HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
518 
of nature, or of art. In the first case, it is probable, that, by multiplying the indivi¬ 
duals of the Rima from its seeds, there may be some that bear unprolific fruits: 
they may therefore be multiplied by the suckers, slips, and grafts. Above all, the 
Rima should be transplanted and multiplied in Madagascar: the soil and tempera¬ 
ture there agrees with it better than those of our two islands, and it would be a 
wise measure to form a botanical garden in this great island, as well for the utility of 
the inhabitants, as for the supply of those navigators that put in there, and conse¬ 
quently to increase the general purposes of commerce. 
“ The Isle of France was formerly exposed to the ravages of locusts. None of 
these noxious insects, however, have been seen here since the year 1770. It is pre¬ 
tended, that the martins, a kind of bird brought here from India, and which have 
multiplied in a very extraordinary manner, have destroyed them. It is certain that 
these birds feed upon them with avidity, when they are just produced, and before 
they have wings. 
“ This colony, considered as an anchoring place, is well situated for the commerce 
of the East Indies. It furnishes the ships witb all kinds of refreshments and pro¬ 
visions, and the means of recovering their crews; the air is healthy and water 
excellent. Considered as a port, it furnishes a shelter for the ships, with every 
necessary accommodation to careen, refit, and equip them: it might, in this respect, 
become an entrepot for the commerce of the East Indies. This was the project of 
M. de la Bourdonnais. Considered in an agricultural view, it would furnish com¬ 
merce with valuable objects of exportation, such as sugar, coffee, cotton, indigo, 
fine spices, &c. As a military station, it can maintain in its bosom a large number 
of land and sea forces. 
“ As I do not propose to write the history of the Isle of France, which is not within 
the compass of my design, but merely to give a general idea of it, I shall con¬ 
clude, by citing an extract from a work which was printed in the island in 1784, in 
order to refute the false assertions of an ignorant author, who had, in his writing, 
attempted to depreciate the colony.* 
“ Fortunately for these islands, the dreams of a traveller, who saw and observed 
every thing without reflection ; who examined nothing to the bottom 5 who some¬ 
times contradicts himself j is almost always incorrect, and often false in his asser¬ 
tions, and erroneous in his reasoning, cannot have any weight with persons of 
* M. de Cossigny speaks here of M. Saunerat. 
