HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
3 79 
<l The air is wholesome, temperate, and even cold, particularly in the more ele¬ 
vated plantations. The heat is greater at Port Louis than elsewhere, as the neigh- 
bouring mountains protect it from the south-east wind, which prevails throughout 
the year. The jky is not equally serene in every part of the island. In the middle 
part it rains almost every day, so that the pools and rivers are constantly supplied 
with water; while in the north-western district, it rains regularly in the months of 
January, February, March, and April; and sometimes in May, June, and July. 
The dry season prevails through the remaining part of the year. Thus the town 
and the environs of the port are rendered disagreeable and unpleasant, from the dried 
herbage, and the aridity of the mountains, which have no trees, and are sprinkled 
with stones. Even during the dry season the sky is seldom clear; clusters of clouds 
are continually coming from the middle of the island, where it rains almost every 
day, as has been already observed. 
“ The winds come generally from the south-east, and are much less violent than 
at the Cape of Good Hope. There are, however, variable winds from October to 
April. The barometer varied six lines during the time I remained on the island. 
In my observatory, which was not elevated more than four or five fathom above 
the level of the sea, it was at the highest on the 13th of July, 1753, when it was 
twenty-eight inches five lines and one-third; and on the 10th and 12th of January, 
1754, it was the lowest, at twenty-seven inches eleven lines and an half. On these 
two days there was an heavy rain and an hurricane, which was felt at the Isle of 
Bourbon. Throughout the year there was no sensible change in the mercury, ex¬ 
cept that it was a very small degree higher at noon than in the evening. 
Continuation of the Journal. 
“ January 16, 1754. I embarked at the Isle of France, on the ship the Bourbon, 
commanded by M. Lesquelen, to go to the Isle of Bourbon. We got under way 
at eight in the morning, and the following day came to an anchor in the road of 
St. Denis, at one P. M. M. Brenier, who commanded in this island, provided me 
with a cottage near the government-house, and a black servant to attend me.* 
“ February 26. I embarked in the evening on board the Achilles, commanded by 
M. de Beau-briand to return to France. We got under way the 27th at ten A. M.” 
* The Abbe de la Caille has given no account of this island, as he remained there only forty days. 
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