taken their point of departure too much to the 
south, where the coast of Madagascar projects towards the east, as well as those who 
took their course north by east, have either fallen in with the Twelve Islands, or the 
Isle Saint Pierre. It appears therefore that the northern track is indispensable. 
“ Although this track has always succeeded, as it requires a circuit of 8° west 
longitude on quitting the Isle of France to go to Madagascar, and of 8° to the east 
to regain the meridian of the place of departure, a more direct track would be pre¬ 
ferable; and it would accordingly be better to cross this Archipelago from north to 
south, as it can be done without augmenting the risk of the passage. This was pro¬ 
posed by M. le Chevalier Grenier, who himself found it successful, as well as many 
other ships : and if to this course is added that of Admiral Boscawen, as well as that 
which I held on board the ship the Montaran, which take much more towards the east, 
it will appear, that this Archipelago is by no means such as it has been represented 
on the old charts. If there are the same number of islands, and the dangers are equal, 
their position, as well as their dimensions are very different. The very correct ac¬ 
counts which have, within these few years, been communicated by the voyages of 
M. le Chevalier Grenier, of M. du Roslan, and M. de Kerguelen, who were expressly 
Yy 2 
