HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
499 
which serves for a chapel. There are two entrances into this port, the one by the 
Point du Diable , and the other, which is the largest, on the side of an islet near 
the middle : there are batteries on these two places, and a third, called the Battery 
de la Reine, at the bottom of the bay. Whales frequently enter into this har¬ 
bour, from the south, and might be easily harpooned. This coast is most abun¬ 
dant in fish, and the finest shells are collected on it. There are purple oysters at the 
mouth of the river de la Chaux , and a kind of crystallization in the bed of the river 
Sorbes, which is at no great distance from it. 
“The air of the south-east port is of an agreeable freshness, the country beautiful 
and fertile, but the town is almost abandoned, the principal settlements being at Port 
Louis. 
“ The mouth of the Grande riviere is about four leagues from hence ; it is some¬ 
what larger than that which bears the same name near Port Louis. The shore is 
intersected with coves, where the mango trees flourish: it is probable that the 
seed of them was brought by the sea from some island more to windward. To the 
left there is a chain of high mountains covered with wood; while verdant hillocks 
are scattered over the face of the country. In this district a considerable num¬ 
ber of cattle are bred; but though pleasing to the sight, it is fatiguing to the 
traveller. 
“ The Point du Diable is so named because the first navigators perceived, it is 
said, the needle to vary here, without being able to account for it. Two leagues from 
thence is a new house of stone, situated on a rising ground, and belonging to a rich 
planter, M. de la V--. The mouth of the Grand riviere is not navigable, on 
account of a sand-bank that runs across it, and a cascade which it forms about 
half a league up it. 
“ There is a redoubt of earth built upon the left bank, at the beginning of the road 
which leads to Flacq; where you here enter a fine grove of orange trees, near to which 
there is a plantation. The whole length of the shore is scattered with rocks. 
“ A quarter of a league beyond the riviere Secbe is a path on the right, which leads 
towards the sea-shore, and to a lake of fresh water, where there is a post of thirty 
men. There the shore begins to be practicable; and there is a small arm of the sea 
of considerable depth: here and there the sand is scattered with stones till you meet 
a long meadow, covered with dog-grass. All this part is dry and barren, the woods 
low and thin, and stretching to the distant mountains. This plain is three leagues 
3 S 2 
