HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
478 
the good fortune to take back to the Isle of France the sad remains of the crew of 
the Utile. Eighty Negroes, male and female, had perished from distress, or in 
attempting to save themselves on rafts, which they had constructed: seven Negro 
women had resisted, during fifteen years, all the rigours of the most cruel situation 
that imaginaton can form. The most elevated part of this shoal is fifteen feet above 
the level of the sea: it is six hundred fathom in length, and about three hundred 
in breadth. These deserted Negroes had constructed a hut with the remains of 
the vessel, and had covered it with the shells of turde ; while the feathers of birds, 
ingeniously interwoven by the women, served them for clothing. This island is 
one scene of sterility; nor has it any shelter from the fury of the sea in the tem¬ 
pestuous seasons. One of the seven females who had escaped the united pressure 
of hunger and despair, became in this deplorable situation, the mother of a child, 
who perished with her. They related, that they had seen five vessels which had 
made many unsuccessful attempts to land on the place of their dire captivity. 
The Commora Islands. 
As these islands make a part of the great .Ethiopian Archipelago, we conceive 
that this is the proper place to mention them: and before we give their particular 
description, we shall present an extract from the Voyages of Spilberg, which will 
inform us of the reception the Dutch met with, when they first touched at them. 
On his arrival at the first of the Commora Islands, Spilberg sent a boat on shore to 
ascertain the disposition of the islanders, which returned with various kinds of 
refreshments, and with the assurance that the place might be approached in safety. 
On the following day an interpreter, with some of the inhabitants, brought provi¬ 
sions, for which they were paid ; and on the 22d they came to an anchor in the 
road, where there was a good bottom in thirty fathom water. 
Spilberg now ordered a large case of merchandize and some bars of iron to be 
carried into the house of the Prince, by way of security for the payment of what 
might be furnished for the service of the ships. In this island, which was named 
Mohilla, there was plenty of cattle but very little rice. The Prince was a man of 
considerable experience, having travelled in Arabia and other places: he spoke 
the Portuguese language with great fluency, and was extremely fond of music; he 
took great delight in hearing the flourish of trumpets, and it appeared even that he 
had heard the harpsicord and the harp, as he enquired whether those instruments 
