HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
443 
there are three hundred men from Fisher’s recruits, lately raised, and as it is feared 
there will be considerable desertions among these new recruits, the Sieur de Lally 
may, if he pleases, leave them on the Isle of France, where they will be safe from 
desertion, and replace them from the troops of that island. 
Remarks on a Memorial of the French East India Company, delivered to the Count 
D’Ache , Chief d’Escadre, and commanding the Squadron destined to the East , 
towards the latter End of the Year 1756. 
Article 4th treats in general of dispositions to be made on the arrival of the ships 
at Mauritius; and observes, that there are two harbours, the one called Port Louis, 
or North-west, and the other South-east, Harbour. Port Louis is the principal, 
where the colony chiefly resides, and where the docks, magazines, and other con¬ 
veniences for shipping are built; but the air of the south-east harbour is esteemed 
the most healthy, and on that account it is recommended to send all the sick sailors 
and soldiers on shore there, where it seems houses proper for hospitals are pre¬ 
pared. As soon as the sick shall be sufficiently recovered, it is recommended to 
let them march over land from the south-east harbour to the north-west, which 
is about fifty miles* direct across the island; so that apparently there must be a par¬ 
ticular road, which indeed is reasonable to conclude, from the residence of many 
planters on the south-east side. 
The south-east harbour has two channels, through either of which ships may 
easily enter, but the greatest difficulty is getting out: however, the instructions say, 
that the ship of each division which carries in the sick may easily get out again 
through the north-east or south-east channel. 
It is also observed, that as the north-west harbour of Mauritius is not large enough 
to contain all the vessels that may arrive there, together with those there before, 
and as the islands may not be able to furnish fresh provisions for so many people, 
there will be a necessity for sending out the ships already there, to the island of 
Madagascar, where the general rendezvous is appointed to be, after leaving the 
Mauritius. 
* There are no more than twenty-five miles between these two harbours, according to the exact 
observations of the Abbe de la Caille, made in the year 1753. This error proves that the French 
East India Company did not know at that time (1756) the true extent of the island. 
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