HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
405 
currents to encounter, and consequently risk a failure of their design to double 
the Cape. 
“ This manoeuvre gives a probability to the voyages of the ancient Egyptians 
round Africa, as mentioned by Herodotus ; for the smaller the size of the vessel, 
the greater is the facility of doubling the Cape, even in the most unfavourable season; 
because, from its drawing but little water, it can approach nearer the land, and take 
refuge from any violent gale, in some creek orbay; or shelter itself under some cape, 
as the winds never pass the south-east point of the compass, and calms never fail 
to succeed, and continue during three or four days, as it happened to us. During 
this interval the winds blow very faintly from the south-east to the north; they then 
get to the north, where they seem to recover their strength to prepare another tem¬ 
pest ; but, in the interval, the little vessel quits its place of refuge, and takes advan¬ 
tage of the fair weather. 
“ M. de Flacour, in the last century, in order to get back from Madagascar, 
doubled the Cape of Good Hope in a small sailing boat. I have no doubt of the 
truth of this relation; and it was, probably, the same kinds of boats, or at least vessels 
of the same size, which the Egyptians employed; for it is not stated that they were 
governed by the seasons in these voyages. 
44 We had, as far as the Tropic, changeable winds, that varied from north-west 
to south-west. 
4 ‘ In this vast extent of seas I observed a very singular phenomenon, which I 
find very difficult to explain. 
<f We had some very blowing weather from the north to the west-north-west, which 
was always announced by an heavy sea, that, several previous days, appeared to 
come from the south-west quarter; and I have often remarked that the strength of 
the north-west wind was always in proportion to the swell of the south-west sea. 
4< I should not perhaps have given any attention to this fact, if M. de la Londe, an 
old officer in the naval service of the East India Company, had not first suggested it. 
He told me, when we were passengers together on board the Indian, that being at 
anchor at the Cape of Good Hope, a heavy swell from the south-west, which lasted 
two days, made him apprehend a violent gale from that part of the horizon; but, 
on the contrary, the gale proceeded with uncommon fury from the south-east. 
tx On the 31st of July, at five P. M. we saw Cape St. Vincent, and in the even¬ 
ing of the following day we came to an anchor at Cadiz.” 
