HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
5°4 
might retreat to it. If to these natural means of defence are added, those which 
depend on government, such as a squadron of ships, and a body of land forces, an 
enemy would have the following obstacles to encounter. 
First, a naval engagement. Secondly, supposing that the squadron should be 
beaten, it might nevertheless delay the conquerors in forcing them to the windward 
of the island. Thirdly, the difficulty of landing, as the coast cannot be attacked but on 
points, and never on an extensive front. Fourthly, the passage of every rivulet must 
produce a battle, with great disadvantage to the invader. Fifthly, the side on which 
the town can be besieged is of small extent, and, under a fire from the mountain that 
commands it, while the trenches must be opened in a rock. Sixthly, if the garrison 
were compelled to abandon the town, they would find on an height of the moun~ 
tain, an impregnable redoubt, provided with water, where they might receive sup¬ 
plies and succour from the interior part of the island. 
Observations on the Isle of France , by the Abbe Raynal. 
<l There are many mountains in the Isle of France, the highest of which has four 
hundred and twenty-four fathoms. Although the soil be, in all parts, covered with 
stones, of a greater or less size, so that it cannot be tilled with the plough, but must 
be worked with the spade, it is, nevertheless, fit for many purposes. Though more 
superficial, and less fertile than that of Bourbon, it is more generally susceptible of 
cultivation. 
" This island for a long time engaged the speculation, rather than the industry, of 
its possessors: and they wasted their time in conjectures concerning the advantages 
which would be derived from it. 
“ Some were inclined to make a central mart of it for all Indian merchandize, 
which was to be brought thither on Indian bottoms, and then shipped on board 
French vessels, which were never to proceed farther. A twofold advantage evi¬ 
dently rose from this scheme: first, the expenses were lessened, as both the pay 
and the maintenance of Indian sailors is very trifling; and secondly, the ships crews 
were more effectually preserved, as they sometimes suffered greatly from the length 
of the voyage alone, and still more frequently from the climate, especially in 
Arabia and Bengal. This plan, however, met with no support; it was feared that 
the Company would fall into contempt, unless they displayed, in these distant lati¬ 
tudes, a naval force sufficient to ensure respect. 
