HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
348 
employed to verify the possibility of this course, have afforded sufficient directions 
to navigate it in future with a greater degree of security. * 
“ It might be added, that on leaving the Isle of Franpe, you will pass to the 
west of the Banks of Nazareth, if you make good a north course, without getting to 
the east, till within io° 30' latitude, when you will make the Isle Agalega. On- 
taking a departure from the Isle of Bourbon, you should make good your course 
north by north-east. 
“ The Isle, or rather the Isles Agalega , as there are two, south-east and north¬ 
west from each other, and joined by a bank of sand or a reef, are situate in io° 25', 
or io° 30' latitude, and in 54 0 15' longitude. They are low, but covered with wood; 
so that they may be easily distinguished at the distance of five leagues. The north¬ 
ernmost, which is the largest, may be about a league and an half in length from 
north to south, and its shore appears to be sand. The ancient charts, which mark 
these isles a degree of latitude too far north, represent them as being placed on a 
reef; but our ships not having approached them but at the distance of three leagues 
on the west side, the extent of the reef could not be determined, nor whether the 
islands are accessible. 
“ After making the heights of the Isles of Agalega y the course must be made 
good to the north by north-east till within 5 0 of latitude. In ; proceeding to the 
north, there are tide-ways which run with great violence, and apparently towards the 
west-north-west. It may be conjectured that they are the waters which pass off from 
between the Banks of Nazareth and that of Saya de Malba , which set to the west¬ 
ward ; differences also are sometimes found on that side. . 
“ The Choiseul frigate, commanded by M. le Floch de la Carriere, on losing 
sight of Agalega , having made good her course north by north-east 2 0 east, struck 
soundings on the south-east side of the Isles of Mahe , in 5 0 49' latitude: but as this 
bank does not contain any shoal in this part, if a bottom should be found there, it 
would be sufficient to steer east-north-east, in order to quit it. The only danger 
that may be encountered, on taking the course to the north-north-east, is the Bank 
de la Fortune , on which M. de Kerguelen moored, and where he thought he 
* To these authorities should be added that of M. de Coetivy, Ensign in the King’s fleet, and 
Commander of the ship the Isle de France, who was supported in a superior manner by M. d’Herce, 
in his passage from the Isle de France to the Manillas; since, though he left the Isle of France 
in the month of June (1771), he stood almost due north to the heights of the Isle of Mabe. 
