45 2 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
At length it was determined to lay siege to that place; and its garrison consisted 
of fifteen hundred Europeans, when it was invested by Colonel Coote on the land 
side, and Admiral Stevens by sea. It was surrounded by several forts, which had 
occasioned great difficulty in former sieges, but were now easily taken, as the ad¬ 
jacent country was in the hands of the English. The rainy season approaching, and 
the known bravery of M. Lally rendered a regular siege impracticable; it was de¬ 
termined therefore to block the place by sea and land. This blockade was supported 
by certain batteries, which were very advantageously placed, and, while they conti¬ 
nually harassed the garrison, were insensibly extended towards the town, notwith¬ 
standing the rains had commenced. 
These operations' continued during seven months, the batteries being alternately 
destroyed and repaired : but amidst all these difficulties the English were encouraged 
by the distress of the garrison and inhabitants, who were reduced to feed on dogs, 
cats, elephants, and camels. 
The French, in this situation, indulged the hope of relief from their fleet, and a 
violent storm on the ist of June, 1761, cherished their expectations, as it destroyed 
four English ships of the line, and obliged the others to quit the blockade. The 
hopes, however, that had been indulged by the French garrrison, and their brave 
commander, were of very short duration; for, in four days after the storm, and 
before any relief could have been administered to the town, Admiral Stevens 
re-appeared and renewed the blockade with eleven ships of the line and a frigate; 
at the same time a battery was erected within four hundred and fifty yards of the 
ramparts. 
The garrison was now reduced to three days provision; but this miserable situa¬ 
tion made no impression on the mind of General Lally: he persisted in holding out, 
and pretended that as the English had failed in their engagements to him, it was im¬ 
possible for him to enter into a treaty with them. At length, however, a signal for a 
cessation of arms being made, the principal of the Jesuits, with two lawyers, but with¬ 
out any apparent authority from the governor, were sent to treat with the English, 
and after some previous and necessary arrangements, the latter took possession of 
the place. Soon after, the settlement at Mahe, on the coast of Malabar was reduced; 
so that the whole commerce of the vast Peninsula of India fell into the hands of the 
English. 
We shall now proceed, before we finish the history of this war, to give an 
