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no enemy’s ship could escape the fire of the batteries ; 
and the landing to it is rendered difficult, by a steep 
declivity. It is of an oblong form, and encompassed 
with good walls of lime and gravel, well cemented. 
The anchorage in the roadstead is excellent, and the 
harbour is screened by the Isle of St. Clair from the 
heavy sea-gales, so that the entrance is convenient at 
all times for large ships. 
The Bay of Loucar lies at the mouth of the river 
Itapere, on the north side of Tholangare. On 
the south is the great river Franchere, which is navi¬ 
gable for many miles; and at a short distance from its 
mouth is the Lake of Amboule, which is fifteen miles 
in circumference, and forty feet deep. We have 
described this place particularly, because it formed 
the principal settlement of the French, during their 
attempts to colonize the island; consequently, its 
name will frequently occur in this work. 
With these local advantages, and, in addition, a 
neighbourhood that produced in abundance every 
necessary of life, the peninsula of Tholangare pre¬ 
sented a spot more favourable to the views of the 
settlers, than the Vale of Amboule, which adjoins 
Anossi to the north. Here, therefore, they erected a 
town, and enclosed a quantity of land, for the cultiva¬ 
tion of fruit and vegetables. 
But Pronis does not appear to have been a man 
calculated to maintain the respectability of such an 
establishment in the eyes of the natives. He was 
weak in mind, and indolent in his habits. By these 
