3i 
1670] of the Island Dauphine , &c. 
embark’d in the Ship La Mariee. At his embarkation, the 
Troops being under Arms saluted him with their musketry. 
The Saumague also depart’d the same day, accompany¬ 
ing this Vessel. The Ship La Force not having been able 
to fit out as soon as the Mariee , left the following day to 
go to France. 
The-June the Ship La Mariee , in which was Mon¬ 
sieur de Mondevergues, put back to the said Fort Dauphin, 
not having been able to double the Cape of Good Hope; 
nevertheless the Vessels, La Force & La Saumague , of 
which I have spoken, doubl’d it. 
The 15th August following, the Vessel the Saint Paul, 
after being in the Bay Dauphine for six months, not 
having been able to leave for the Indies, mostly on 
account of the contrary Seasons, at last left with the 
Hookers, the Saint Jacques & the St. Luc. 
There are two seasons for going from Madagascar to 
the Indies & to Surat. In the first by leaving Madagascar 
in the month of August without delay (particularly from 
the 15th until the 20th) one reaches Surat in six weeks, & 
goes to Mozambique on the East Coast of Africa: the 
second season is in the month of October, when, without 
delay, one can go to the Coasts of Malabar ; one is four 
months making the passage. 
There are some of these Malabars along this coast, who 
with numbers of Dhows will attack the Vessels which 
they see, of whatever nation they may be ; & when they 
can take a Vessel there’s no quarter for those who are 
therein ; otherwise, for the most part, they cut the nerves 
of their hams, & then keep them to serve as slaves to 
watch their beasts ; they cut the sinews of their legs, in 
order that they cannot run away & save themselves. The 
Vessels of Europe do not fear these Malabar Pirates, 
because they are fine Vessels well arm’d. They have 
several times attack’d our French Vessels, who have given 
