404 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
but I shall beg leave to ask, if the time thus gained would counterbalance the risks 
and dangers that are inevitable in the navigation by the north ? and if it would be 
prudent to suffer two ships, worth upwards of three millions of livres, which is the 
value of the China cargoes, to return by that passage ? 
w The navigation by the Cape of Good Hope is so certain, that a common sea¬ 
man is qualified to take a ship to China by that course, and bring her back to France 
in good condition. 
“ By the north, however, the most skilful and experienced seaman will find it a 
difficult undertaking to conduct a ship to China; but even if the voyage should be 
successful, it cannot be denied that it would be almost as long as that by the old 
course of the Cape of Good Hope.” 
Navigation from the Isle of France to Cadiz 
* * * * “ Don Joseph de Cordova fitted up for me on board his frigate, a large 
chamber, which was equal in size to two of those which I had before occupied. 
We set sail from the Isle of France the 30th of March, 1771, having very fine 
weather, and constant winds from the south-east to the east, till we reached the 
Mozambique Strait. 
“ We had passed considerably to the south of the coast of Africa, where the tem¬ 
pests are much more frequent, being in the parallels of 37 0 to 38°, than along the 
coast. I have been informed by very experienced seamen, that along the coast of 
Africa there is a strong current that runs to the west, at least, during this season, 
and that in 37 0 or 38°, and beyond, the current runs to the east/that notwithstand¬ 
ing the violent winds which always blow from the western quarter, are in direct 
opposition to the current; the current continues its course to the west, and enables 
ships to double the Cape in the teeth of the winds, while in 37 0 and 38° the wind 
and the current take the same direction. 
“ The ships which return from India, with a view of doubling the Cape in the 
winter, must not get to a great distance from the land. They may keep in the offing 
during the night, but in the day they must approach the shore, and, if possible, never 
lose sight of it; so that they may double it by the aid of the current; but if, on 
the contrary, from a mistaken apprehension of getting too near the coast, they 
drive away to the south as far as 37 0 or 38°, these ships will have both winds and 
