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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at |http: //books .google .com/I =ik m ••• * • « • . ft '^^ (f- ■"'»■ I- VOYAGE T O MADAGASCAR, AND THE : : EAST INDIES. BY THE ABBE ROCHON, Member of the Academies of Sciences of Paris and Peteriburgh, Aftronomtr of the Marine, Keeper of the King's Philofophical Cabinet, Infpedlor of Machines, Money, &c. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRESCH. ILLUSTRATID WITH AN ACCURATE MAP OF THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A ISIEMOIR ON THE CHINESE TRADE. L O ^D O N: PRINTBD FOR G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW. M.DCC.XCII. p >- •■' ADVERTISEMENT. JriS this work may, in feveral refpecls, be ufeful to gentlemen who go to India, the Tranflator has taken the hberty of adding to it a fhort Memoir on the Chi- nefe Trade, written by Mr. Brunei, and now tranflated, for the firft time, into Englifh. S^12^, W*'*% INTRODUCTION. XT THEN Vafco dc Gama had opened to the Europeans a paiTage to the feas of Afia, by the Cape of Good Hope, the Portuguefe endeavoured, to the exclu- fion of every other nation, to fecure to themfelves the rich commerce of that vaft continent. Before this period, an epoch memorable in the annals of navigation, the Moorifli flag only was feen floating in the gulfs of V Perfia and Bengal. « * The Moorilh veflTels, when they fet out a from U INTRODUCTION. from the ports of the Red Sea, directed their courfe, for the mod part, to the gulf of Perfia ; but ^t was not uncommon to fee them flretch along the coafts of Abyffinia, and, without lofing fight of land, enter the channel of Mozambique. In this channel they traded alternately with the inhabitants of the coaft of Africa, and the iflanders of Madagafcar. The ports which they principally fre- quented were Querimbe and Mozambique on the African coaft, and Vingara and Bombetoc in Madagafcar. The Afiatics, notwithftanding the imper- fedion of their charts, and the extreme ig- norance of their pilots, often engaged in the boldeft enterprifes. They Jjiot only vifited the coafts ^ Malabar, butHiey even ven- tured to lofe f%i&t of land. They launched forth into the open ocean, and, after traverf- ing IKTROOUCTIOir* lU ittg tlie gulf of Bengal, purfued their way to the Moluccas and the Philippines! through the (traits of Sunda and Malacca* The dangers infeparable from a voyage> which mufl have been tedious and difficult to failors fcarcely acquainted with the ele- ments of the nautical fciencey did not dif^ courage thenu Their commanders were invited to the Straits, and the Moluccas, by the temptation of a lucrative commerce* They were certain of finding in that Archi- pelago Chinefe and Japanefe veflels, which went thither to fearch for nutmegs and cloves ; and a reciprocal exchange of Per- fian and Indian merchandife, with the mer- i^handife of China and Japan, formed a trade equally advantageous to the Indian and the Chinefe. At the period, therefore, when the Por- tuguefe doubled the Cape of Good Hope, the navigation of the Moors was not con- a 2 fined fined m^ely to coaftmg j an4 fudii voyages, under^lfLen without aay other compafs than what was fypplied by an imperfea know- ledge of the apparent motion of the fun and ftars, certainly deferve to be known by thofe \vho ftudy the progrefs and improvement of hydrography. The inftrum^nt ufed by pilots iin the Ind^au feas for taking the latitude is in the form of a chap^et^ the beads of which fhew the akitude of the ftars for thje different places at which they are to touch;. The pofition of the beads, with regjivd to the eye and the* horizon, here ferves as an index;. Much dexterity and long pradHce arc neceffary to ufe this inilrument, the imper*- feiSfcions of which muft be readily perceived by thofe who have the frqalleft notion of navigation. I tried feveraj times at ?An- dicherrv to make ufe of it, but I could never obtain by it the altitude of a ftar within a degree INTRODUCTION. T degree of the truth, I muft, however, allow that|& being (hort-fighted, obfervation to me becomes much more difficult and in- • convenient than it would perhaps be to another. Though the commerce which the Moors carried on in the Afiatic feas cannot, in any refpeiS, be compared to that which has been fince carried on by the European nations, it was* not altogether contemptible. So many celebrated writers have given the hif- tory of the rife and decline of thfe European eftablifhments in India, that it would be en- tirely ufelefs for me to fay any thing here on that fubjedt. My defign, in this work, is, to give an account of the ifland of Ma- dagafcar, and of the advantages which ijiight be derived from fettlements there, were they made in fuch a manner as to promote the happinefs and inftrudion of the iflanders. But, notwithftanding every precaution, a 3 and VI INTRODUCTION* and all the care that may be taken^ infant eftablifhmeats in that ifland mull always have a great dependence on the ifles of France and of Bourbon, on account of their proximity. It is of importance therefore to give fomc idea of them. If the ifles of France and of fiourbon are, at prefent, the principal fettlements which the French have in the Indian feas, it is only to their fituation ths^t they are in- debted for that advantage. The port of the former is the arfenal of the French forces, and the centre of their commerce. The ifles of France and of Bourbpn ^erc difcovered by the Portuguefe, who called the former Cerni^ and the latter Mafcarhenas. The ifle of Bourboi^ ha§ no port capable of receiving large veffels. It is fifty leagues in circumference : is almoft of a circular fprm^ and its mountains are very high. The ,1' INTRODUCTION. VU The fummit of the mountain called les iron Salajfes^ is reckoned to be fixteen hundred * - ' . fathoms^li^ve the level of the fea. This mountain (lands nearly in the centre of the ifland. • The principal place in the ifle of Bour- bon is called St. Dennis. It is in this town that the governors of the colony refide. That celebrated aftronomer the Abbe de la Caille found, by aftronomical obfervation, that it lies in lat. 20^ 51' and long. 53* 10' eaft from the meridian of Paris. The difficulty of landing at St. Dennis has caufed a kind of bridge to be invented, which extends a good way into the fea, and is raifed fo high above its level as to be out of the reach of the greateft furges. From the extremity of this bridge hangs a ladder of ropes, and fmall veflels approach in fuch a manner that thofe who wifh to go pn fhore can lay hold of the ladder, at the a 4 moment • •• VIU INTRODUCTION. moment when the fea, by the violence of the furf, has attaine'd to its utmoft degree of elevation. This manner of landing is in-^ genious, though very inconvenient, on ac- count of the vibratory motion of the ladder, and the fhocks it experiences by the agita- tion of the fea : but the furf is 'here fo ftrong, and breaks againft the fhore with fuch violence, that without this expedient communication between the town and the harbour would be frequently interrupted. The volcano of the ifle of Bourbon, though its eruptions are very common, has never occafioned any devaftation fince the place, was inhabited. The planters have had the prudence to remove from this for- midable gulf, accefs to which is fo dan- gerous, if we may judge from the defcrip- tion given of it by that learned naturalift, Mr. Commerfon. M. de Cremont, then intendant of the ifle Il^JTRoDUCTIOls^. ix ifle of BouAon, fpared neither care nor expences to enable Mr. Commerfon to ap- proach as" near as poflible to the mouth of the volcano, and to examine its produc- tions. He even did more: he accompa- nied him in his excurfion : and this en- lightened zeal in a governor deferves, with- out doubt, the grateful: thanks of thofe who cultivate the fciences and intereft themfelves in their progrefs. Accefs to the volcano of the ifle of Bour- bon is very difficult : the country is burnt up, and a defart for more than fix miles round, while heaps of afhes, lava, and fco- riae, together with fiflures and precipices, render it very dangerous and troublefome to afcend to it. One muft choofe a favour^ able time, during ferene weather, to vifit the mouth of this gulf, for a few drops of rain are fufficient to excite an eruption, fhofe who fhould attempt to approach it, when / X INTRODUCTION. when the, weather is upfetded, might lofc their lives by their imprudence*. The view • TTic following account is given of this volcano, in a MemcMT publifhed by Mr. Brunei. " It is fituated almoft at the fummit of a hollow truncated mountain, the bafe of which, gently inclining, refts on a bed of calcined earth, at the diftancc of a full league from the fea. Though the matter it contains in its bowels toils up continually, it does not always fwell fo much as to rife through the crater. When an eruption takes place, the melted lava may be feen flowing down the fidea of the mouatain in undulations, which follow each other in fucceilion, and exhibit the appearance of a flaming cafcade. The light which it difFufes to a great dtftanqe, whether at land or at fea, is equal to [ that of the moon when £he ihines with full fplendour. It is even a tradition, believed in the country, that this natural pharos firft drew hither thofe Europeans who viGted thefe coafts. *^ The environs of the volcano are parched and co^ vered with fal-amn^oniac, native fulphur, alum, pumice- ftone, and fcoria. A remarkable peculiarity which 4i(^ingui{hes this from all qther volcanoes is, the fre« q\Jiency I NT ROB U€T JON, XI view of a volcano, in the dmc of an erup- tion, is a very awful and majeftic fpe&adc* The ijucncy of its eruptions, which arc never attended witik earthquakes : the fecurity, therefore, of the inhabitants is not diilurbed bj the vicinity of a phenomenoi^ which every where clfe ^s highly dangerous. It may not, perhaps, be improper to remark, that water has never been feen to fpout up from this volcano, and diat no hot mineral fprings are found iti the ifland. ** In the month of June, 1787, this volcano was o))ferved in one of its greateft eruptions. The fummlt of the mountaifll was covered with condenfed vapours, of a blackifh colour, which rofe from the ancient crater in fpiral clouds. On' the 24th lava ran into the iea. Nine days after it had been thrown up, it extended eighty fathoms in breadth in fome places, and in others forty. A month after, the matter, which flowed then in abundance, formed a current to the fea of about iixty fathoms in breadth, and from fifteen to fixteen feet in depth. The waves fmoked at the diftance of n>ore * than thirty fathoms from the place where the |aya fell into the water, appearing around of a greenifli yellow, f nd forming a band to the leeward of the fame colour, nearly Xll INTfeODtTCTION. The ftudy of thofe fubterranean fires which occafion fuch phenomena, and ftill more that nearly a league in length. This current> parallel to one, olderi and confifting in the like manner of feveral ftrata of melted matter, formed a projeftion, the bafis of which was volcanic fand mixed with a kind of iron drofs. Eleven days after the arrival of the lava at the fea, a falid cruft was formed at its furface, upon which it was poffible to afcend to within fifteen paces of the place from which it iflued ; but, as the heat then be- came infupportable, the obferver called to mind the tragical fate of Pliny, and reprefled his curiofity. One, however, may venture, without any danger, to walk on a torrent of flowing lava, if care be taken to examine its efFefts. In flat places it foon cools at the fuper- ficies, which then becomes hard like thick ice, whilft the liquid matter may be f«en through the crevices, continuing its courfe in perfeft freedom below ; but, fometimes, meeting with obftacles, it flows back, breaks the crufl, and covertf it with frefh boiling lava. In declivities, therefore, and finuofities, it is long in ac- quiring a durable degree of folidity ; and this the furious ought to obfer^^e with attention. " On INTRODUCTION. xili that of the fubftances produced by them, cannot be too ftrongly recommended to thofe " On the firft of Auguft the lava ccafed to flow •, but it ftill emitted fmoke, and appeared extremely red at the bottom. Some time after another crater, or mouth was thought to have been difcovered at the diftance of a league from St. Dennis, the capital of t}i«^. ifland. Clouds of fmoke and a ftrong heat proceeded from a ravine, w^ich it^ was. impoffible to approach- d^ring the fpace of a mpnth •, but at the, end of that time it was perceived that .the heat and fmoke iflucd from a cavern, which wj^ found to be the retreat of certain Maroon negroes. Fire having been kindled, in this place, either by accident or on purpofe,. it had. been nourifhed by a quantity of leaves, ftalks of maize, and other combuftible fubftances, lodged in it for a long time, whiph burned very flowly, becaufe the cavern received little air. The remains of birds nefts found here plainly fhewed that this cs^m had not always been expofed to the like degree of heat j and this iadded to other obfervations quieted thofe alarms which had been excited by this new appearance. The ifle of France, in the neighbourhood, is confidered as a coun- try xfr INTRODUCTlOir. tliofc who wifh to render their travelling ufeful to the advancement of fcience. Volcanic I try which has been expofed to violent conrulfions of nature. It abounds with caverns^ cafcadesi precipices, fiibterranean atchesj iron mines, calcined (lones, vitri* . fications, torrefied faod, and pyritei> ii^hich are ftriking vefliges of ancient volcanoes $ but, on account of their antiquity, their fituation cannot now be afcertained, ttor their craters diftinguilhcd. The mod elevated mountains in this iiland are not above five hundred fathoms high, whereas in the ifle of Bourbon there are peaks whi^ rifierioore than fifteen hundred fathoms. Itiefe two iflands, which zft diftant from each other only thirty leagues, were, doubtlefs, formerly united, 2nd have been detached by fome prodigious effort of nature. We have every reafon to believe that they are ftill conne£ted at the bottom of the fea, and that there are fubterranean paffages which form a comhiunication between them* ♦' The earthquake, which happened at the ifle of France, on the 4tli of Auguft 1786, feems to fupport this conjefture. That morning, at thirty-five minutes after fix, a calm fucceeded a ftrong breeze from the £. and IHTtOOnCTIOK* XV Volcaaic produ&ions exhibit an immenfb variety of appearances. Fihttnents of glafs, extremely £. and £. S^ £. which had prevailed JFor four days. A hollow noife, which terminafed in a fudden ezplofion^ like the- report of a cannon, was heard in the S. W. quarter; and at the (ame inftant two fmart ihocks were feltj one vertical and the other horizontal. At- that time the barometer did not indicate the fmalleft change in the atmofphere ; and the £• S. £• breeze commenced a quarter of an hour after, and continued till eleven the nif^t following. This ftrange pheno- ! menon was not attended with any accident fatal to the ifle of France ; and, by accounts from the ifle of • ■ Bourbon, it appeared, that the volcano there had thrown up much larger quantities of lava than for fome days preceding. " We have reafon therefore to fuppofe that the com- buftible fubftances in the caverns of the ifle of France, after fermenting, caught fire, and that hiving then endeavoured to force a paflage, they experienced a re- fiftance proportional to their force, which muft have produced thofe fliocks above mentioned ; and that making an effort aftenyards in every dirediion, they , ' found Wn XNTRDDaCTTOUr. extremely fioue^ and almoft refepabling hair, fjt {bmetimes found, at a very great diftance from volcanoes. This fpecies of lava is not at all common. The origin of thq colony of the ifles of France and Bourbon is conneded with the firft eftablifhments of the French in Mada- gafcan Were it not for the proximity of Madagafcartothefe iflands, one could fcarcely conceive why the Utter fliould have been chofen for the fiurpofe of forming a refpec- tabl« fettlemenfc Thefe two iflands are fo fmall, that they are hardly perceptible in a chart of the vaft Indian Ocean. • .;..;; \'i ■■:■ It is well known, that feveral Frenchmen^ r found a paflage through fubterrauean galleries to tho iflc of Bourbon, where, meeting with lefs refiftance, they ifliied through the crater of the volcano, which prevented that ifland from experiencing any fhocks, though there might be the fame commotion in both places." T. 7 who itjTRoi)ucTioir, Jtvtt Who had fufiered from the unhealthfulnefs 6f Madagafcar, formed a refolution of quit* ting that large ifland, in order to fettle in the fmall ifland of Bourbon^ the adr of which is ^ceedinglj falubrious. It was in the year 1 664 that they put this defign in execution ; and they took the Wife precaution of carrying along with them fome fheep and cows^ together with a young bull. The ifland, at that time, was uninhabited, and the foil uncultivated: but the coaft abounded with fifh^ and the ground was covered with tortoifes of an immepfe fize. At firft, the colonifts lived upon fifh, turtle, rice^ pmatoes and yams. They were for- bid the ufe of butcher's meat, becaufe the prefervation of their live dock was a mat- ter of the utmoft importance. When the feafon became favourable^ they planted /ugar-canes, and fowed wheat. b Their XVia INTRODUCTIOW. Their firft crops exceeded their expe^^ tions} and-Iii-a little time the fuccefs of the colony was no longer doubtful. The life of the ancient patriarchs does txot exhibit a truer pidure of the happinefs always iofe-r parable from man, wheQ he ^pp^roacbea to a ftate of nature, and lives under a' ferene iky J amidfl innocence an4 labour, 4^a the fituation of thefe colonifts. The inhabitants of Bourbon ^ipjjlpyed their fugar-canes in making a kilid. Qf fer- mented liquon The xflanderg of Mada** gafcar had taught them the mejthp(|^of,mak^ ing this beverage, which, in my oplvion^ ia preferable to the heft. cider of l^prm^nd]^ It is a pity that a liquor fo ufeful C9jmu)t^be kept more than twenty-four hour^ a](fer it ferments. ^ The fmall number of oxen and; fh^ep^ tranfported froni Madagafcar : to Boifrbon^ iaiflead of perifhing, ^acquired ^veiy 4&y>. Vk c thia iliid fiew latid, an additional degree of in- crekfe* Thefe animals found in the woods, with which the ifland is covered, a Ihdter from the fccrching fnn of the torrid 2one ; they fed upon fucculent grafs; and ap» peared, ahove all, to delight In thofe vaft faTaiinas, the produiSdons of which are fimilar to thofe ofMadagafcan When the inhabitants of Bourhon had made, a proper prbvifion for their fubfift- ence, by paying great attention to agricul-«^«^ » ture, the principal and the moft produdlive fource of all riches, they thought that coffee. In the cotMrfe oftimei might form an ufeful branch of commerce between theif ifland and Europe. In the year 171 8, therefore, they fent to Mofca and Aden for fome young plants of the coffee-tree, and were not deceived in their fpeculation. Thefe plants being cultivated with care, became in a few years very productive j and the b 2 ifland XX INTR0DUCT10H» I . . ■ ifland foon afforded the French Eaft-India company ^ very Important article of trade. , While the fmall Fr^nchjcolony of the Iflc of Bourbon continued to profper, that of the Datchy eftabliihed in the Ifle of France^ was much diftre£fed| and in a languifhihg condition*. I am unacqu^ainted with the reafon why the Dutch eftabUihed themfdvef in this ifland, which they called Mauritius. I know, only, that they complained of the great devaftation occafioned in it by lo^ cufts and- rats. In X 7 1 a they refolved to abandon entires ly the eflablifhment which they had formed at the Ifle of France, in order to remove tp the Cape of Good Hope. It .may be rea- dily conceived why they preferred a vaft continent to a fmall ifland. The inhabitants of Bourbon were not forry for th^ departure of the Dutch ; and they loft no time in taking pofleflion of the . fpots iNTROOVCTIOir. xxi ff f \ ^tt -Where they had been eftablifhed* The Ifle of France has two good harboiirs, and is only thirty-four leagues diftant from that of Bourbon. Though the air is falubrious, the iflaadas neither fo fertile nor fo ex* tenfiye as Bourbon : but thefe difadvantages are counterbalanced by the excellence of its portSy and by its bdng fituated to. the wind- ward* In i734i the French Eaft-India com- pany having determined to form fome con« fiderable eftablifhments here, the care of that cnterprize was entrufted to the celebrated Mahe de la Bourdonnais. That gentleman, bom to command, becaufe he had abilities which enabled him to know mankind, and to enforce obedience, ihewed in thofc diilant countries that he was as able a go- vernor as a ikilful mariner : the ifland is indebted to him, and to him alone, for its aqueduds, bridges, hofpitals, and principal b 3 raaga- mtg^tmp^f hi ihortt every tKing ufeful that ftUI exifts there is the work of that truly great maou La Bourdpnnais had a very extenfive knowledge of thofe mechanic .arts which are mofl; commoa and moil no* ceflfary for our wants; Often was he ieen by the break of day » at the head of his labourers, driving a whed^barrow, or han- dling the trowel and the compafs, merely ' witl^ ^.^iew to excite and keep up a fpirit of e mulation. After the example which he bimfelf gave, it was hardly poilible for any one not to concur^ as far as he was able, in promoting the public advantage. What- ever, therefore, he planned or undertook for the benefit of the colony, during the twelve, years of his adminiftration, was iilways j^ttended with fpeedy and complete iuccefst .It was this . governor alfo who made «hpice of the port to the not th*weft« A man INTRODUCTION. Xxiii niati lefs enlightened would have perhaps preferred the port in the fouth-weft, be- cauie it is larger and more commodious : but this able feaman knew, as much as any one, the advantages of a port to the leeward* On thofe fhores, where general winds pre- vail, leeward ports are alone fufceptible of .an eafy defence when attacked, as the ene- mies ihips mufl always be towed in order to bring them into the harbour. By the fame reafoning the wind is always favour- able for going out, another advantage, which, though inferior to the former, is not to be overlooked. The cultivation of com is that which fucceeded beft in the Ifle of France. The lands there produce fucceflively, every year, a crop of wheat and one of maize, com^ monly called Turkey conu The manioc *, which • Manlhoty magnoc or tnanioCyU a plant wluch grows b4 ia XXIV INTRODUCTION. wh^ch was tranfpoited from Brazil, is at pre* fent the ordinary food of the blacks. The continual want of fupplies by fhips and fquadrons has greatly impeded the ia- creafe of fheep and homed cattle in this ijlland. It produces, however, an excellent in America and the Weft Indies^ and from the root of which a kind of bread is made, called cajfada or cajfavi. The juice of the root is a mortal poifon ; but when it has been properly extra£ted, the root is put byer the fire, in order that all its aqueouS| volatile, and noxious particles may be diffipated : it is then grated down into a mealy fubftance, which is again dried ; and it is afterwards formed into fmall cakes, and baked, by being placed upon hot plates of iron. The milky juice of iici€ manioc when fwallowed, or when the root is eaten without being carefully prepared, brings on convul- fions, and occafions a violent retching and purging. It a£ls only on the nervous fyftem, and prbduces no in- flammation in the ftomachj but the ftomach of a man or animal poifoncd by it, appears to bq contrafted one Jialf. The French fometimes call the bread made of this root Madagajcar bread* T, ' kind INTRODUCTION* of grafs^ which fprings up from the earth about the be^nuing of the rainy ^afon, and which comes to full perfedHoa in the fpace of three months. • The inha* bitants take advantage of that time to pafture their cattle and £ocks ; but when vegeta^ tion has ceafed, nothing remains on the ground except fome draw too hard for the nourifhment of animals. This draw is ib dry that the lead: fpark fets it on fire, and the wind fpreads the flames with fo much rapidity, that there are no phyfical means of checking its progrefs. When fuch ^ an accident takes place, the cattle quit the fa« vannas, and go to feed in the woods* When the Pprtugueze difcovered the Iflc of France, the land was covered with wood to the very fummits of the moimtains. The whole ifland was one vaft foreft com- pofed of beautiful trees. Of thefe the mofl: jrepaarkable.were fevcral kinds of the palm- tree, 30tV» TNTltODUCTIOW. tree, bamboos, cbonjr, matt-wood witH large and fmall leaves, tacamahaca^ ftink-' ing-wood, and a multitude of others, which were exceedingly vduable. When this ifland was firft inhabited, the ground was all cleared by means of fire* It would, however, have been jprudent to lleave rows of trees here and there at certain * • • diltances. Thofe rains which, in warm countries, are fo neceffary to render the earth fertile, feldom fall on ground after it ihas been cleared ; for it is the forefts that attrad the clouds, and draw moifture from them. JSefides, cultivated lands have no {belter to defend them from the violence of the wind. Cultivation without meafure, and without method, has fometimes done much more hurt than good. Thofe eminences- which hang over the liarbour, and defend it from the violence of the winds, have been cultivated to the very * tops. • tNT»OD»CTlOK. XXm topft. ^Ttie without doubt, was the moft urgent part of the operation. The clearing of the harbour, or rather chapnel^ might be after- wards tS^Gtcd without any obftacle, in a period of time proportioned to the numba of machines dcilined for the purpofe of taldng up the mud and (and ; for it is wdl ^nown that each machine clears almoft to the depth of twenty feet a day, when the wheels which make the two ladles ^ are worked by thirty-fix men* Mn Tromelin did not confine his plan to that labour which was neceflary for clear* ing the channel, and preventing it firom being choked up in future. This officer had greater and more extenfive views. He remarked that the channel communicated with a vaft bafin perfedly flieltered from . ' ' the "XXM TNTRODnCTlOjtr* Ae moft violent winds. This bafin, knowd imder the name of Trou FanfaroHy^ three hundred ifathomft in length. \tk bceadt^ i€ tt firty fathoms, «n4the'mc»andei^ of ftrugg}ing againft the irritated waves^ were making ufelefs efforts to reach the ihore. In ibort) nothing prefented itfelf to the fight but confter* nation^ mifery, and diftrefs* The defolation in the CQimtry was no lefs afflifHng ; the maize^ rice^ and corn» were cut and difperfqd ; the coffee and cotton plants^ fugar-canes^ nutxneg and cinnamon trees» were torn up by the roots \ the oldeft trees .were overturned^ or[twifted by the violence of the wind \ manufa£iorie$^ and work-flic^s were deftroyed \ and the grafs ap- peared dry and withered^ as if it had been burnt. In cuae of the windward quartern of the illand, the fea, lufurried- along by the tempeft beyond its u&lal bounda- fies» roie more than forty. feet> drove the inliabitants to the neighbouring eminences> in order to avoid being, overwhelmed in their houfes \ and extended to the adjacent plains and woods> where it kft» when it retired^ INTRODUCTION. xfiu few pien^ who, by their fitiutdoQ in fife, have been benefadors to the human race. My heait is the more impelled to difcharge this a£t of gratitude, as he honoured me ^ith his tendered £riond£hip : but the life of this illuftrious man has been publifhed by M. Dupont ; and that celebrated writer is much more capable than I am to appreciate the talents of an adminiftrator. Beiides, I am not a literary man : this may be readily pekeived by the want of order and method which is obferved in whatever I write. la publifhing this work, therefore, I have had nothing in view but a deflre of being ufefuL retired, fifli of various kinds. This difafter occafioned fuch a fcarcity of provifions, that bread was (did at eighteen fous per pound, according to the currency of thec^jotiy: but a fupply of corn and rice was after* wardrjpitocured from Bengal, the coaft of Coromandel, the Cape of Good Hope, the ifland of Madagafcar, and the Pcrfian gulf. T. Having :i xlhr INTRODUCTION. Hiving from my carlieft years appl|pd, through taftc, to the ftudy of the mathema- tics, the art of ruling is entirely unknowp to me. The numerous and long voyages which I have made to ' various parts of the world may have perhaps given me fomc ■ ■*■ knowledge of mankind ; but the more one knows them, the more one dreads to accept the honourable ofl5ce of conducting and di- recting them. The zeal with which M. Poivre was Ani- mated for the improvement of agriculture, induced him to advance confiderable fums of money to the planters, to enable them to cultivate corn. The magazines were always well fupplied with provifions, becaufe the firft article of his agreement was that pay- ment fhould be made in the producc^^the earth. The price of bread, therfilore, fe^ dom [ experienced any confiderable varia- tion: « M. Poivre, INTR0DIT6TIOK* Jdhf J^. Poivre, dcfirous to enrich the colony «itrufted to his care, with every ufefid produdiion diftributed in fuch profufioxi throughout the four quarters of the worlds purchafed from the old Eaft-India company^ the garden of Montplaifir^ which he wilhed to cultivate himfelf for the purpofe of rait- ing exotic plants. He fet the firft example of turning up the earth,* in order to deftroy radically all noxious weeds, and by thit operation to enfure the fuccefs of his plan^ tations. It is well known that to M. Poivre alone the French colonies are indebted for the nutmeg and cloves ; and this fervice, which Will foon open a new fource of commerce to France, will, doubtlefs, not be forgotten* To ^aBfi^thj^yar^ indebted for the bread- fruit^OTll^4*#py rice aypocSSh-china. In ihort, his garden, at Montplaijir contains a multitude of valuable plants, of which M. , * Cere, idin IKTRODVCTXOlf. c, whole friendfliip he and I enjoyed, has given an excellent defeription^ Ta M. Ccre^ at prefent, the care of that trea- fure is entrufted ; and thofe who have the management of the colonies could not cer- tainly have made choice of a more able and more zealous cultivator *• I have* * M. Poivre, formetly intcndant of the ifles of France and Bourbon, was born at Lyons^ in the year . 1719; and at an early period of life entered into the congregation of foreign midions, by whom he was fent to China, fome part of which he trayelled over, and colle£led many important obfervations refpefling the country, and particularly the ftate of agriculture among the Chtnefe. In returning to Europe, the veflel in which he had taken his pafTage, was attacked by an EnglifKfhip of war, and during the engagement he had m the misfortune to lofe one of his arms by a cMpon bul* " . ': * *^3hf let. This unfortunate accident obliged hia| %|;|!JM|Dimce the ecclefiaflical (latej but the Eaft-India company find- ing him an a£livc, intelligent man, made choice of him for eftablifhing a new branch of commerce in Cochin- china. INTRODUCTION^ idvu I have here faid almoft every thing re- fpeding the ifles o£ France and Bourbon that china. Having fucceeded in this undertaking, he was^ in 1766, fent by the Duke de Cholfeul to the ifles of France 'and Bourbon, to fuperintend thofe colomet. In this fituation he perfeStlj anfwered the cx^cCtzdonB of the French minifter. He excited among the inhsi* bitants of thofe iflands a fpiric for improving a^cul* ture an,d the arts. He fent to Madagafcar Sor a fupplf of cattle and (beep, in order to ftock them ^di provi- (ionsl He naturalized in them the bread-fruit tree ; and, after much danger and difficulty, procured plants of the natibeg and cinnamon trees, which being ^10- perly cultivated there, are now in a diriving coadidon, and likely to fupply France with a valuable article of commerce. M. Poivre afterwards returned to France^ , ^ and died of a dropfy in the breail, at Lyons, the place * of his nativity, on the 6th of January 1786, in the iixty-feventh»year of his age. He left behind him ibme fmall works, Ikrhich ihew that he was a judicious ob- ferver, as well as a philofophical writer. Thefe are. Voyage d'un Philofophe^ containing obfervations on the manners^ Xlviil INTRODUCTJOW/ that deferves to be known. The monntains^ of the former are not high : thcf elevation* of the higheft does not exceed fix hundred and twenty-fix fathoms J the foil of then* 13 ferruginous and produdive. No tene- mous animals, except fcorpions and ihille- pedes, are known here. For beauty of climate, and falubrity of air, thefe ifles may be compared to the Fortunate Iflands; TTiey are feparated from the Indian Ocean by an archipelago abounding with fhoals and quickfands* One of the principal objeda of my voyage was to determine the fitua-' lion of thefe fhoals ; and it is to M. Poivrc> - manners, arts, and agriculture of the people of AfiaT and Africa ; a Memoir on the Preparation and Dying of Silk ; Remarks' on the Hijhry and Manners of the Chinefe; 21 Speech delivered to the Inhabitants of the Ifles ^France 0nd, Bourbon ; and fome other manufqript trafts, ivt poffefEon of the academy of Lyons, of which he ^as a* -member. T.. that \ INTRODUCTION. xlix * that navigators are indebted for this im- portant refearch. Ships which fet out from the Ifle of France for India were forced, during the two monfbons, to purfue a long and indi- tqQ, route, in order to avoid that archipelago of fmall iflands and ihoals fituated to the north. Whilft navigators were ignorant of the true pofition of thefe dangerous objeds, there was little fafety for any fquadron » which might have attempted a more dircdl courfe. On the fouth fide of the Line, from the eighteenth degree of latitude to the twenty-eighth, the wind blows from the fouth- eaft during the whole year. From the eighteenth degree to the Equinodial, the fouth-eaft monfoon commences in April,and continues till Odober, at which period it is fucceeded by the eafl:ern monfoon. On the^^north fide of the Line the cafe is entirely contrary. d ' Thofc I / 1 1 INTRODUCTION. Thofe who depart from thelfle of France for India, in the fine feafon, fteer towards the northermoft point of Madagafcar, and paffing afterwards between the flats of Pa- trom and the Amirantes, crofs the Line in the fiftieth degree of longitude. Meeting with the weftern monfoon on the north fide of it, they traverfe the Maldives, between Keloe and Shewlipar; and then approach- ing Cochin, the reft of the voyage is no- thing but mere coafting. Veffels which fet out, in the bad feafon, from the Ifle of France for Pondicherry, are obliged to purfue a much longer and more indirect courfe. They go in queft of the variable winds as far as the thirty-fixth de- gree of fouth latitude, and then fteer in fuch a direction as to be able to cut the Equinoc- tial in the eighty-fourth degree of longi- tude* If a more perfed knowledge of that ar- chipelago Introduction. II fcKipelago enables navigators, it prefent, to attempt, in both feafons, a more direct route, I flatter myfelf that I have, in foiiie meafure, rendered thai fervice to navigation, as I was the firft, who, by aftronomical bbfervatioh, deteniiined the pofition of the moft dangerous of thefe fmall iflands. How- ever iittle verfed people -may be ia the fcience of navigation, they muft be fenfible that refear(ihes of this kind are accoriipa^ nied with continual dangers. The principal |)lace8, the fituation of which I determined, are the Secheyles iflands, the flat of Car- gados, Salha de Maha, the ifli^nd of Diego- Garcia, and the Adu iflcs. The ifland Secheyles has an exceeding good harbour. It is fituated in the latitude of 4^ 38' fouth, and in the longitude of S5^ 15' eaft from Paris. This ifland is co- . 'Vered with wood to the very fummit of the mountains. It abounds with land and fea d 2 tortoifcs. Ill INTRODUCTION. tortolfes, feme of which weigh three hun- dred pounds. In 1769, when I fpent a .month here in order ta determine its pofition with the utmoft exadnefs, Secheyles and the adjacent ifles were inhabited only by monftrous crocodiles j but a fmall eftablifh- ment has been fince formed in.it for the cultivation of nutmegs and cloves. In one of thefe iflands, called the Iflc of Palms, there is found a tree which bears that cele- brated fruit, known by the name of the cocoa of the Maldives, or fea cocoa. The reader will find a defcriptjon of it at the end of the lift of plants growing in Mada- gafcar. In this Introdudion I ought to take no- tice of thofe objeSs only which ftruck me ■ moft. Among the number of thefe is, the port of Diego-Garcia. That ifland, which we judged to be about twelve leagues in circumference, has a very pleafing afpedt. Its " INTRODUCTION. liii Its form is like that of a horfe-flioe* Its greateft breadth is not above a quarter of a league : yet the land is high enough to in- clofe and fhelter a vaft bafm, capable of containing the largeft fleet. This bafm is about four leargues in length, and its mean breadth is about one. It forms an excellent harbour/ and has two entrances on the northern fide. Thefe paflages are exceed- ingly beautiful. The pofition of it, accord- ; ing to obfervation, I determined to be in 7^14' fouth latitude, and 68"" eaft longitude from Paris. With regard to the fhoals which abound in this archipelago, they are as yet not all known. They are not to be found in the old charts of M. d'Apres. That hydro- grapher was deficient in that fpirit of en- quiry fo neceflary to bring nautical charts to perfection ; for he did not 'derive from the materials he had in his hands all that d 3 advan- liv INTRODUCTIPN. advantage which an able aftrononjier "might have obtained for the fafety of navigators, I here fpeak from a thorough knowledge of the fubjedi. The colleflion of charts of the Ifle of France is full of notes written by my hand, in which I clearly prove that he has confounded Artove with Agalega, ^and' Cargados with St. Brandon/ though among his papers he had various plans of . thefe IliQals and iflands ; and that he has committed a multitude of other errors lef$ flriking, but ftill of great importance. I have indeed rectified them as far as I Wa$ able; fpr in objeds, which fo efTentially concern the fafety of navigators, one ought nvot, through private confiderations, to with- hold or delay any thing that may tend to improve hydrography. But if I have treated M. d'Apres with too much fe verity, I have - always paid a juft tribute of applaufe.fo his zeal, and his conftant defire of rendering his INTRODUCTION. It his labours ufeful. That hydrographer could require nothing more from a man who looks only to things, and pays no at- tention to individuals. Befides, having been nearly fliipwrecked on the Cargados, becaufe it pleafed that hydrographer to confound Gargados with St Brandon, though a plan of the former was taken by the boats the Charles and the Elizabeth, and though one of the latter is given in the Englijh Pilots was it not my duty to (hew that thefe two dangerous fhoals difier effentially, both in their form and their longitude, as they lie at the diftance of fifty leagues from each other ? Cargados has the form of a cret- cent, and St. Brandon that of an equila- teral triangle. M. d'Apres, confounding thefe two places, has in his chart given them a mean pofition, merely becaufe in the old charts he found them both placed in the fame latitude. This pofition is fo falfe d 4 that 1 Ivi INTRODUCTION. that the moft expert navigator is ignorant what route he ought to purfue in order to avoid them. On the memorable day of the paflage of Venus over the fun's difk, in the. month of June 1769, I could not make an obferva- tion of that important phenomenon, though the {ky was pure and ferene, becaufe the corvette on which I had embarked was in danger of being fhipwrecked on the Carga- idos. To avoid deftru£tion we were obliged to double, againft the wind, the moft eaftern point of that formidable fhoal. It muft be allowed, therefore, that after fuch an acct- dent I have great reafon to miftruft that opinion, too much credited, of the correft** nefs of M. d'Apres' charts. 1 cannot here enter into any farther de- tail refpeding the archipelago which fepa- rates India from the Ifle of France ; but I will venture to affirm, that it is neceffary it 5 fhould INTRODUCTION. Ivii fliould be known, before more direft routes are attempted, during the two monfoons. More direct routes are by no means new ; they were purfued formerly by navigators ; and a knowledge of the winds, and an in- fpedion of the chart, will cafily enable fea- men to find them out. A long diflertajtion, therefore, would be quite foreign to the fubje£t of which I prppofe to treat. It is however of fome importance for elucidating a digreffion, to be found in the courfe of the following work, on the utility of banifh- ment, to give an account of fome fhip- ^ wrecks, which will ferve to prove, that men left by accident on barren coafts or defert iflands, may find, in the fifh and animals which abound on the borders of the fea, a fure means of fubfiftence. A fliip, called the Heureux^ having on the 30th of Auguft* 1769, fet out from the Iflc of France, in order to proceed to Bengal, unex- Ivlii INTRODUCTION. unexpededly fell in with the ifles of Jean de Nova. The captain wiflied to pafs to windward, and by this manoeuvre avoid the ' dangers which threatened him. As foon as he had doubled them, he direded his courfc to the N. E. 4 N. with a view of fhortening his paflage by fome days j for he was fen- fibje that he ought not to negledl any thing that might haften his arrival at Bengal, be- caufe the feafon was too far advanced. But in this route, tl^e y^ffel in the middle of the . night was driyeri ypon fome low flats, which left no hopes of her fnfety. Thefe flats were furrounded by a chain pf breakers, « which augmented the fears pf the crew : all their exertions were of no avail, and the veflel was juft on the point of bping daflied to pieceS;^ when the captain threw o.ut an anchor in fuch a manner as gave him rcafon to conclude that the (hip would be wrecked pn one of the flats which was a little more elevated INTRODUCTION. Tm plevated than the reft. This manoeuvre fuc-? peeded, . and the people were able to wait for the approach of morning on the top of' the mafts. The break of day, however, did not extricate them from their alarming fitiiation ; but at half after fix they had feme dawn of hope. Perceiving at a dif- tance a fmall ifland of fand, the whole crew tranfported themfelves thither, in fucceffion, by means of a canoe, which the captain, with wife precaution, had caufed to be launched into the fea, before the fatal mo- ment when his fhip ftruck. Unluckily, this ifland pf fand was only a kind of fhoal, which became dry at low water. . In this cruel perplexity^ the captain had no other, alternative but to fend his canoe to feek af- fiftance on the coaft of Africa* The unfor- tunate people who were difpatched in it, eight days after their departure fell in, on their paflage, with a rock, which they A named ^ \X INTRODUCTION. m named the I/land of Providence. This rock was not entirely barren ; they found on it water, fea tortoifes, and cocoas. Nine of the boat's crew remained here,' while two vigo- rous rowers endeavoured to return to the fand ifland, where the reft of the (hip's company had taken fhelter until affiftance ihould be brought to them. This attempt was the more hazardous, as they every mo- ment faw themfelves in danger of being fwallowed up by the high tides, the fatal period of which was faft approaching. At the end of three days, however, the canoe reached the place of its deftination ; but as it was too fmall to receive all the people who had been fhipwrecked, they fupplied this deficiency by a raft conftruded of the remains of their veflel. It was made fuflS- ciently large to contain fuch provifions and utenfils as were neceflary for building and vidualling a fmall fhallop. This raft was made INTRODUCTlONt 1x1 made faft to the canoe, and in that manner towed to the Ifland of Providence. Oa this rock thefe people continued . three months, employed in conftrudiing a flial- lop, twenty-five feet in length, in which they had at length the good fortune to reach Madagafcar without any accident. The latitude of the Ifle of Providence was ob- fcrved to be nine degrees five minutes foutlu Its longitude is reckoned to be forty-nine ; and it is fuppofed that it lies N. N. W. fome degrees well from the Ifle of France. M. Moreau, captain of a fmall veflTel called le Favon\ being difpatched from the IQe of France, on the 9th of February IJSJ^ for Narfapoor, fell in, on the 26th of March the fame year, with the Adu iflands. His obferved latitude there was 5^ 6' S. and his longitude, by eftimation, 66^ E. from the meridian of Paris. Having ordered fome of his people to go on fhore in a canoe, he was Ixil iNTRobuCTlONi was obliged to leave them behind, becauft^ not being able to find anchoragej the cur- rents, which carried his veflel rapidly to- wards the weft, drove her a great way to the leeward. M. Moreau told me, that fix leagues to the fouth of thefe iflands he fell in with a fand bank, where there was a good bottom, and that he made every effort in his power, though in vain, to rejoin his canoe. I am perfuaded that the reader will perufe with fatisfadtion the relation which M, Riviere, the officer who commanded the canoe, has given of the Adu ifles, and of the misfortunes which he and his companions experienced. The crew of the canoe confifted of three white men and five Lafcars. M. Riviere rt>wed round thefe iflands, without being able to find any place where he could eafily land. Having loft fight of the veffel foi* feveral days, he, however, refolved to at- tempt INTRODUCTION. Ixiu tempt to land 6a a fmall iQand, which was not a league in circumference ; and Tie *ac- cordingly accomplifhed his purpofe, but ^with the utmoft difficulty* Thefe iflands, which arc twelve in num- ber, are conneded by a reef of rocks, which, at low water, afford a paflage from the one to the other. M. Riviere adds, that they form a bay which may be about fix miles in circum- ference. The paflage which affords an entrance to it is on the eaftern fide : he founded it, and found it to be thirty fathoms deep. This bay, which is of a circular form, has in its middle a fand-bank nearly fquare, and almofl a quarter of a league in circumference. It abounds with fhell-fifh, and fifli of various other kinds* Thefe ifles are flat and covered with cocoa trees. The crew of the canoe lived here for three months on birds, fifh,.lhell-fifli, and cocoas : IxiV INTRODUCTION. cocoas ; but they found in* them neither water nor tortoifes. When the hatchets, which enabled them to cut down the cocoa trees, were unfit for fervice, M. Riviere formed a refolution of proceeding to the coaft of Malabar, though he had neither charts nor compafs. This officer, therefore, caufed his canoe to be loaded with cocoas, and embarked in it with the two white men. The Lafcars con- fl:ru£ted a raft, called by the Indians, G?//- maron, which was to be towed after the canoe, and which carried the remainder of their provifions. Direding their courfe N. N. W. they fell in with a high fhoal four or five hours after they had loft fight of land. Some days after their departure, the fea, in which there was a prodigious fwell, overfet the float. The whites then propofed to Mr. Riviere to abandon the LafcarSy INTRODUCTIONi xW LafcafSt becaufe the canoe w^s too fmall ; but he reje£ted that propofition with indig- nation. He took the LafcarS oti board the canoe, though he had provifioiis only for thirteen days, and arrived fafe at Cranga* nore, neaft Callicut, twenty-eight days after his departure from the ifles of Adu. It Would be, difficult to rdate what dangers and fatigue he experienced in that paflage ; but his generous and humane conduft, in fo trying a fituation, merits the greateft praife. The Ifle of Sable was difcovered in 1722 by aveffel called the Diana, commanded by M. de la Feuillee : it is flat, and not much more than a 'quarter of a mile in circum- ference. At its northern and fouthern ex- tremities, however, frefh water fit for drink- ing was found at the depth of fifteen feet. The Utile^ Captain de la Fargue, being fliip wrecked in 1761, the officers and the crew, .1 Xlvi INtRODUCTIbW. crew, confifti'ng chiefly of blacks, took re- fuge upon this fmall ifland. During fix months which they remained on it, they conftruSed a chaloupe from the remains of their fhip, in which the whites embarked, and without any accident reached St; Mary, in the ifland of Madagafcar, after a very fhort pafllage. The blacks rema^ined upon the flioal, always waiting, but in vain, to receive fome aflSiJance from the whites. Every man poflTefled of the leaft humanity muft be ftruck with horror, when he knows that thefe poor blacks were fufFered to perifh in great mifery, and that no attempt was made to fave them. A corvette, called La Dauphine^ com- manded by M. de Tromelin, a lieutenant 'in the navy, and brother to the gentleman be- fore mentioned, fell in with the Ifle of Sable on the 29th of November 1776. Having by his fkill and abilities overcome 2 all INTRODUCTION. xlvU all thofe obftacles which prevent navigator* from approaching that dangerous (hoal, he had the good fortune to bring back to the Ifle of France, the wretched remains of the crew of the Utile. Eighty male and female blacks had perilhed, fome through hunger, and others in attempting to fave themfelves on rafts. Seven negrefles fupported for fifteen years all the hardfhips of the moft diftrefling fituation that can be imagined. The moft elevated part of this flat is only fifteen feet above the . level of the fea. It is fix hun- dred fathoms in length, and three hundred in breadth. The plumage of birds, fattened together with much ingenuity by thefe negrefTes, fupplied them with clothes and covering. This ifland is abfolutely barren, and thofe on it are not Iheltered from the fury of the waves in the time of ftorms, Thcfe feven negrefles, who efcaped from all thofe evils which arife from famine and the e 2 abfolute Xlvili INTRODUCTIdN. abfolute want of every neceffary, carried with them a young child, who partook of the extreme weaknefs of its mother. They related, that during the time of their refi- dence on the ifland, they had feen five vef- fels, feveral of which had in vain attempted to land at the place of their captivity. A fmall veflel, called La Sauterelle^ for fome time gave them hopes of being at length delivered from their melancholy fituation ; but the canoe of that veflel, through a dread no doiibt of being wrecked upon the ifland, where the crew had before experienced the utmoft difficulty in landing, bore off -fud-?. denly, and with fo much precipitation that one of the feamen was left behind. This man, who fell a vidim to his courage and humanity, feeing himfelf abandoned, formed the defperate refolution of attempting to make his way to Madagafcar on a raft. He embarked with three negroes and three ne- grefles. INTRODUCTION^ xlix greffes, two months and a half before [the atrival of the corvette la Dauphine. ' If, in this introduaion, I haye taken the liberty to infert a diflertation on the ifles of France and Bourbon, and that Archipelago full of fhoals which is fituated to the north of thefe ifles, it was, as I have already oh- ferved, becaufe I thought it highly neceflary to point out to navigators the obflacles which they will have to encounter when they attempt, during the bad feafon, to pro- ceed to the coaft of Coromandel by a dire£t courfe. I had entered into very minute details on this fubje£t, for according to the original plan of this work, it was to be di- vided into two diftin(3: parts ; but owing to unforefeen circumftances, the nautical part of my voyage will not appear for fome time, though it was printed above five years ago, as well as that which is now publiflied. CONTENTS. I Pagt NTRODUCTION. General defcriptlon of Madagafcar -^ i Defcription of the fouthern part of Madagafcar 29 — of the north-eaft part of Madagafcar 193 Refle£tions on the northern part of Madagafcar 332 Defcription of feveral trees, plants, and fhrubs, which grow in the northern part of Madagafcar^ and " which the author brought with him to the Ifle of France, in the year 1768 — — — 3^^ Defcription of a lingular tree called the cocoa of the Maldives — - ■ ■ 378 Defcription of Cochinchina ■ 381 Memoir on the Chinefe trade — — • 415 I \ VOYAGE T O MADAGASCAR, DESCRIPTIpN OF THE ISLAND. THE ifland of Madagafcar has excited the avaricious defires of the Euro- peans, ever fince it had the misfortune to be tolerably known. Its extent, together with the richnefs of its foil and produdions, feemed to offer, to the people who fhould make a conqueft of it, commercial advan- tages which they would not, certainly, have fuffered themfelves to negleift. Luckily how- ever, the unwholcfomenefs of the climate has hitherto faved it from the yoke of thofe civilized nations, who aflume the barbarous B and % VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. and unjuft right oFfubjeding to their autho- rity thofe tribes whom they call favages^ merely becaufe they are unacquainted with the manners and cuftoms of Europe. There is not one of thefe civilized nations that /:an boaft of havipg facrificed even a few of the moft trifling interefts of com- 9 merce, to the facred principles of the law of nature, y All of them have been unjuft and barbarous: all .of them have carried the. fword, fire, and difeafe into every place to which they were attraded hf the hopes of gain. Oiaght they to forget that the foil upon which thefe favages live belongs to them, as much as that upon -which we live belongs to us ? The Europeans would have acquh^d more folid and lafting advantages, had they endeavoured to introduce induftry and the arts into thofe countries which are deftitute of them. Thefe prefents would not have 7 been VOYAGE TO, MADAGASCAR* ^ been mnprodudlive J and commerce would hive ^foon experienced how much preferable that mild and." humane method is, to the unjuft and cruel me^ns which they employ- ed to fubdue the unfortunate inhabitants of all thofe countries whicih held forth to them any new objeds of wealth, . Theiflandof Madagafcar was difcovcred, in 1506, by Lawrence Altfieydat ; but the* PerfiaiW and Arabs knew it from time im**- Thdtriorialj uncfer the name of Sarandib. Alphonfo Albuquerque commifEoned Ruy ' Pereira dy Conthintho to explore the inte- rior pstrt df it, arid ordered Triftan d^Actiftha' to fail round it, and mark the bearings of* its principal capes and head-lands. This ifland is divided into twenty-eight provinces, which are, Anojfyy Manapani^ the valley of Amboule^ Vohltzan^ JVatte-Mana-' horcj Tcondrc, Etomafnpo, Adchimoujfvy Ereng^ dt'aheSy Vohhz^AhtgbombeSj Manacarongha^ B 2 Manta- 4 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ , Mantatane^ Aniaveres^ Ghalemboule^ ^ama-^ iave^ Sahaveh, Foulou^Foulou^ Andafoutchy^ Manghabey^ Adcimoutchy^ Mandrarey^ Am^ fatrey Caremboukj Mahafalley^ Houlouvey, Sivab, TvandrhoUy and Machkores. When the Portuguefe difcovered Mada- gafcar, they wifhed to give it the name of the ifland of St. Lawrence. In the reign of Henry IV. the French named it IleDau- pbine : but though its real name is Madecqfe^ it is generally known under; that of Mada- gafcar. . This large ifland, according to feveral- learned geographers, is the Cerne of Pliay,, and the Minuthia/de of Ptolemy. It extends almoft N. N. E. and S. S. W. and lies between the twelfth and twenty-fixth * degrees of fouthern latitude. We may reckon that the fuperficies of this ifland, fo celebrated for the fertility of its foil, and the variety of its productions^ contains VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 5 contains two hundred millions of acres of excellent land. It is watered on all fides by ftreams and large rivers ; and above all by a great number of fmall rivulets, which have their fources at the bottom of that long chain of mountains which feparates the eaft- ern from the weftern coaft. The two higheft • mountains in the ifland are Vigagora in the north, and Botiftmene in the fouth. Thefe mountains contain in their bowels, abundance of foffils and valuable minerals. The traveller^ ^o> '^^ ^^^ purfuit of know- ledge, traverfes for the firft time wild and mountainous countries, interfered by ridges and valleys, where nature, abandon^ed to its own fertility, prefents the moft fingular and varied produftions, cannot help being often ftruck with terror and furprife on viewing thofe awful precipices, the fum- mits of which are covered with trees, as an- cient, perhaps, as the world. His aftonifh- B 3 ment 6 VOYAGlS TO MADAGASCAR. ment is increafed when he hears the noife of immenfe cafcades, which are fo inacceffi- ble that it is impoffible for him to approach them. But thefe fcenes, truly pidlurefque, are always fucceeded by rural views, de- lightful hills, and plains where vegetation is never interrupted by the feverity and vi- ciiTitude of the feafons. The eye with plea- fure beholds thofe extenfive' favannas which ' ' • afford nourifhment to numerous herds of cattle, and flocks of fheep. Fields of rice and potatoes prefent, alfo, a new and highly interefting fpeftacle. One fees agriculture fiourifliing, while nature alone defrays almoft all the expences : the fortunate inhabitants of Madagafcar never moiften the earth with their fweat; they turn it up flightly with a pick-axe ; and this labour alone is fufficient. They make fmall holes in the .ground at a little diftance from each other, and throw into the m a few grains of rice, over which they •« VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. ^ they fpread e little mould with their feet. What proves the great fertility of the foil is, that a field fown in this manner produces an hundred fold. The forefts contain a prodigious variety of moft beautiful trees, fuch a^ palms of every kind, ebony, wood for dying, bam- bous of an enormous fize, and orange and lemon trees. Timber fit for mafts, and for conftrudting fhips, is no lefs common than that employ- ed by carpenters and cabinet-makers. Fla- court fays, that he fent to France, in 1650, fifty-two thoufand weight of aloe wood of an excellent quality. Phyficians call this wood agallochum^ and the Portuguefe eagle- wood. Thefe numerous trees and fhrubs are fur- rounded by a multitude of parafue plants and vines. In thefe forefts may be found agaric B 4 and 8 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. and muflirooms, the colours of which are lively and agreeable^ and which have an cxquifite favour. The Malegaches call them holat^ and know very well how to diftinguifli thofe which are not prejudicial to the health. Ufeful gums and refms are alfo coUeded here: the milky juice which the iflanders draw from trees, called in their language jinguter^'^^ produces, when it coagulates^ that Angular fubftance known to naturalifts by the name of elaftic gum. The elailicity ^ of this refmous gum has been lately empldy- cd in various arts ; furgery has even derived fome benefit from it, as it ferves to make excellent bandages : but it is evident, that this valuable fubftance may be ufed with advantage for many other purpofes. All the forefts of Madagafcar abound with: * latropha elqfika. Linn. T. plants YOYAGE TO MADAGASCAU. plants unknown to botanifts, fome of which are aromatic and medicinal, and others fit for dying. Flax, a kind of hemp, which, in length and ftrength, furpafles that of Europe, the fugar-canc, wax, different kinds of honey, tobacco, indigo, black pepper, gum lac, amber, ambergreafe, feveral filky and cot- tony fubftances, would long ago have been objeds of commerce, which Madagafcar might have fiirniflied in profulion, had the Europeans, fmce they frequented the illand, endeavoured to diffufe among the iflandei:s that knowledge which is neceffary for prepar- ing and rendering valuable the articles above mentioned. The mod mdefatigable bota-^ nift, in the courfe of a long life, would fcargely make himfelf even (lightly ac- quainted with the natural hiftory of all the vegetable produftions that' grow in this ifland^ lO . tOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, * ■ * ifland, the extent of which, injlatitude, com- prehends feveral climates. Every refearch, which tends to give us a knowledge of the productions of Madagas- car, will be no lefs ufeful to commerce than to the improvement of arts and manufactures. There are, doubtlefs, few countries in the world where navigators can find, in greater abundance, and at lefs expence, re- frefhments of every kind. ' It was in the great bay of Antdngil, that M. Mahc de la Bourdonnais, with as much ikill as expedition, found means to repair the lofles and misfortunes which his fqua- ^ron had fuftained : without the refources which he procured here, that able feaman would have, perhaps, not been in a condi- tion to put to fea ; and might, confeqiiently, have failed of that great fuccefs in India which has given a luftre to his mei&ory. The VOYAGE TO M4DAGASC;^R. II The long ftay which M. de la Bourdon- nais niade in the bay of Antongil, to repair his fhattered veflels; filled him with regret during his whole life, that he had riot ac- quired more knowledge of the produdtitons of Madagafcar while he was governor of the , ifles of France and Bourbon. This cele- brated man was fully fenfible of the utility which that large ifland might be to the co- lony over which he had prefided. Timber for building houfes and conftruft- ing fhips, pitch and tar, whale oil, falt-fiQi of all kinds, indigo, tobacco, manufaSured ' hemp and flax, with cotton and different kinds of filk, appeared to him very impor- tant objects of commerce. He admired with what dexterity the wonien of Madagafcar weave thofe beautiful pieces of ftuff, which fcrve them for clothing*; feme of them are mad^ of e con^plar^ to ttert] of the Europear\8» It is impoffible to calcfU-; late exadly the inMBgnfe lof^ of time which is occafioned, to thcpi> \>y the.ifoarienefs. of, their too^s, and the , imperfection of their ^ arts. . The lavage; does p:Ot kn^ow, as we dp, the advantages- of -dividing; J^bour,. vhkhr procures to each in4ividual tbej greatcft pAGASCAlt# I7 be preserved from catching that frivolous turn of mind which is fo deftrudive to fociety in Europe, and efpecially in France^ Care ought to be taken, above all, that they fliould not carry to their ifland the feeds of this pernicious fcourge, which checks every kind of ufeful indullryi and diffufes inex- preflible evils throughout whole nations. It is in large capitals, particularly, that this fcourge is felt. Millions of people perifti in the country through wretchedhefs and hard labour, while the rich affix a value only to agreeable talents, and arts of luxury. That exceffive fondnefs which the great fhew for things of no life, and which are often very pernicious, is fo common, that it makes very little impreffion upon us. What thea do the Europeans poffefs of fuch value, that they take the liberty to defpife all the reft of mankind i If we coniider our manners and our laws, we fhall find that we have as ye( C fcarcely v.. %S V0YA6E TO MADAGASCAR* fcarcely emerged from barbarity; and the mod enlightened men cannot fprefee the epoch when the wifeft of nations will be delivered from thofe ridiculous prejudices, which check ufeful induftry, and give an importance bnly to objects that arc deftruc- tive, or at lead of no utility/ The natives of Madagafcar are calkd Ma^ kgacheSy or Madecajfes. They are portly in their perfons, and rife above the middle ftature« The colour of their fkin is different : among one tribe it is of a deep black, atid among another tawny : fome have a cop* per-coloured tint; but the colour of the greater part is olive. « All thofe who are black have woolly hair, Kke the negroes on the coaft of Africa. Thofe who are of a complexion iimilar to that of the Indians, and Mulattoes, have as lank hair as the Europeans. Their nofe is not flat I they have a broad qpen forehead ; 6 their VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. I9 their lips are thin ; and their features are regular and agreeable* Thefe people ge- nerally difplay in their countenance a pecu- liar character of franknefs and good- nature. They never fhew any defire of learning' but things which relate to the fimplefl: wants of mankind ; and this defire is always ex- tremely moderate : they are very indifferent refpe£ting knowledge which cannot be ob- tained without reflexion. A natural want of dare, and a general apathy renders every thing infupportable to them that requires attention. Sober, light and adtive, they fpend the greater part of their lives in fleeping, and in amufing themfelves. The Malegache, like the favage, is defti- tute both of virtue and vice. To him the prefent is evtry thing ; he is fufceptible of no kind of forefight ; and he does not even conceive that there are men on the earth who give themfelves uneafifiefs refpeding futu- C 2 rity. 20 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ rity. Thefe iflanders are free beings, who ' enjtpy peace of mind, and health of body. Man is fo organized, that, whether owing to moral or phyfical caufes, he who has the misfortune to think of himfelf is almoft al- ways in a ftate of illnefs. Indeed, when men have a good <:onftitution, they affix little value to the advantage they enjoy, in that refped, over almoft all their fellow creatures, , Our evils, if I may fay fo, arc in ourfelves, and our pleafures in thofc objects which procure them to us. Man is a humane, feeling, and compaffionate being; * and it is our conftitution which irrefiftibly. leads us to aflift thofe whom we fee fufFering. It is that falutary organization which, extin- guifliing, as one may fay, felf-intereft in each individual, fupplies among people who live in a ftate of nature the want of laws and of virtues. It is that which pre- vents the robuft favage from robbing child- hood^ yOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 21 I hood, or feeble old age, of its fubfiftence, even when he is obliged to expofe himfelf to danger and fatigue, in order to procure wherewithal to fatisfy his hunger. In fhort, it is to this noble organization that the favage is indebted for that averfion which he has to hurt his own fpecies; and this natural and involuntary fentiment luckily does not de- pend on the principles of education. The Malegache, as well as the favage. Is abfolute matter of himfelf; his freedom is confined by no check or reftraint; he goes wherever he thinks proper, afits as he choofes, and does what he pleafes, except what may hurt a fellow-creature. It never entered the mind of a Malegache to attempt ;to domineer over the thoughts or actions of any one : each individual has his own pe- culiar manner of living ; and his neighbour never difturbs him, nor even thinks pf at- tempting it. In this refpedl thefe iflanders C 3 are 22 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. are much wifer than the Europeans, who have the cruel madnefs to wifh that all the people of the earth woul4 conform to their cuftoms, opinions, and even prejudices^ Are favages then fo much to be pitied ? Do we find many ofthem difcontented with their condition ? Does it become us to de- fpife the ftate of nature ? Are we not fur- rounded by men, who, tired of exiftence, deleft it, and feek to deprive themfelves of it ? The favage confines his wants and defires to the procuring of what is abfolutely necef- fary for* his fubfiftecrce. He enjoys in peace the gifts of nature, and endures with filencc thof^ evils which are infeparable from hu-* manity. The conduct of man in a ftate of civiliza- tion is not fo reafonable. Idlenefs and opu- lence hurry him on to thofe vain and falfe enjoyments which;^ in the end, bring upon him VOYAGE TO MAOAGA$CAR^. 23 him new infirmities ; while unreftraine4 p^ijions^ and a tafte fpr the moft frivolous things, make him continually deviate frgm the path that l^ads to happinefs. He who feeks it never finds it. Happinefs exifis^ and can ^xiil only in ourfelves, and in the good ufe vvhich we make of our reafon. Were the favages as unhappy as we fup- pof?, becaufe they are not acquainted with, or dcfpife, all thofe fuperfluities upon which * we fet fo much value, why do they refufc to adopt our manners, our euflpms, and our laws ? " Vander Stel, governor of the Cape of ^' Goiod Hope> having procured a Hottentot *' child, caufed hig^ to bf educated accord- ^' ing to the manners and cuftoms of Eu- ** rope. Fine cbthes were given to him ; he " was taught £everal languages ; and his " progrefs fpUy correfponded with the ** (;mq taken of hh education. Vander Stel, C 4 " enttr- 84 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. ^^ entertaining great hopes of his talents, ^^ fent hjim to IncUa under the protedion of ^^ a <:dmmiilkry general, who employed him ^^ with advantage in the company's afisurs. f ^ After the 4€ath of the commiflfary, tlxis ** Hottentot returned to the Cape. A few *' days after, while on a vifit to fome'Hotten- ** tots, his relations, he formed a refolution .^^ of pulling off' his European drefs, in *^ order to clothe himfelf with a Iheep's Ikin. *^ He then repaired to Vander Std, in this new attire^ carrying a bundle containing h|s old clothes, and, prefenting them to *' the governor, addreffed him as follows : " ^ Be £b kind, fir, as to obferve, that 1 for \\ ever renounce thefe olothes ; I am defer- ^^ mined to live and to die in the religion, \^ manners, and cuftoms of my anceftors. V The only favour I have to beg of you is, \^ that you will fuffer me to keep the neck- \' lace and cutlafs which I now wear.' — Hav- • I V ing VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 9jf P ing delivered this fpeech, he immediatelj f* betook himfelf to flight, without waiting >• for the governor's anfwer^ and was never f * afterwards feen at the Cape*." Such examples are not uncommon: I could mention feveral of the fame Idnd ^mong the Madecaffes. ■ The inhabitants of Madagafcar are dir yided into a great number of tribes. It it fuppofed that the population of this ifland |nay amount to fqur millions. This evalu^ ation; howeyer, is by far tpo great j and it is impoffible to afqertain the truth on this point, in the prefent ftate of the iflandp which is divided into a great number of lb- cieties, all diflind one from the other : each fociety inhabits that canton which it finds nioft convenient, and governs itfelf accord- ing to its own ufages. A tribe is compofed pf feveral villages, who have all a particular * Htftoire des Voyages^ torn. v« 4 chief* a6 VOYAGE TO MADAOASCAR* chief. This chief is fomctimes eleded, but for the moft part fucceeds by hereditary right. The lands are not divided : they be-* loDg to thofe who take the trouble to till them. Thefe iflanders slt^ not acquainted either with locks or bolts, and live in a very • frugal manner.. Hunger regulates their hours of repaft. It is, however, common «0 iee them dine at ten in the morning, and fup at four in the afternoon. Their food confifts of very white rice, exceedingly light, and well boiled, which they befprinkle with a fucculent kind of foup, made from fifb or fiefh, and feafoned with pimento, ginger, fafiron, and a few aromatic herbs* This fimplc diflx is ferved up in thq leaves of the ravin^ which ai?e ufe,d for plates, difli^s, and fpoons. Thefe veflcls are always clean, and are renewed at each repaft. The Malegaches have two methods only of preparing their food* They either boil .it VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 47 It in earthen veflels of an excellent quality, which they manufafturc with great inge- nuity, and which they call panelles^ or th«y broil it upon tljie coals. / They catch with much dexterity a great number of birds unknown in Europe, which are as much fought after by naturalifts^ on account of the beauty of their plumage, as they are efteemcd by travellers, on account of their exquifite tafte. The pheafant, the partridge, the quail, the pintado, or Guinea fowl, the wild duck, teals of five or fix different kinds, the black paroquet, the fpoon-bill, the turtle dove^ the black-bird, the green wood-pigepn, pi- geoDs and paroquets of various colours,^ tO;- gether with a kind of bat of a monftrous fize, afford excellent and delicate nourifh* ment to the Europeans* It was not widiout; a confiderable degree of reluctance, that I £ril ate the bats of M ^dagafcar, drefled after the ^8 irOYAGJS XO MADAGA8CAI)« the manner of a fricafeed chicken. Theie animals arc {q hideous, that the very fight Qf , them ffighteiw, our failorsj ^yet whea one can overcome that difguft which is ini- foiled paly by the idea qf their figure, their ^^ih^is found to he n^uch more palatably (I^i) that of our beil fowls« , 'f'he Maleg3.chqs catch immenfe quantiti^ ))0th of fea and freih-water fiih. .The dorado, breams of different kinds^ fpkSf pilchs^rds, in^oh k^'gcr, but not fb good pF fa.&t as burs^ herrings, mackarel, oyfters, mufcles, crabs, and turtle, furnilh food in f bttndanc?; tor the iflar^ders who live on the borders of the fea. The rivers alfo fupply them with very fine eels, and frefli water mullets, in tafte and e^^celle^c? prefer?ible to fea mullets. On thefe coafts there are a great many kinds of fiflx, which one i»uft not ieat without trying whether they are poifonous, by putting apiece of filver under their VOYAGE TO MABAOASCARr* 30 their tongue. If the piece of filver lofes its colour, and becomes black, thofe who (hpuld eat them would experience the moft fatal fymptonis, and be expofed to great danger. Several of the people belonging to admiral » Bofcawen's fquadron loft their lives at Ro- driguez, by not taking this ufeful pre- caution. The French have frequented only th^ caftern coaft of Madagafcar. The province of Carnaffi, in which Fort Dauphine ftands, is Well known to them, and alfo a part of thofe where Foulepointe, the, bay of Antongil, and the ifland of Nofli Hybrahim, are fitu- ated. ^"^mmmmmmmmmmmmi OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF MADA- GASCAR. ' I ^HAT part of Madagafcar where Fort -■* Dauphine is fituated, is very popu- lous. Jo VOYAGE TO MADAOASCAR. iou8. Almoft all the villages are built upotl * eminences; they are furrounded by two rows of ftrong palifades ; and within thefe there is a parapet of earth four feet in height- Large bamboosy placed at the diftance of five feet from each other, and funk to a confiderable depth in the grbund, ferve to ftrengthen the palifades : but fome of thefe villages are fortified alfo by a ditch ten feet in breadth, and fix in depth. The place where the chief refides is called Donac: it contains two or three build- ings furrounded by a peculiar kind of inelo- fure, were the chief lives with his women and his children. The chiefs always go armed with a fufee, and a flick headed with irbn, to the other extremity of which is affixed a fmall bunch of cow's hair : they cover their heads with a cap made of red woollen cloth. It is by m their caps, abovQ all, that they can be dif- tinguifhed VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. ^t tinguiflied by their fubj efts. The authority of thefe chiefs is very much limited ; yet in the province of Carcanoffi they arc fuppofed to be the proprietors of all the land, which they diftribute among their fubjefts, in order to be tilled and cultivated. For this they require a fmall quit-rent, which, •in the language of the country, is c^liXtA faenfa. The people of the province of Carcanoffi are not entirely ignorant of the art of writ- ing. They have even fome hiftorical books in the Madecafle language : but their learn- ed men, whom they call OmbiaJfeSy ufe only the Arabic charaders. They have among them treatifes on medicine, geomancy, and judicial aftrology. Thefe Ombiafles are both forcerers and phyficians. The moft cele- brated come from the province of Matatane, in which country magic is preferved in its full glory. The Matatanes are dreaded by the other nativesof the ifland, becaufethey excel 3* VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAVLi excel in this aft of deception. The Omf* biiailes profefs, in the public fchools, gea*- maticy and aftrology. The art of writing! haa» doubtlefs, been brought into this ifland by the Arab*, who made a cottquefl: of it about three hundred years ago. Their paper is made in the valley of Amboule : it is ma-^ nufadured from the Papyrus nilotica^ which the Madecafles name Sanga-Sanga. They pull off with great dexterity the inner bark ' of this tree; divide it ^nto very thin fila- mentS) which they moiften with water; and having Isud them acrofs each other, in Yarious diredlions^ prefs them well down; They are then boiled in a ftrong lye of afhes, and afterwards pounded in a large wooden mortar till they are reduced to a pafte. This pafte is wafhed and drenched with water upon a frame made of bamboos^ in the form of a grate. When this opera* tion is finifhed, the leaves are fpread out to VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 33 to dry in the fun, and are glazed with a de- codion of rice water, called, in the Malc- gache language, ranou pan* This paper is of i yellowilh colour ; but when it is well glazed, it does not imbibe the ink. The pens ufed by thefe iflanders are made of the bamboo. Their ink is made From a decoftion in boil- ing water of the bark of a tree which they call aratidrdto. This ink is not quite fo black as ours, but it is naturally more fliining. The Arabic language has made fome pro- grefs in the north- weft part of the ifland of Mada^afcar. It is well known that the Arab princes formed large eftabliftiments alon^ the African coaft, which, according to geographers, correfpond with the king- doms of Monomotapa and Mono-Emugi. They took pofleflion alfo of the ifland of Gomora ; and thefe princes, when they emigrated to Africa and the adjacent ifles, D did 34 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. did not forget their ancient country. They ftill indeed carry on an inconfiderable trade with Aden, Mafcate and the coafts of Abyf- finia. They have alfo on the fmall river of Bombetoc, in Madagafcar, a kind of fettlement, which enables them to vifit dif-. ferent parts of that ifland, for the purpofes « of commerce. By thefe means they have introduced their language, 'and left fome; traces of Mahometanifm among the Male- gaches. Formerly, there fubfifted between the Arabs and the Portuguefe of India a hatred and animofity, which were founded folely on the zeal thefe two nations center- tained for their religion. The Arabs of Co- mora and Madagafcar made frequent attacks upon the Portuguefe cftablifhments on the coaft of Africa, which did them great in- jury < they even deftroyed fome of their fettlements : but this hatred became gra- dually extinguifhed, when the decline of the Portu- VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 35 Portuguefe power rendered them lefs the objedls of jealoufy. An attempt was made * at Goa, about twenty years ago, to take ad- vantage of this fufpenfion of hoftilities, in order to form a Portuguefe fettlement at Cape Su Sebaftian, in Madagafcar. The intention of this eftablifhment "vj^as merely religious. The Portuguefe thought of form- ing a miflion, rather than a fadory ; but this project was not attended with fuccefs. M. Boffe, an inhabitant of the ifle of Bour- bon, faw the melancholy remains of this eftablifhment. It is furprifing that Mahometanifm has not made greater progrefs in this ifland, which has been fo much frequented by the Arabs. However, if we except circumci- fion, abftinence from pork, and fome few trifling practices, which have very little in- fluence over the conduct of thefe people, the defcendants of the Arabs themfelves have D 2 loft ^6 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. loft fight of* the fundamental parts of their religious opinions. They do not believe in a future exiftence ; like the Manichees, they admit of two principles, one fupremely good, and the other extrfemely wicked. They never addrefs their prayers to the former ; but they entertain a great dread of the latter. They are continually doing homage and offering up facrifices to him. The ifland of Madagafcar is fo near to the coafl: of Africa, that it is natural to fup- pofe that it muft have been peopled froni that vaft continent : but at prefent the dif- ferent races are fo intermixed, that it would be vain to attempt to defcribe all the varie- ' ties of them. One can, however, in this ifland diftin- guifli the race of real negroes j but it is a matter of more difficulty to diftinguifh thofe who are defcended from the whites. The whites, who inhabit the province of AnofE VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 37 Anoffi and Carcanofli, pretend to be dc- fcended from Imina, the mother of Maho- met. They have aflumed the name of Zaf- ferahimini. The whites, v\rho inhabit Foule- pointe, Nofli-Hibrahim, and the bay of An- tongil, are fprung, fome from the pirates, and others from tTie Jews ; for this reafon, they call themfelves Zaffe-Hibrahim, that is to fay, the defcendants of Abraham. Be- fides thefe, there is a third kind of whites, who fay they were fent to Madagafcar by the Caliph of Mecca, to inftrud the Male- gaches in the fecrets of nature, and the reli- gion of Mahomet. Thefe impoftors feized upon the province of Matatane, after they had expelled and maflacred the ZafFerahi- mini, who governed that diftri<3:. They are ■ called ZafE-Cafimambou. Their complexion is darker than that of the other whites, and their profeflion is to teach to read and write the Arabic language. D3 The 38 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. The .ZafFerahimini, in the province of Anoffi and Carcanofli, believe that they came originally from the fandy plains .on ■ the borders of Mecca. On this account they are callcdOntampqffemacaj and are divided into three clafles, the Rhoandrians, the Anacan- drians, and the Ontzatfi. The firft and * < moft honourable clafs, is that of the Rhoan- drians. People of this clafs have affumed to themfelves the privilege of killing ani- .mals. Among favages, an4 people who fub- fift by hunting, the trade of a butcher is al- moft always held in great diftindlion. The Rhoandrians are the nobility of the country; and it is always from this clafs that the fo- vereign is chofen. The Anacandrlans are defcended from the Rhoandrians, and a woman of aa inferior clafs. For this reafon, they fhare with the Rhoandrians the honour and ad- vantage of killing, for the other iflianders, fuch > I VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 39 fuch animals as are heceflary to their fub- liftence. The Ontzatfi are the laft clafs of the On- tampaflemaca ; but they enjoy no particular marks of diftinftion. They are generally brave foldiers, fkilled in the art of war, who can throw a ftone or an aflagay with great dexterity, and who fpend their time in danc- ing, fleeping, and amufing themfelves. They learn from their earlieft infancy fomc fongs, containing leffons of morality, or fables refpc&ing their origin. The native blacks are divided into four claffes : the Voadziri, the Lohavohits, the Ontzoa, and the Endeves. The Voadziri, we are affured, are the defcendants of the ancient fovereigns of the ifland. They are generally pretty rich in flaves and flocks ; and they are allowed to poflefa feveral villages. Thefe people muft be held in great confideration among the ' D 4 iflanders 40 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. iflanders of Madagafcar, for they have pre- ferved, not\yithftanding the defpotifm of the Arabs, who conquered the province of Anof- fi, the right of killing, when they are not in the prefence of a Rhoandrian or an Anacan- drian, fuch animals as belong to their fiib- jedts. The Lohavohits are much lefs power- ful than the Voadziri. They can never poflefs more than one village ; and, how- ever rich they may be in flocks, they muft always fend for a Rhoandrian or. an Ana- % candrian, to kill thofe animals which they and their fubjcfts ufe as food. The cafte of the Ontzoa comes immedi- ately after that of the Lohavohits, to whon^ they are nearly related ; but they have no Idnd of authority or privilege. The Onde- ves are flaves by extradion. In the Male- gache language that word fignifies a loji man. The Malegaches preferve, refpe^ting their origin, VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 4X origin, a fable which correfponds extremely well with the fubdivifion I have given of thefe different caftes. . Such of thefe iflanders as have any erudi- tion relate, that the Creator of heaven and earth formed, from the body of the firft man whilft he was afleep, feven women. Thefe were the mothers of the different cafles. The cafte of the Rhoandrians are the offspring of the firft man and the woman formed from his brain. The mother of the Anacandrians, and that of the Ontzatfi, had not fo noble an origin. The one was formed from, his neck ; and the other from the left Ihoulder. The cafte of the Voadziri proceed from the firft man and the woman formed out of bis right fide. The mother of the Lohavohits arid the Ontzoa came from the thigh and the calf of 4 t^e 42 VayAQE ,TO MADAGASCAR^- the, kg ; but the 'extradlion of the Ondeves is fliU meaner. They .^re faid to b$ defcend- cd from the foles of the. feet. It is doubtlefs a fubjefl: of melancholy reflection to find amdngft the people who inhabit the large province of Anoffi fo ridi-^ ^Iqus fables refpe£ting the inequality o£ their conditijon* What a deplorable abfur- dity for favages to refufe being brethren, and to difdain a comnnoa origin ! The .ex- planation of this Idnd of phenomenon ^4n be found? only ioi the conqueft which tibjc Arabs, the. anceftors of the Rhoandri- ans^ made of Madagafcar. This foreign race have left, whereyer they were dlfperfed, the moft lamentable traces, of fuperilitioiu The Rhoandriar^s are reduced at prefent to a family of about twenty perfons. None of them are to be found but in the province of Anoffi ; and' ther^ is reafon to hope that the ifland will at length be delivered from the VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 43 the government and yoke of thefe conquer- ors, who have Idd it wafte, and infecSed it with Mahometan pradices. The Malegaches fubmit to the Rhoan- m drians only as free fubjefts. They change their chiefs a^t pleafure ; and they can attach, themfelves to any one whom they think ca- pable of fecuring to them happinefs and tranquillity. Thefe iflanders are too brave to grouch under a burthenfome yoke ; but their extreme credulity is, without doubt^ very prejudicial to their liberty, and to the fuccefs of their enterprifes. . How is it poiEble that thefe people, in- volved ia. the darknefs of ignorance, caa defend themfelves againft the deception df the Ombiaffes, when the moft enlightened nations are ftill every day dupes to quacka and impoftors ? It would appear as if it were. neceffary that man fhould fuffer himfelf to be fubjeded by chimeras. Reafon is feldom^ I ever 44 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, ever fo powerful as to preferve him en- tirely from that fondnefs for the marvellous which otfen hurries him into the moft ridiculous illufions ; and . if in civilifed nations he fometimes artfully conceals this fetal propenfity, It is only becaufe. he is afliamed of his weaknefs. The Malegaches of the province of Anofli arc lively, fenfible, and grateful : they are far from being deftitute of intelligence or capacity. Thefe iflanders are paffionately fond of women ; and when in their com- pany never appear fad, or dejected. Their principal attention is to pleafe the fair fex, who, in this country more than in any other, meet with that refpeft and deference which arc fo neceffary to the happinefs of fociety. Man here never commands as a dcfpot ; nor docs the woman ever obey as a flavc* The balance of power inclines even in favour of the women. Their emi»re in that VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 45 that of beauty, mildnefs, and the graces : for, colour excepted, the Malegache women are handfome. Their perfons are flender and genteel ; they have pleafing and deli- cate features ; a foft fmboth fkin ; teeth re- markably white ; and fii)e blue eyes, the pupils of which are brown and fparkling. A plurality of wives is not uncommon here among the chiefs, and thofe who are rich ; but they never efpoufe more than one legally: the reft are confidcred as concu- bines. This pradice is not attended with difagreeable confequences in Madagafcar; for all thefe women live in harmony toge- ther. Befldes, a divorce may take place as often as the conjugal union difpleafes either the hufband or the wife. When they part, however, by mutual confent, they reftore to each other the property they pofiefled be- fore marriage. In Madagafcar adultery is looked upon as a robbery, and as fuch is punifhed. 46 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. puniflicd. Thefe people, therefore, jfey the utmofl refped to marriage ; they forewarn ftrangers to behave with decency to their wives ; but they offer them their daughters, and think themfelves much honoured when they have children by them. Married wo- men may be known by their hair, which is « feparated into treffes, and bound up in the form of a nofegay on the top of the head. Young women fuffer it to fall carelefsly over their flioulders. Hufbands are always in high fpirits when with their wives ; their prefence infpires them with joy ; as foon as they perceive them, they begin to dance and to fing ; and they continually repeat that they footh the cares of life. The Malegache women appear to be happy, and are gene- rally in good humour. Their lively, cheer- ful and equal temper is peculiarly pleafing to the Europeans. While the Malegaches are at War, their women VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 47 womedifing and dance inceflahtly, through- out the whole day, and even during a part of the night* They imagine that thefe con- tinual dances animate their hulbands, and increafe their vigour and courage. They fcarcely allow themfelves time to enjoy their meals. When the war is ended, they af- femble, at funfet, an4 renew their fmging and dancing, which always begin with much noife, and the found of various inftruments* Their fongs are either panegyrics or fatires ; and appeared to me to intereft the fpedta- tors very much. Such fports are a kind of ufeful leiflfons, in which glorious deeds are celebrated, and contemptible adions ridi* culed. As foon as a woman perceives that her health bptrays any figns of having had familiar intercourfe with the Europeans, fhe abfents herfelf from thofe joyful aflemblies, in order to avoid the cutting raillery of her companions, and to put herfelf uncjer the care 48 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAIt; care, of the phyficians, or Ombiafled This cuftom prevents the venereal difeafe from fpreading fo much in this ifland as it has i^read in Europe. Befides, the Ombiaffes have found put a remedy for this diforder, which is faid to be extremely efficacious* I do not recoiled the name of the plant which they ufe ; but I know that its leaves refem- ble thofe of the phyllyrea. Thefe phyfici* ans order the patient to chew and fwallow it, lying alternately on the back and belly, in a horizontal pofition* The patient muft not be loaded with clothes ; and in order that perfpiration may not be impeded, fhe muft be furrounded, on all fides, with' a ftrong brilk fire, during the whdle time that the remedy afts. The vif us of. the difeafe generally accumulates in the foles of the r feet ; and the abfcefs there formed is fel- dom attended with difagreeable confe- quences. Great care is taken that the heat of VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 49 of the fire may not be too difagreeable to the patient. Thefe favage people thus know how to deliver themfelves happily, and in lefs time than we, from that fcourge which we introduced amongft them, and which in Europe occafions fo much devaf^ tation. Moft travellers, inftead of lamenting that the favages ever became acquainted with the Europeans, feem to take delight in throwing out every kind of invedive againft them. It is thus that they have almoft al- ways rewarded them for the hofpitality which they fo generoufly and difintereft- edly fhewed towards us. If yoii read Fla- court^\ you will imagine that the Malega- che$ * He was direftor-general of the French Eaft-India Company^ and in 1648 had the management of an ex« pedition in the ifland of Madagafcar, which, like all the preceding, proved unfuccefsful. This expedition, how* ever, procured a very minute account of the ifland, yhich Flacourt was enabled to give, from having rc- E * fidcd 50 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAl. ches are the moft perverfe, thk mofl^deceit- ful, and the moil fawming of maiikind* He does not hefitate to affert^ that among thefe iiknders treache^ and revenge are accounted virtues; compaffion s^nd grati- tude weakneiTes. Such ai)furd declamation, however, can impofe only on thofc who have not fludied, withRoufieau, man in his primitive fliate^ Can he indeed, who fol- lows without reftraint the didates of ma- ture, be corrupt and wielded ? When man, m a civilized ftate, is hurried on by the im- petuofity of paflion, his defires, rather in- flamed than fatisfied, plunge him into an abyfs, from which all the power of reafon cannot deliver him* , But the favage, when in his pleafures he follows the impulfe of his fei;rfes, experiences nothing of the Hke fided in it ten years. It was printed at Paris^ ia one^ * Tolume quartO) with figures deligned and engraven by the author^ and was dedicated to the fubinten'dant Fou-> quet^ who had the principal fhare in the company then formed for carrying on a trade to the Eai^ Indies. T. kind^ VOYAGE TO MAjDAaASCAft. J^I # . ■ ^ • kind. In all countries where men are free^ and where inequality of condition is known bnly by a few faint fhades^ the riches of In- dividuals arc that of the foil, and the foil is the property of all ill common. Whatever tra- Vellers may fay^ bad morals are not found but ill a fl:ate df civiliiation. The difficulty of gratifying his appetites leads man afide from the path which nature has traced out for him 5 bad education, pernicious exam- ples, a variety of interefts, frivolous taftes, and fictitious wants degrade, in our eyes, human nature fo far as to make fome meta- phyficians believe, that we are all born with a fecret propenfity to vice. Man, naturally, fays Hdbbes^ is a wicked being. Let us ba- hifh fuch a difagreeable idea ; and let us, in 6ur fellow-cfeatutes, fee good and benevo* lent beingSi I have fhidied with fome care the charadler and cuftoms of the iflanders » of Madagafcar j I have feveral times affifted E2 , at 52 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* at their aflemblies when they Were deliberat- ing upon important affairs 7 I have followed them in their dances^ their fports and their amufements; and I have always found among them that prudent referve which fecures them from thofe fatal exeeffeSj and thofe vices, 10 common among polifhed nations. I was, indeed, then fo young that my oh-* fervations cannot have much weight ; but, if my experience is not fufficient to infpire confidence, I beg the reader to ftudy the na- ture of things, more than the relations of ignorant and unprincipled men, who think they have a right to exercife the moft def^ potic fway over the inhabitants of a foreign land. If the Malegaches have fometimes em- ployed treachery, they were forced to it by the tyranny of the Europeans. The weak ha,ve no other arms to proteft them from the attacks of the ftrong. • Can thefe people defend VOYAGE TO MADAGAS«AR. 53 defend themfelves by any other means againft our bayonets and artillery ? They are deftitute of knowledge and refources ; yet we take advantage of their weaknefs to make them yield to oiir caprices : they receive the moft rigorous treatment in return for the hofpitality ^hich they have fo generoufly ihewn to us ; and we call them traitors and cowards, when we force them to break the - yoke with .which it has pleafed us to load them, Thefe melancholy truths are too well proved, by the ruin of the different eftabllfh- ments which the Europeans have attempt- ed to form in Madagafcar. In 1642, Captain Picault obtained for himfelf and affociates the exclufive privilege of trading to Madagafcar ; and at the fame epoch a grant of the ifland was given to a powerful company, by letters patent from the crown. E3 Pne 54 VOYAOE TO MApAGASCAX. > Oae Pronis therefore was <:pmmiflione4 to take ppflfeffiQa qF Ma^agafcar ia th^ name of the kingi lyith orders to form an eftabliihr menjt i|i- fpme fertile fpot^ which mi^t l)e fufceptibde of defence, and of an eafy an4 fafe accefs. In confcquence of tjiefe orders^ heinade choice of the village of Manghefia^ i;?hlch is fituatcd at the extremity of the pro- yjmce of Carcanoffi, in the latitude of at^ 30'. This place appeared to him a$ likely to anfwer the propofed end in every refped. The numerous herds of horned cattle which frequented this part of the country, and it§ nch fields of rice and potatpes, fufFered no uneafinefs to remain in his mind refpeding proyifions, A navigable river, which takes its rife at the bottoiii of mount Siliva^ waters meadows of an immenfe extent in the neighbourhood : timber of all kinds fit for building houfes, or conftruding ihips, may be found in abundance clofe to com- ^ ciodious VCYAOE TO MAOAGASCAR. S5 modious docks ; and the harbour is per-- fefl:Iy fliekered from the fea winds by the fmall ifland of St. Lucia. Scarcely had Pronis eftablifhed himfelf at Manghefia, when Captain Refimont brought ' him feventy people from France, to reinforce his ftnall coloiiy. But the unwhokfomenefs cf the climate in the fpace of a mon(h dfeftroyed one third of the whole. Pronis being then obliged to abandon this firft ' eftablifliment, notwithftanding its advan- tageous fituation, retired precipitately with the remains of his colony to the peninfula cfTholangar, the air of which is more fa- jiubrious. This peninfula, which is (ituated in the twenty-fifth degree of latitude, increafes infenfibly in breadth, and might eafily be fecured from any attack of the iflanders by Tedoubts and palifades. The fort built here, the elevation of which above the fea is an. E 4 hundred S6 VOYAGE TO MADAOASCAH. hundred and fifty feet, commands the har- bour, fo that an enemy ^t anchor would not" long be able to withftand the fire of its bat- teries. A bold fhore furrounded with break- • , . • • • » ers renders it very difficult to land here ; and accefs to the fort would be impra£lica- ble, were it flrengthened by fome additional works. This fort, called Fort Dauphin, is . of an oblong figure, and is furrouAded with good walls built of lime and fand, covered with flrong cement: it was thought needlefs to cnclofe it on . the fide towards the har- » • . • • • . , » . hour. The anchoring ground is excellent : a fhip here would fooner break her cables than drive on her anchors : but the fea winds, and above all the frequent and ftrong north-eaft breezes, are very trouble- fome to Ihips moored in this port, the en- trance of which is bounded on the fouth by Cape Ravenate, and on the north by the point of Itapera. The beautiful river of Fanfhere, yOYACE TO MADAOASCAH. 57 Fanfhere, which has its fourct; at the bottom of the mountains of Manghabey, runs into |he fea two leagues from Fort Dauphin » and very near to Cape Rayenate, This river fupplies water to a large lake, which the iflanders call the l^ke of Amboule* It is tep jthoufand fathoms in circuqaference, and its mean depth is about forty feet. The lake of Amboule would form an ejifr cellent harbour, were not the chsmnel by which it communicates with the fea oftea fhut up by fhifting fands. There are certain times when large veflels flight eafily be c ^ried * into this bafin : but fuch opportunities are rare. Before thefc pccafions can happen, the river, by a fuddcn fwell, muft have waftied away the bar of land which the winds and -the waves are every day accumulating at its mouth, and which is formed in that fpot where the cur- rent of the water is in equilibrio with the force 58 VOYA6B TO MAI>AGA8CAR« V force of the tide* It is not, however, impof^ fible to open that pafiage, and to dear away the fand-bank which prevents {hips from entering this excellent harbour. To efFeG this, the hulk of forae old veflels laden with ballaft ought to be funk at certain diilances, and in a dire£tion which local ob- fervations made with great care could alone point out, Thefc incumbrances would ferve as fo many foundations to a new fand-batik, which would be formed from the quantities daily wafhed in by the fea. After this pre- liminary operation was finiflied, it would be neceffary to wait fome time, until the fand- bank w^s pretty well confolidated to with- ftand the force of the river, which, when increafed in ftrength and quantity, might produce the efFeft of a large fluice. The bank employed to withftand the current be- irfg conftrufted in fuch a manner as to break of itfelf, the violence of the ftream would V07AQB TO MADAGASgAR* 59 would not fail to cleanfe the mouth of the flyer, and to riend^r the entrance of the lak^ practicable. Every method employed to make moles in the fea might be attendi^d with advantage un accompUfhing the obje<3: here propofed. If I have given the preference to that of / ufing the hulls of old fhips, it is becau& it appears to me to be the moft com- modious, the moft expeditions, and the ieaft expenfive. Befides, an experiment of this nature could not fail of being ufeful ^ud inftruftive, whatever might be its fucr jcefs. Veflels, when funk, are mafles fo enorfl^ous and folid, on account of the care taken to bind all their parts' together, that I do not think it poflible to fubftitute for them, in moles, and works deftined to withftand the fury of the fea, any other bodies more ca- pable of refitting the violence of the waves* The river Fanfhcre is navigable for boats to the 6o VOYAGE TO MADAGA8CAK. / the diftance of from fifteen to twenty leagues from its mouth. The labour necef^- fary to bring the navigation of this river to perfeftion would be very iniconfider^ble. The point of Itapera, which is to the north of Fort Dauphin, enclofes, on the fouthern fide, the great bay of Loucan The ifland of St. Clair fhelters it from the fea winds, and prevents the fmall river of Itapera from being choked up with fand, like that of Fanlhere* The port is on the leeward fide of the liland ; but the anchoring ground here i$ little frequepted by navigators, becaufe the bay of Loucar abounds with fiioalfi and quickfands. The peninfuU of Tholangar was fo much the more favourable to the eftabliftiment of Pronis, as the rich and fertile valley of Amboule, and the proximity of feveral na- yigj^ble rivers^ freed him from all uneafinef? rcfpeding VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 6i rcfpedling the means of fubfifting. Mines of iron and fteel of an excellent quality, hemp, rednous gums, pitch and tar^ and timber fit for building houfes, or conftruft* ing ihips, all found here in abundance, were advantages which a wife and enlightened adminiftration would not have fuffered themfelves to negle£t. Pronis, however, was a man deftitute of talents and induftryT The indolence in which he lived, as well as the Frenchmen under his command, in- volved the colony in all thofe diforders which an imprudent condu(a ufually pro- duces. Licentioufnefs was fuceeeded by a fpirit of revolt ; and thofe who owed fub- miflion and obedience to their, chief foon put him in irons, Inthisftate of captivity, he continued fix months. When releafed from his imprifonment, by a veffel which had ar- rived frorti France, with fuch provifions ashe ftood moft in need o^ he rendered himfelf - guilty 6± totACiB to HAtA&kSCA^i I * giiilty of a new crhne^ by publicly fdling tb Vander Mcfter, ^c governor of Mkuritius^ at prefent called the Ifle of France^ all the unfortunate Malcigaches who were in thd fervice of the eftablifhment* What t-aifed the indignation of the iflahders to th^ Ii^hefl; pitch upon this dccafibn waB^ that there were amongft thefe flaTes (iitteeti Wo-^ - men of the race of the Lohavdhits. . When the company were informed of tbift fhameful conduft, they deptilred Pronis of his commifGon* Flacourt was cfaofeni to fucceed him i but he did not arrive at Fort Dauphin till towards the end of De- cember 1 648. As he has publiihed a mi-^ nute account of every thing which took place under his adminiftration, I fhall not heref trace out a pidure of the cruelty, injuftice, and oppreflion, which that governor exer- cifed towards the unforttmate iflanders^ tit 1661 he fent forty Frenchmen, followed 3 , by . VQVA#E TO MADAGA8CAK. 6j by a body of arm^d blacks^ to bum and ra«* vag€ the fertile country- of Fanfhere. The manner in vvhich flacourt violated that m faofpitality which had beea fo generoufly ihewn to him, cannot be defended in an enlightened age. I am inclined to believe^ that every man, hereafter^ vfho has the leaf): regard for virtue or hunjiamty, will fly from foreign lands, and renounce every commercial advantage, rather than imitate^ the barbarous condudl of this governor* > Inftead of making favage nations wear our chains, let us impart to them our fciences, and our knowledge. People funk in the darknefs of ignorance, and intimidated by the fuperiority of our arms, cannot certainly avoid the yoke which we are pleafed to lay upon them : but what right is> more iniqui- tous than that of force ? And how dare we at prefent accufe favage nations of trea- chery, wh€n,harafredby our tyranny, they have I * 64 VOYAOt T6 have only attempted to avenge themlelvej? for our feverity ? If Flacourt knew better than Pronis how to enforce obedience fromi the French under his cdthmand, he did not,' however, (hew thait he wad much better ac- quainted with the principles of the laws of nature : he was urijuft and cruel to\?!^ard8 a people, who being the proprietors of the country, ought to have given laws to him, inftead of receiving them. But let us leave Flacourfs Hijiory to thofe who miy have courage to read it ; and let us fee whether bis fucceflbrs were lefs inhuman; Fort Dauphin was bjirnt in 1 65^, and was not rebuilt till the year 1663. Cha- margou, who was then governor, fent La Cafe to explore that part of the ifland which lies to the north of the country of the Mata- tanes. This coramiffion La Cafe executed with much intelligence. It may not be here improper to give fome account of the cha- raSer VOYAGE -TO MADAGASCAR. 6^ rader of this man, whofe memory is ftill cele- brated among thefe people. La Cafe was only a fiditious name ; that of his family was Le Vacher ; and he was born at Rochelle. On his arrival at Fort Dauphin, the French were held in no kind of eftimation among the iflanders. After great expences, that efta- blifliment was in a ftate of the moft de- plorable decline. La Cafe, however, un- dertook to revive the confequcnce of the French nation ; and in this he fucceeded. By a great number of vidories he acquired the furname of Dian Poujfe ; and no greater honour could have been conferred upon him by the Malegaches : for Dian Poujfe is the name of a chief who formerly con- quered the ifland, and who is even yet held in great veneration among thefe people. The French, alone, withheld from La Cafe that juftice which was due to his va- lour and good condud. The governor of F Fore 66 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. Fort Dauphin, jealous of the glory he had acquired, by executing, in an able manner, thofe difficult commiffions which liad been affigned to him, refufed either to reward or to promote him. The fovereign of the province of Amboule, named Dian-Raffi- tate, took advantage of the juft refentment of La Cafe, and invited him to enter into his fervice. Five Frenchmen accompanied him, and abandoned Fort Dauphin. Dian* Nong, Dian-Raffitate's daughter, having conceived a violent affedion for La Cafe, offered him her hand with the confent of her father ; and this chief, tottering on the brink of the grave through age and infir- mities, had the confolation of fecuring the happinefs of his fubjeds, by rendering his fon-in-law abfolute mailer of the rich and fertile province of Amboule. When La Cafe married Dian-Nong, he refufed the title and honours which^ in that country, are VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 67 are attached to the fovereign power. He wiflied only to be confidered as the firft fubjeft of his wife, who was declared fo- vereign after the death of her father. La Cafe, beloved by Dian-Nong, who, to a charming countenance, added great cou- rage, and the rareft qualities ; efteemcd and refpedted by his family, and the Amboulefe> to whom he was a father, could only offer up ineffedual vows for the profperity of the French eftablifhment at Fort Dauphin. He was not fuffered to go to the relief of his countrymen, whom he knew to be in the utmoft diftrefs. Chamargou had fet a price upon his head, as well as upon thofe of the five Frenchmen who had followed him to Amboule. The chiefs, who redded in the neighbourhood of the fort, highly irritated to find that an attempt fhould be made againft the life of a mail for whom they entertained the higheft veneration, una- F 2 ' nimoufly 68 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. nimoufly refufed to fupply the colony with provifions. An abfolute famine, therefore, ' was now added to increafe the defolation occafioned by fevers and other diftempers, which had reduced' the number of the French to eighty men. The eftablifhment at Fort Dauphin was on the point of being totally ruined, when the arrival of a veffel, commanded by Ker- cadio, a gentleman of Brittany, fufpended for fome time the evils with which the co- lony was aiBidted. Diforder and confufion had never ceafed to prevail among the French from the time that they firft formed a fettlement in Mada- gafcar. The iflanders detefted, and even began to defpife them. They were in- cenfed at our tyranny ; and our inteftine divifions had weakened that fentiment of terror, with which the fuperiority of our 9 arms had at firft infpired them. Captain^ Kercadio VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 69 Kercadio faw, therefore, that the afliftancc he had brought with him from France could not be of long duration. That brave offi- cer, who was free from the prejudices of his ftation, and' the harihnefs peculiar to his profeflion, judged it neceflary to endea- ' vour to bring about a reconciliation between Chamargou and La Cafe, He reprefented < to the former, that he could no longer con- fider as his fubaltern, a man, who, by his marriage with Dian-Nong, had become not only abfolute mafter of the province of Am- boule, but fovereign alfo of the whole ifland of Madagafcar. No madnefs, indeed, could have been attended with more fatal confe- quences to the French, than that of the head of a languifhing colony obftinately perfifting to treat as a rebel, a perfon as powerful as he was refpeded, and who, by a fingle word, might have occafioned his deftrudion. Defpairing that his reafpn- F 3 ing yo VOYAGE TO MADAGAS<:AR. ing would have any efFedi on the prejudiced and inflamed mind of Chamargou^ Ker- cadio applied to an intelligent counfellor, who, through a very fmgular accident, had embarked in his Veffel, and earneftly beg-* ged him, as his firiend, to employ his abilities, in endeavouring to convince the governor what were his real interefts, and thofe of the colony entrufted to his care. If the counfellor fucceeded in this diflSl- • cult enterprize, he was lefs indebted for the accomplifhment of his wiflids, to his elo- quence, than to the honour of being known to and protected by the marfhal de la Meil- leraye. As foon as he informed Chamar^ gou that he fliould be indifpenfably. obliged to give an account to th'e marfhal of the caufe of the misfortunes, anci perhaps of the entire lofs of Fort Dauphin', the governor,^ > who had been hitherto fo haughty and in- ti^aaablejj yOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 71 tradable, who braved famine and death, and who was on the point of facrificing to his defire- of revenge the melancholy re- mains of the colony under his command, became timorous and . fubmiflive. The name of the marfhal alone ftrUck him with terror. He fent to beg that Kercadio would forgive his obftinacy ; and did every thing in his power to induce that officer to bring about a reconciliation between him and La Cafe ; offering, at the fame time, to make every reparation that might be re- quired. Kercadio fet out, therefore, for Amboule, accompanied by. the counfellor. The negociation with which he was charged, experienced neither difficulty nor delay, ^ La Cafe defpifed the vain effiDrts of his enemies. This refpedable charadta had no ftronger defire than that of being ufeful to his countrymen. He haftened to their affiftauce, as foon as he had permif- F 4. iioni 72 VOyAGE 1^0 MADAGASCAR. iion ; peace and abundance followed him to Fort Dauphin} and during the time that he directed it by his counfel, diforder and want ceafcd to afflidt that eftabliftiraent. Dian-Nong behaved with no lefs gene- rofity than La Cafe ; and fuch is the force of virtue, that there was not a fingle Frenchman who was not fenfibly affefted by the heroic courage of this woman, who had fufBcient command oVer herfelf to ba- nifli all i;emembrance of the injuries done to her hufband. She gave way to that fweet impulfe, or rather innate defire, which inclines man to affift his fellow-creatures, when he fees them in diftrefs. The counfellor Ihared with his friend Ker- cadio the happinefs of having brought back peace and plenty to Fort Dauphin ; but without forgetting the deteftable ftratagem by which he had been torn from his bufi- nefs| ^nd his favourite purfuits. He had been VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. , 73 been wandering for feveral years on the ftormy ocean, without any particular ob- jefk in view ; and was traverfing diftant countries, contrary to his intereft and incli- nation. His wifties, directed folely to his native foil, could not be accomplifhed with- out experieiicing new diftreffes. The bitter remeipbrance of the manner in which his confidence had been abufed, in order to give him up to defpair, ftill aggravated the fevc- rity of his fate. Ye, who are fo often dupes to the falfe appearances and deceitful looks of thofe impoftors who found their for- tunes on your credulity, may this relation be ufeful to you, and preferve you from the misfortune of heedlefsly trufting yourfelves into the hands of thofe worthlefs men, who do not flatter and carefs you but becaufe they know you, and through motives which * your vanity does not permit you to per- ceive. This counfellor, commiflioned to execute 74 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. execute an order which his family had fo- licited and obtained for . tranfporting his brother to Madagafcar, on account of his profligacy, was fo imprudent as to entruft himfelf, at Nantz, to one of thofe officious men who have the perfidious talent of in* fpiring ftrangets with confidence, and of profiting by their firaplicity. This wretch thought it a harmlefs joke to kidnap the counfellor,inthe room of his brother, whom he fufFered tc\ efcape, and by this double fraud he ftripped both of them of their" pxoney. It would appear as if Providence had thought proper to inflid this cruel punilh- ment upon the lawyer, iii order to fhew, that men ought never to depart from a. ftriofe individuals who compofc it ? Thii5 qtieftion Has been warmly debated ; but has it ever been refolved ? The Marquis of Bee- caria, in his excellent treatiie on Crimes and Punifbmtnts^ fays, " It appears to mfe abfurd ^ that laws, which are Chly an ekpreffion of the public will, that detefts and puniftxes *^ homicide, fhoiild commit the fatne crlilie ** themfelves; afnd that, to deter mankind '* from murder, they fhould themfelves com- • . ■• . ' " mand a publie murder. What ' then 4re " real • • VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. S^ ^* real ahd ufeful laws ? '* adds Beccarfa. " Thofe which all would propofe, and ** Which all would wifh to obferve.*' He then examines if punifhments ought to be proportioned to crimes, and if the pu- hiiflhment of death be ufeful and neceflary for the fafety of fociety. On this fubjeft he obferves, that frequency of punifhment never rendered men better. According to this illuftrious author, the death of a crimi- nal is a lefs powerful check than the long and durable example of a man deprived of his liberty, and obliged to repair, by the labour of his 'whole life, the injury he has done to fociety. In fhort, the punifhment of death is not a right, but the war of a nation againft a citizen. It is not neceflary that I fliould explain^' at more length, the principles of the Mar- quis of Beccaria on crimes and punifhments j and it is flill lefs neceflary that I fhould enter , G 2 into 1 * 84 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, iatQ a long and elaborate difcuffion of fo difficult a fubjeft. . It will be fufficientibr me to obferve, that the only principle which cannot be contefted, is that which gives to every fociety the right of expelling thofe who occafion in it trouble and diforder. But why have, civilized nations made, as yet, fcarcely any ufe of a power fo juft and humane ? Would the earth be too fmall for receiving all the difturbers of public tran- quillity? Africa, Afia, and America afibrd immenfe trads of land, uncultivated and uninhabited, into which if malefactors were • difperfed, they might introduce our language, our arts, and our indiiftry ? This, perhaps, might ftill be the effeftual means of removing thofe obftacles which form a t)arrier between us and the rich commerce, of India, by the ifthmus of Suez, and the Red Sea. If the difficulty* of approaching that eoaft, and the ilill greater difficulty of fiad« ing VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 85 ing certain fubfiftencc, be objected, I fhall cbferve in reply, that a few floops, loaded with provifions, hatchets and fire-arms, would anfwer the double objedt of procur- ing a fafe landing, and providing againfl want. With fuch light v^flels one may clear the moft difficult bars, and approach the moft dangerous (hores. With regard to the peffibility of fubfifting in places near the fea, the hiftory of navigation does not per- mit us to doubt of it. I could fupport my aflertion by a multitude of facSts ; but I fhall confine myfelf to quote only one, with the particulars of which I am perfectly acquaint- cd. Befides, this fa£k is one of the moft conclufive. Seven negrefles lived on brackifji water and fhell-fifli, for fifteen years, on a ' ... fhoal in the Indian Sea, known under the name of the Ijle de Sable. This fad is well authenticated. A corvette, czXltA, La Dau^ fbWf conveyed them to the Ifle of France, G 3 in • 86 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. in 1776; and it was in 1761, that the Utile^[ the veflel in which they had embarked, waa wrecked on this dangerous fand-bank, fitu- atcd to the eaft of Madagafcar, under the fifteenth degree of latitude. This ifland, the greateft elevation of which above the level of the fea does not exceed fifteen feet, is abfolutely barren. Its furface contains about one hundred. and fifty acres ; and it affords not the fmalleft flielter, from the fcorching fun of the torrid zone. But though thefe defert and uninhabited countries fhould not, always, anfwer thofe views of utility, which ought to be pro- pofed by fuch banifhment, we cannot rea- fonably entertain any dread of hurting large countries, inhabited by jfcattered tribes of favages, deftitute of knowledge and induftry, I • m by leaving among them fuch criminals as merit the moft indulgence, when they culti- vatc ufeful arts. Thofe* VpyAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 87 ^Thofe who entertain: any apprehenfioni of that kincj, muft have refleded very little on the caufes of profligacy, which produce - fo much mifchief among civilized nations ; for what vices can be hurtful in a country wherQ equality prevails ? Irregularities are never found but in great cities, in the raidft of luxury and wretchednefs, , Should the colony of malefactors, which the Englifh have lately eftablifhed at Botany Bay, though founded on principles different from mine, have, for the happinefs of hu- manity, that fuccefs which it is reafonable I. to expeft, can the other nations of Europe refufe to imitate the example ? Will they complain of the expcnces that fuch emigra- tions may qccafion ? But thefe expences are juft, as well as ufeful to fociety j and if we compare them with tlie prefent expences of imprifoning aad .executing criminals, we fball fin^ ing him renounce his ancient cuftoms. " I ** pity," faid he, ** your folly, in wifhing, ^ that, at my age, I (hould facrifice my hap- ** pinefs and the pleafures which furround ** me in my donac to your will. I pity you " for being deprived of that which foothes " the cares of life. You permit me to live *' with one woman : but, if the poffefSon " of one woman be a good, why is the pof- ** feflion of a numerous feraglio an evil, ** when peace and harmony prevail among " thofe who compofe it ? Dp you obfcrve *^ among* us Any fymptoms df jealoufy, or feeds . * • VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR.. I03 and to betake themfelves to flight. Though the approach of night ought to have pre* rented him, he then fet forward to purfue them. Having difcovered Dian Manangue, amidfl a numerous body of the iflanders^ he wiflied to throw h^mfelf upon him : but Rabaze, a friend and favourite of the chief, had the courage to flop him, and to facrifice his life to fave that of his fc- vereign. The darknefs , of night only put an end to the carnage : but on the con- clufion of this bloody war Fort Dauphin was again reduced to the moft deplorabje ftate of diftrefs. The chiefs ceafed to fend in provifions, and even intercepted thofe which the garrifon endeavoured to procure from diftant parts. Dian Manangue, who pretended to be fovereign lord of a great part of the ifland, threatened our eftablifh- mcnt with a formidable army ; and his pre- &nce alone would have occafioned a fa- ll 4 mine, I04 VOYAGE TO MADAGASeAK. iDine, had it not been for five tfaoufand cattle, which La Cafe found mimiis to con-p vey into the fort. All the expedi^ons of this extraordinary man were attended with the moft complete fuccefs. With thirteen Frenchmen, and two thoufand Androfaces, he defeated Dian Ravaras, who was at the head of an army of eighteen thoufand men, and took from him twenty.five thoufand oxen, and five thoufand flaveS. The great celebrity of La Cafe made the council of the company, at length, fee the neceffity of employing* and rewarding a man, who had rendered them fuch fignal fervices, and who was ftill capable of rendering them much greater. They, therefore, fent him a lieutenant's commiffion ; made him at the fame time a prefent of a fword ; and congratulated him on his fuccefs. La Cafe charged M. de. Renncfort, who 4 was VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, lO? \ was returning to France, to thank the com- pany for the new marks of favour coiifcr- red on him, and to inform them, that he would undertake the conqueft of the illand' with two hundred Frenchmen, and realize the other advantageous projefts which he had already had the honour of propofmg, if thqy would agree that he ihould be ac- countable to them only for his condudj It does not, however, appear that th© company adopted this plan, which was ijiore that of a brave foldier than of • aa enlightened governor ; for an: honeft maa r€fped:8 the laws of hofpitality, and laments to f(^e the principles of juftice and humanity violated for the fordid interefts of c(m»- merce* lu 1666, the marquis of Mondeverguc was appointed by the king to the general command of all the French eftablifhments Ctuated on the other fide of the equinoc- tial ; «\ I06 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. tial ; and Caroti and LaF^ye had, s^t the fame time, the management of all the commerce of the Indies. The marquis of Monde-: vergue arrived at Fort Dauphin on the loth of March 1667, in a veflel of thirty. fix guns, and was followed by a fmall fleet of nine fhips, on board which were two direfl:-. ors of the Indies, an attorney general, four Companies of infantry, ten chiefs of colonies, eight merchants, and thirty-two women. As foon as Mondevergue arrived,; he caufed himfelf to be proclaimed admiral, and governor-general of the French colo- nies in the Eaft, He was, however, obliged * to have recourfe to La Cafe, in order to procure provifions for his fleet. La Cafe, ever ready to ferve his country, provided for the whole ; and, befides this, brought about a reconciliation between the French and Dian Manangue, whofe bravery and intelligence were not to be defpifed. This 2 chief, VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. I07 chief, who at the fort was ftyled the prince of Mandrarey, fwore obedience and fidelity to the governor general. Caron, who was a Dutchman, did not remain long at Fort Dauphin, He fet out for Surat, with a great part of the fleet, in order to take the management of that ftttle- ment. « La Fayc, however, continued at Fort Dauphin ; and in the month of Novembef 1670, another fleet of ten (hips arrived, commanded by M. de la Haye, captain of the Navarre, a veflTel of fifty- fix guns* AU thefe fhips belonged to the king, and were equipped with the war complement of arms and men. La Haye aflumed the quality of general and admiral, with the authoritj: of viceroy, and made Chamargou fecond in command, and La Cafe major of theifland. At this period, the company had given up to the king the fovereignty of Madagafcar. The ' fo3 VOYAGE TO MADACASCAlt. The marquis of MondeTCfgue, to whofc option it had been left either to remaift governor of the idand, or to return to France, chofe the latter courfe, and em- larked in a fhip called the Mary, in the month of Febrviaty 1671. Cto his arri- val at Port-LoiM8, he found a commif^ fary, who had orders to make him give an account of his a * in no VOYAGlB TO MADAGASCAR* in a country where he had always been firfti had contributed not a little to the fail- ure of an enterprize, the injuftice of which they had not even deigned to conceal. How- ever this may be, La Haye was fo much de- jefted by the mifcarriage of his firft expe- dition, that he' refolved to abandon 1^ort Dauphin, and to carry his forces to Surat, after having vifited the ifland of Mafcaren- has, fmce called the Ifle of Bourbon. -. The pride of this governor was very much hurt to thinky that the whole extent of his authority was not fufEcient to prevent Chamargou, who had the fuperiority over ' him in point of local knowledge, from be- ing able, by fecret machinations, to coun- teraft, at his pleafure, the operations which he wiflied to carry into effed. . La Haye's departure was followed by the death of the brave La Cafe j anid it was not difficult- & TOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, III diflBcuk to forefee, that the lofs of this cele- r brated man would infallibly occafion that of the colony. At this period, it was well known, that the iflanders breathed nothing but ven- geance againft us, and eagerly fought an opportunity of retaliating for our in- juftice and opprcflion. Our yoke was become odious and infupportable to them. Hiftorians, for the honour of civilized na- tions, ought to bury in oblivion every de- tail of the atrocious cryeltiesexercifed againft thofe people, whom they brand with the odious epithets of barbarians, traitors, and thieves, becaufe they have revolted againft fome European adventurers, whofe leaft crime was a violation of the facred rights of hofpitallty. If the eftablifliment at Fort Dauphin fub- fifte'd fo long, notwithftanding the deteft- able adminiftration of thefe rulers, it was the tidl T0YA6B TO MAZ>AaA8CAlli the name alone of La Gafe which kept th^ M^egaches under fubjedion to fo yicious n conftitution. "^he memory of that truly Extraordinary man is ftill held in great Ve- neration among thefe iflanders. His bira^ very, joined to more valuable qualities^ and above all) the alliance he contradted by his marriage with Dian-Nong, infpired them with fo much refpeift, that it was oYily after his deaths that all thefe chiefs united againft tlw wretched remains of the French adventurers, whofe temporsiry fuc* ceffes were always followed by memorable difafters. La Cafe, without doubt^ was of too war- Kite a difpofition, and this is a (lain upon his memory : but all people almoft have a fecret propenfity to this deftrudive fcourge, which defolates the moft beautiful countries in the wtDrld, and occafions a thoufand times more evils to mankind than ail the other m tOYAGE ,TQ *IADA0AJS5A1. II3 4Ahfir fcourges united. What maa is ther^ tfhom a paflion for glery does not» fome« timesy fo far intoxicate as to make him for«i get e^ery fentiment of juilice aad huma^ nitj ? It is very difficult for a brave foldiet to it)ike his coadudy in every refped, that of a philofopher ; and, under this point of view^ it would, perhaps, be unjuft to paft a fev^re cenfure upon all the actions of hijQ^ who in MadiLgafcu did mpfl honouf to bis nation. Clo^iargou furvived La Cafe only • &prt tjli^e^ and wis fucceeded by La Bre« tefche, in the command of the fettlement* La Bretefche was La Cafe's fon4n4aW$ but he poifefled neither the talents nor the influence of his predeceflbr. Finding thM it was impoflible for him to preferve hl8 authority, amidfl: the divifion and difordcr which prevailed between the French ainl I the 114 VOVAGB TO MAI>AOjiSCA](« the natives, he took advantage of a fliip which had touched at the ifland, and which wad going to Surat, to . embark for that colony with his whole family. Severabmiff fionarieSi and fome Frenchmen, {olliox^id his example ; but fcsurcely had the vefiel iet fail, when a fignal of diftrefs appj^ar#d hoifted on the fort* The captain ofthfe ff Tefiel immediately ordered his boats to be launched, and pr(j|3eeded towards the fhoti-i but he arrived only time enough to pick up, . held w the ^ walls, a few • iniftrable wretches who had efcaped a general maf-^ iacre of the garrifon, whidh had becfti tf- fedied in confequence of orders giving for that purpofe, by Dian-Ramoufaye, and other chiefs in the neighbourhood. Such was the difmal end of a colony which might have become flourifhing and ufeful to cora^ merce, had not thofe who dire&ed it taken •jreiy TaVAGE TO MADAGAS'CAlt. 1 15 cvay method they. could to render the Frehchr name' odious to thefe people, tiatu* rally mfldi hofpitable, and humane. Among the difFerenl memoirs which I have confulted in compiling this hiftorical account of the firft eftablifhments of the French in the fouthern part of MadagaC car, I muft make honourable mention of a manufcript given me by M-. de Malelherbe. That miniiler, dear to the fciences and to letters, whofe venerable name is never pro- nounced but accompanied v\^ith, that tribute of homage and refpeft which are due to knowledge united with virtue, had the goodnefs to add to it a large map of Mada- gafcar, accurately delineated, and executed with great care. That map, which he per- mitted me to have reduced and engraved, is prefixed to this work. The manufcript and the map which ac- companied it were the produdion of M. I 2 Robert^ Il6 VOYAGE TO MADAOABCARt * » Robert, who, in 17*5, dedicated them tO the duke de Chauines, whofe protedlon he then folicited, in order to form a new ef- tablifhment in the northern part of Mada- gafcar. M. Robert had been taken by the pirates, and condu£ted to that ifland, where he re-> mained feveral years, which he employed ufefully in traverling its principal provinces, and making himfelf acquainted with their prodi^i^ions. The obje^ of his plan for ^n edabliftxment there was, to collect the riches which the pirates had difperfed throughout the northern part of the coun- try, while it ferved them as a place of re- fuge ; but this project, the advantages of which would, perhaps, never have compen* fated for the expence, was not carried into execution. At prefent there are no confi- derable eftablifhmentsinMadagafcar but one, formed, of late years, in the fouthern part, 7 by VeVAGE TO MADAGASCAR. II7 by M. de Modave, a man of fpirit and a brave officer, and another, in the northern part, by count Benyowlki. I was at the Ifle of France in 1768, when M. de Modave came, in the name of the king, to take pofleffion of the government of Fort Dauphin. The duke de Praflin was then minifter of the marine, and had approved the plan pre- fented to him by M. de Modave. As it appears to be of fome importance, I fliall here give a copy of the memoir pre- fented to that minifter, when this eftablilh- ment was projefted. Memoir of M. t>k ModXve. "THE Ifle of France, like our An- " tillps, may confume our provifions, and, " in exchange, give us produdtions wl\ich " we have not. ** It is a place where our fhips, and peo- " pie employed in the Afiatic trade, may I 3 "flop Il8 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAH. cc cc C€ ftop and take in refrefhments. It affords, alfo, the powerful means of protefting our commerce, and of defending us in " India. So many advantages united, might ** well perfuade fome that this colony, of " all our eftablifliments beyond fea, is that ** which ought n^oft to intereft government : '* but on fucceflively examining the Jfle of ** France, under eyery view in which it ** appears fo important, we fliall find, that ** it is everywhere in that ftate of imper- *• feftion which would oblige us to doubt " of its utility, were it confined tQ what i^: " can be by itfelf and its prefent dependen- *^ cies. The Ifle of France, indeed, confi;- " dered under the firft view, and as a ipe* dium of exchange, which is undoubtedly the moft intere|fting,has fcarcely anything to give either to Afia or to Europe*. Be-r *' fides, ^ TJie introduftion of fpiceric«, by the indcfatU « gable C€ VOYAGE TO MAI>AGA9CAR/ H9 ^^ fides, it cannot increafe its proyifioas for *^ e3?:portation, but by leflening objeds ^*-much morjs eflential. It will be of no ^f ufe for the fubfiftence of -troops ; it is fo *^ fmall that it can never anfwer this pur-^ *^ pofe, even were all the cultivated lands *Mn it employed in railing grain and ve^ •' getables for the table, ^^The Ifle of Frs^nce^ already fo pre** ^^ carious by the uncertainty and fmallnefs- ^^ of its crops of grain, has a fault, alfo, in " regard to ftrength^ All the labour of *^ this colony is configned to flaves, and it / *^ is deficient in population, Thefe imper-r ^* fedions, however, may be corrected by- ^^ forming an eftablifhment at Madagafcar ; M and therefore it is neceflary to attempt it. ■ gaUc zeal of M. Poivre, has now given rife to an im- portant branch of commerce, which M. de Modave could not be acquainted with at the time when he yocQte this memoir. 1 I /^ «^ Th9 "V t20 VOTAM TO MAfiAGASeAil. ** The fuccefs of this ehterprife appears •• certain j thie cxpence will be moderatCt •^ and the utility of it immenfe. ^* An infinite variety of objeds may be ** procured from Meldagafcar. This ifland ** unites the produftions of two zones. •• It may fnrnifh, in abundance^ for the ** Afiatic and European trade, cotton, filk, ^* gums, grapes of all kinds, ambergrife, •* ebony, dye-woods, hempi flax, iron of *^ an excelletit quality, fevend metals, and *' even gold. All forts of Indian fluffs ** may be manufadlured here at a much '* cheaper rate than any where elfe. The ** great plentyofrctall articles, together with *• rice and corn, will fecure every fubfift- ** ence neceflary for fuch fea and land forces *^ a3 government may wifli to keep up in ** the Ifle of France. To all thefe qbjeds ** we muft add fait fifh, hides, and tallow. ^^ Navigation between this iiland and 44 TOT AGE TO MABAGASCAft. 121 ^* Madagafcar may, with feme precaution^ ** be ke^t open at all times. An intercourfe ^ between thefc two iflands is, therefore, ** natural and neceffary. The riches and ** ftrength of the Ifle of France depend on •* Madagafcar ; and it will be equally eafy ^ for the former to execute and preferve the propofed eftabliihment. \ There is no neceility for fending troops and fqiiadrons •* for this conquefty nor for tranfporting a f* whole fociety at a great expence. Bettor ^^ arms and better means will promote ^' this eftabliihment without expending ** much money. It is only by the force of ^ example, morals, religion, and a fuperior ** police, that we propofe to fubdue Mada« ** gafcan The fociety there is already *' formed ; and nothing is neceffary but to ** invite it to us, and to diredt it according to *' our views, which can meet with no ob- ^^ ftacles, as they will intereft the Medc- *^ caiTes la^ VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR.. r *' caflfes theinfelves by the advantage of ar. " reciprocal e3?chaiage. " When I . am eftabliflied at Fort Daur. •♦ phin, with a detachment of troops under ": ipy command for the defence of the fort^ ^ and the protedion of the French, I y^rill- ^* make an excurfion for fix months into the ■ ** interior parts, of the country, becaufe Fort *i Dauphin muft not be confidered as the *' beft place for a fettlement. Three leagues'^^ •^ to the fouth of that fort is the beautiful • *^ river of Fanfhere, the coyrfe of which, to- •^ the diftancc of twenty leagues, from the^ "• fea, is navigable for fmall veflels. Above* -•* its mquth, it forms a lake, three thou-r ** fand fathoms in diameter, the depth of *• which is never more than ten fathoms* ** This lake communicates with the fea' ♦^ by a channel, of from fifty to fixty ifiatthoms' *^ in breadth, formed by the fall of the wa- ^* ter ; and, in the driefl feafon, it is fuffi- , a ** cient VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. JL2J ** cient to afford a paflage to ' the largeft ** floops. With a little labour, this lake *^ might be made one of the fineft harbours ^ in the world ; and it appears that it is at ^ Fanfhere that a fettlement ought to be ** made. ** When once a camp is tranfported thi- *• ther, with the confent of the natives, it ^* will be proper to double the garyifon ; and it will then be neceflary to have mecha* nics for erecting the firfl: works and build* *^ ings. " Our fafety in the country, and the ^ ftrength that is to be acquired for the *^ eftablifliment, and even for the Ifle.of " France, ought not to allow us to have ^' (laves in our fervice : but the natives of ** the country might be employed for hirtf; f^ and, as it is eafy to make ufe of- the f* plough, it will be poffible tp h^vfe ^9P% "and <( (( IS4 VOYAGI TO MADAGASCAR. ^ and at left expencc than in tlte Jfle of ^ Fraace, a very cxtcnfive tra<2 of Uad cul- ** tivated, and with a few planters* *• It will be requifite to havQ on the fpot ^ a magazine flored with brandy, blue cloth^ ♦* glafs ware, and fome light French ftuift. - ** The firft twehty habitations will enfure ^ the fnccefs qf the eftablifliment ; and after •* thq fecond yeir^ it;: yvill be eafy to form *• many others^ *^ During the firft two yekrs fcarcely any ft •* thing can be done, as one may fay^ but to ^ toake a trial of the eftablifliment ; and, to ^ fecure it, materials muft be prepared to «*',build a fort, which may be raifed in the third year, • rather for fupporting the dignity of the governor, than for the fake of keep- ing pofTeftion by force. The Ifle of France, *** ind the affection of the natives, ought to ft'W tfafe tr«je fafcguard of this fettlemcnt. "On a u yOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ ^2$ 4ii 0|h- prefa them, and fyhjeSt thenxtf^ your dp- minioJEi- If:grei^09mmci:ciidadvaiitageslnyite you to Madagafc^r, adopjt prindple^ fo^ore ji}ft souihi^mane* : Fcm: forming your eftablifhment^i cbpo^b lariQers and mechanics. Thofe who know the chara£t:er of the Malegaches, entert^n no doubt refpe^f^ing the reception which thefc iflanders will give to men whofe fru- gal and aditive lives baniih vice, and Lotro^^ duce abundance. Cultivating the earth by the plough, and a number of other ufeful praiflices, will infpire thefe people with fentiments of gratitude and VPV^^OB TO |tfAPAQA»a*]l. I29 aii4 yeneratioo. ladU will Aipply you vrith A multitude of mg6nbu3 artUkm and wear^ era, who kqow how to maoyS^uri? cottpsi i^ufik, and tq give them thofe briilUant and durable coIouib which caui4^ them tp be fp xnuelli fought for ia commercial Qpuntries. Colouring fubftances^ extrJwSied from ve* >getables, have not, in our frozen climates, ,the fame fplendour and the fame ftrength, as in the fcorching climates of the torrid ^pnc* The fruits, of our gardens, which grow on wall treesi never afTume a ruddy colour, but on that Ode which is expofed to the rays of the fun. ' We have no acid that fixes colours oh cotton cloth, in fo lafling and unalterable a manner, as the juice extraded from Adam's fig-tree, which we call Bananier. The Indians excel alfo in^fnanufaduring fUk flufis. . ^ Several provinces of Madagaf- K ear 150 tCfYA<»B TO HADAOASCAK; car ^ould furnifha great abundance of thatc valuable fubftance. , So important a branch of commerce ought the lefs to be negle&ed, as the Malegaches, in the fouthem part of t]ie ifland, are acquainted with the method of preparing and weaving it, in 6r4kr to make veftments* In the neighbourhood crf'the Bay of An- « tongil, I difcovered four kinds of cods^ which produce filk of an excellent quality. The Malegaches diftinguifti them by the four following denominations. The andevi is a cod almoft like that which, in the fouthem provinces of France, furniflies the beft filk. The ande-vontaqua^ another cod, fmaller than the preceding, furnifhes a filk much liner than that which comes from China, And equally beautiful. The tree called anacau is coveted, dur- iog a certain feafon of the year, with fmall cods. VOYAGE TO HTAOAGASCAK^ 13I cods, which being iuipended by filaments hang from the leaves and bratichet. This filk procured froai thefe cods is remarkable for its (Irength and finenefs ; but to divide it pfpperly, and to render it iifeful^ the coda^^jnuft be prfeferved from the filth and duft that fall from the tree* Thefe cods are known under the name of ande^ anacau. The fourth kind of filk is not fufceptiblo of being divided. The Malegaches call it ande-faraha. It is found in a kind of bag^ which contains feveral hundreds of fmall cods. The wool of Madagafcar is beautiful } but the iflanders derive no benefH from it. The Indians, however, would eafily teach them to prepare it, and we fhould foon be indebted to them for a new and highly im- portant branch of commerce. There are few oriental travellers who are not acquaint* K a ^ ed 1^1 V&tAfirS ¥0 MAHAQkiCAU* tA yfith thioTe fibe woollen ftufis known iix^ Bengal by the ni^t oijmwh^ i^hichthe MAhcmetftdft ufe fdt turbatM. Thift fto^ cbfts natefb than in hundred piftoles the yatd^ wben the fuperfine wool of the CaGhemiriaft Iheep has been isinployed in hianu&dhir^ kig it. ' • So exorbitartt a price muft fafprife thofe who know the cheapnefs of labour in liidid) , fed at what i low rate rttw niatemla itiay Bfe prbcUrfed iii that (Coiintry% It ifr, however, with very rude inftruments that the Indian, more dexterous and more patient than thtf European, is enabled to weave thefe valuable ftuffe. . Should France wijfli, in the courfe of, time^ to.fliare with India and China, tht advantageous trade which they carry on in woollen and filk ftuffs, and printed cottons, I think^ and many intelligent men are of the fame opinion, that this might be aceom- A plifhed. TOY ACE TA M ADAG AAC AJU l$% pliifaedt by forming, at Madaga(cart upoa prop^ priaciples, a colony of Indian weavers, who AoiUd be under the protect tio» ©f the idee of France and Bourbon. It would^ hpweypr, bp ncGeflary to introduce there, at the fame time, thofe celebrated ma- chines ufed at Manchefter, for carding and fpinning both coarfe and 6ne cotton and wool ; for the art of manufaduring cloti^ would be confined , then merely to the weaver; and, certainly, the Indian weaver* have a decided fuperiority oyer thofe of Europe. Such an aflertion does not tend to depreciate our induftry. I am perfectly, fenfible that it would be highly abfurd tq put the villages on the banks of the Ganges . in competition with our large manufadorieSp This would be comparing the productions of patience and fkill wkh thofe of genius/ The induftry of the Indian is not con^ fined merely to the trade of weaving. He K 3 under- y 134 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. underftands the art of cultivating the earth equally well, and knows how to prepare fugar and indigo. Under his hand day afiiimes a variety of lingular forms; and the earthen-ware of India is even fought . for, and efteemed, in Europe. The Indian is no lefs expert than the Chi- iiefe in the lapidary art. To cut and pierce the hardeil ftones he makes ufe of adaman*- tine fpar pulverifed, and molftened with^ oil. He employs this fubftance, which is of very little value in India, for the fame purpofes as diamond powder is employed in Europe. The Indian knows, alfo, how to render the bamboo ufeful in manufadures. He makes paper of it, and likewlfe furni- ture, palanquins, and VefTcls for holding water. This tree is a fpeciee of large reed, from the joints of which there diftils a kind pf fugar» much efteemed by the orientals. This reed rifes fometimes to the height of an VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. ' 13*5. an hundred feet : and the hardnefs and lightnefs of its wood caufe it to be employed -^ for a varifety of ufes. Thofe men, who in Europe have ten* dered themfelves eminent by a knowledge of the mechanical arts, might teach thefe Afiatics a great number of procefles, from which they would derive great benefit. We are not yet well acquainted with the origin of borax. I was aflured at Pondicherry, that this fait, fo neceflary for facilitating the fufion of metals, is not an artificial, but a natural fait, and that it was procured from the mines of Aurengabad. The late M. de Laflbnne, firft phyfician to the king, and member of the Academy of Sciences, gave me particular injundions to make every ' refearch I poffibly could on this fubjed: ; but, notwithftanding all my care, my efforts were attended with very little fuccefs. Fi- lagree-work, in gold and filver, prove, K 4 like. 136^ VOTAGB TO MAPAGA3CAR. likewife, to our tnbft, expert lrtift% that the Indians can manufacture thefe metals V^ith great ingenuity. But without enter- iBg into farther details on the induftry of. thcfe peopb^ I fhall only obferve, that what I have already faid, is fufficient to prove, that to eftabliih a colony of Indians at Madagafcar, would be an cntcrprife wor- thy of an enlightened nation* The Indian will prefer Madagafcar to his native country^ He will, doubtlefs, choofe rather to work for himfelf, in a climate fimilar to his own, and in a fertile iiland, where he will enjoy full liberty in the midft of peace, than to cultivate for the benefit of the Mogul, the field which was toni from his anceftors by the mpft deteftable robbery. By his exam- ple he will invite the Malegache to labour ; and his induftry will raife the colony to the higheft degree of profperhy. The true wealth of a nation is the pro- 5 ' duce VOYAGE TO MADAOASCAE. 137 duce of its labour. The induftrious citizca« therefore, never remains in a ftate of inadi-^ vity and indigence, but becaufe a nation fieglefts or miftakes it« real interefts. A brifk trade not only gives rife to many ufe- ful occupations, but it creates a neceflity for many kinds of labour, the advantages of which can fcarcely be calculated. Such, chiefly, are high ways, improvements in the navigation of rivers, canals of communv- . cation, the draining of marfhes^ the culti- vation of wafte lands, and plantations of trees on the fummits and declivities of mountains. It cannot be too often repeated^ that it is upon dry elevated fpots that woods become of moft utility ; for in fuch fitu- ations they prevent the earth from being carried down by torrents, and encumbering the beds of rivers But if you wifh to carry your eftablifh- jments foon to perfedion, obferve the ftrideft economy 138 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* economy in your labours. Subftitute the ftrength of animals for that of men ; cm- ploy currents of air, and falls of water: negledl none of thofe moving forces dif- perfed with fo much profufion over the face of the earth. Notwithftanding the in- difference and difdain which moft people affe<3: to Ihew for the mechanical arts, that fcience which ferves as the bads of them is 2tt once neceflary and fublime. Can we prefer to it the vain declamations and idle chimeras of the man, who, through pride, lofes him- fdf in refearches ufelefs to his wants, and above the reach of his weak conception ? If the utility of the mechanical arts cannot be contefted ; if the ufe of thofe ingenious machines, which fave much labour in moft manufa£tures, be a fertile fource of riches and profperity, why do people, in fome civilized countries, overlook the advan- tages which may be derived from them ? Does VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. I39 Does not fuch a fign plainly point out to us that the commerce of a nation is deflitute of fpirit ? This proof is evident ; and if the proceflcs purfued^ in order to fave la- bour, occafion diforder, we may readily con- clude that thofe entrufted with the admi- niftration of government have neither know* ledge nor abilities. However this may be, the evil which refults from economy in labour is only tem- porary ; while the good that arifes from it is permanent. Were a nation fo littlp ac- quainted with its real interefts as to rejeft, under this pretence, thofe ufeful difcoveries with which the mechanical arts have been enriched, it would, by fuch condud:, only impoverifli itfelf : for, how could it fupport a competition with neighbouring nations, who adopt contrary principles ? Befides, I fpeak here only of colonies ; and fuch in- conveniences are not to be dreaded in coun« tries j^40 yOTAGS Tp iIAOA9A9CAR. r trie6 degrade by fervitude. The il^ve will l^ev^r deftroy tbofe ingenious machiaes which are equivalent to a multitude of arms* He will never refufe tp employ that which teads to lighten the burden of bis chains* If flavery has not totally extinguifhed his reafon, he will, certainly, confider every invention, and every proc^fs, which ferves to alleviate his mifery, as the gift of Heaven* Let thp friends of humanity then unite to introduce every kind of induftry into thofe colonies, in the profperity of which they are intercfted. Let them not be afraid of multiplying machines in them, and of eippioying every ag^nt, of which man, by his ingenuity, has been able to render him^ felf mafter. Thofe, who in free and civiliz^ed countries complain, that thefe grand inven* tions may tend to deprive a multitude of hands of employment, ought, at leaft, to allow^ that they muft, on that account, have a falu- VOYACfi to »i!DAOA«CA«. t4t a fklutafy influence in the coloiiiesi by mak* iqg the arms of the flaVe lefs ufeful to bis mafter. It cannot, therefore, be denied, that powerful agents, and vigorous animals. With th^ iflSftance of machinery, may befub- ftituted, withadvant^, in the room of flavca. The private intereft of the planters is thus nconciled with the principles of juftice and humimity, to promote induftry on their eftat^Si Such a new order of things miHl, doubtlefs, gradually abolifh flavery ; and this change, effected in that manner, will be wife and prudent, and give univerfal fatif- fa&ioii. Among the different machines which ihould be intrbduced into the colonies, wc may diftinguifh fteam-engines. Steam-engines, fuch as are ftUl ufed ia the greater part of mines, confift of a boiler which may be heated by combuftible fubHances of every kind. The fteam of th« Water, ^4^ i^FOYAGE TO MADAOAfiCAX^' wMer, V^hich iflfucs from the boiler, intfo-* duce& itfelf tinder the pifton of the pump^ by the power of its expanfive force. Whea the piftoa is at its higheft degree of eleva^- tion> the communication between the fleam 9 I that rifes from the boiler, and the cylinder or body of the pump, is intercepted. At the fame time the injection of cold water occa-^ (ions a vacuum, by fuddenly condenfing the fteam with which the body of the cy- linder is filled, and the weight of the exter-* nal air immediately forces the pifton to defcend. It is well known, that the valves and cocks, which open and fhut the com- munication between the fteam and the in- jeded water, are always put in motion by the movement of the pifton. The Mar- quis of Worcefter, in 1663, was the firft, who, by the means of fteam, was able to raife water to a great height on alter- nately turning two cocks. After this* difco- very, vt>yAOE TO Madagascar; 143 Tieiy, SaVery, in 1700, publifhed an account of a fteam- engine, of which he pretended to be the inventor. A defcription of it may be found in DefaguUer's Treatife of Natural Pbilofophy. Papin, almoft at the fame time, conftruded a machine which produced the like cffed ; but Neucoraen and Cawley, the firfl an ironmonger^ and the fecond a glar xier, added feveral new improvements to the invention of Savery. Neucomen's ma- chine (for it acquired the name of that able artift) was, and ftill is, employed in freeing mines from water. Mr. Watt, a celebrated mechanic, has lately brought this machine to the higheft degree of perfedion. The body of the machine confifts of a cylinder of caft iron, the exterior part of which is cafed with a covering of wooL This cylinder is hermetically clofed, at the upper extremity, by a cap with a hole in it to receive the rod of the pifton. This 144 tOYAdfi TO MAPAGASCAKi This piftoQ moves in a collar lin^d with tDw, which is fqueezed clofe to it by means of fkrewS) and is furrounded hj a ring to confine the fleam, and prevent the external air from penetrating into the body of the cylinder. When the fleam which rifes from the • ' boiler fills the body of the cylinder, and prefles equally on the upper and lower part of the piflon, the expanfive force of the vapour being then in equilibrio, the piflon remains fixed at its degree of elevation j but the elaftic fluid fucceflively lofes its fpring, cither in the upper or lower part iof the piflon, in a very fhort time. By this £X-» * cellent conflru£tion, the rifing and aSibn of the vapour are continual ; for after the fleam is intercepted under the lower pltt of the pifton, and the cold water inje&ed has occaiioned a vacuum under it, the ex- panfive force of the fleam pre fling upon the piflon I VoVAGIE to MADAGASCAR, 14^ pjfton caufes it to defcend ; and becaufe the communication of the fteam with the upper part is intercepted, and that with the lower re-eftablifhed, the pifton cannot fail to rife with the fame force, if a vacuum be made in the upper part of the pifton by the injec- tion of cold water. Such are the late im- provements made in fteam engines by Meflrs. Watt and Bolton. Thofe which we have in France, according to the lateft improve- ments of thefe able mechanics, caufe a va- cuum in the lower part of the pifton, and not in the upper. Meflrs. Watt and Bol- ton's principal obje£t in this conftrudion was, to prevent the body of the engine, which receives the fteam, from cooling. For this reafon, they preferred the adion of fteam to that of the preflure of the exter- nal air 5 and, in order that the water injected may not cool the cylinder, when it caufes L a vacuum, 146 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, a vacuum, they have added a particular « pipe which communicates with the cylinder, and to which they have given the name of a condenfer : it is through this part that the cold water is injefted. In order, alfo, to facilitate the reduftion of the fleam, at the moment of injedlion, they have added a fmall pump, which is deftined folely for caufing a vacuum in the condenfer. A very limple and well-known piece of machinery ferves to regulate the ftcam- engine, and to give it a circular motion. For this purpofe a heavy wheel, of a large diameter, is em- ployed, which communicates with the pifton of the engine, by means of bent levers, like thofe ufed for turning a fpinning- wheel by the foot. In common engines, the w^heel, which ferves as a regulator, ought to be twenty feet in diameter, and to weigh from two to two and a half tons» The greater VOYAGE TO i^ADAGAiSCAftv I47 Jpart of this enormous weight is thrown to the centre, in order that the aftion of the balance wheel may be more uniform. I have entered into thefe details, becaufe * I think It a matter of fome importance to make known the lateft improvements of this ufeful machine, in order that it may be more generally employed, not only among us, but in the colonies. Were this moving force adopted by the planters, in their mills for fqueezing the fugar-cane, how many Daves, devoted to exceffive labour, might be relieved! The fugar-cane is a fpecies of reed which rifes to the height of ten feet. It is ufually about three inches in circumference j and is covered with a kind of bark, which contains a fpongy fubftance. It is divided into joints by knots placed at the diftance of five inches from each other j and on the top it bears a L 2 number t.i.. .rc- # 148 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. number of leaves, fomewhat like thofe of the common water-flag. This plant is cultivated in feveral coun- tries of Afia and Africa. • Every kind of foil ia not equally proper for it : that where the earth is deep and light, feems to be the befl. Plantations of the fugar-cane do not re- quire very fevere labour. It is fufficient to foi^m furrows in the ground, at the diftance of three feet from each other : they ought to be no more than a foot in breadth, and fix inches in depth. In thefe furrows the canes are laid length wife, and covered with earth. From each knot they fend forth young fhoots, but they do not com^ to ma- turity, fo as to be fit for cutting, till the end of eighteen months. A month after the fhoots begin to appear, all the weeds around them muft be pulled up : but this care is not neceflary when the cane is perfedly formed. ' After 4 , i^ I ^ * V t •. •' «?l .. VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 149 After the canes have been cut, new {hoots ijpring up from the old roots, which at the end of fifteen' months afford a fecond crop, but their produce is only one half of the firft. Nothing but want of hands to replant, can induce a proprietor to feek more than two crbps from his plantation. Whence canes are cut, the next bufineft is to fqueeze them immediately in the mill. This operation requires tedious labour dur- ing the night ; for if the juice remains more than twenty-four hours in the ciftern from which it is conveyed to the firft boiler, it becomes four. From the firft boiler, it is fucceffively removed into others, till it is converted into fugar. It is purified from that gummy fubftance which prevents it from becoming white and folid, by throw- ing into the laft boiler a ftrong lixivium of wood-afhes and quick-lime. It may be f eadily perceived, that what contributes moft L3 to 150 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ to the relief of the. flaves, depends principall jr on the produce of the milL The fpeedier the juice is extraded^ the fooner will they be freed from night labour^ fo prejudicial to their health. Nothing, therefore, fhould be neglected that can give fugar-mills every poffible degree of power and adivity ; and it is, certainly, neither by mules nor weak falls of water that fo falutary an end can be attained. Views of intereft unite here with the principles of humanity, to engage the planters to introduce in their mills the ufe of the fteam-engine. The woody part of the fugar-cane, knowa under the name of /r^*, is more than fuf- ficient for keeping up ebullition in the boiler of a fteami-engine, as well as in all the boiU ers employed in making fugar. * The French call the woody part of the fugar-canCj after the juice has been extraftcd, hagaffe i but th^ Englifli planters in the Weft Indies call it trafb. T. That . » » v^ %.• VOYAOE TO MAPAGASCAK. I CI Tliat I may more fully convince the planter of the utility of fleam-engines, I fhall fhew. that, even at Paris, they fave a great deal of expence in the moft common labours. When a load of coals, weighing twenty-fcven hundred weight, cofts in that capital fifty-four livres, M. Perrier, of the Academy of Sciences, whofe calculations ferve me as a bafis, values at no more than fix fous the quantity neceflary to produce a moving force equivalent to that of a horfe labouring eight hours, and making a conftant effort of about feventy-five pounds. As the flrength of a man is only the fe- venth part of that of a horfe, it follows, that his labour for a day may be fupplied by a confumption of coals to the value of ten deniers. In the greater pare of our co- lonies, wood, and other fuel, fuch as trq/b, are abfolutply of no value. Why then do the planters negleA to employ a machine L 4 of 152 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ of fo much importance, which would fave a multitude of hands ? A fleam- engine, when folidly conftrufted, is not apt to be deranged; it may be eafily tranfported from one place to another j it may be erected at a fmall expence ; and it re-p quires only a very common degree of in- telligence in thofe who attend it. Be- fides, it is not expofed to the danger of flop- ping, which, in important undertakings, oc- cafions long fufpenfions of labour, and cOUr fequently confxderable lofs. It may be of fervice, alfo, in places wher0 the water is unwholefome, by procuring, for the ufe of man, diftilled water in abundance, which is well known to be always whole- fome, and fit for drinking when impregnated with air. Thofe who are acquainted with the ef- feds and advantages of fleam-engines, will not be furprifed, that able mechanics, not- withftanding VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, I53 ivithftanding the high price of fuel, have , preferred their moving force to that of \ ilreams, and falls of wiater. The greater part of water-currents experieiice continual variations by raiii and drought. Water- falls require dams and fluices, which interrupt the navigation of river's, and fometimes in- « undate lands valuable for agriculture. Be- fides, w^ater thus colledted, and rendered ftagnant, diffufes throughout the country the feeds of infedion, which produce pefti- lential diforders, and occafion great mortali-^ ty in fummer and in autumn. If, to all thefe inconveniencies, we add the frequent and expenfive reparations ne- ceflary for dykes, fluices, and works under water ; and refleft on the great danger of feeing valuable ereftions fwept away in a [ moment by a fudden thaw, or inundation ; we fliall readily comprehend the mbtives which induced Meffrs. Watt and Bolton, the f 154 yOYAOE TO MAOAGASCAl, the mofl celebrated mechanics in Europe^ to fubftitute the moving forge of the fteam-^ engine for that of currents and water«falls, even in the grinding of corn. On the banks of the Thames, nea^ Blackfriars bridge^ may be feen that grand edifice called the Albion Mills ^ v^^here two fteam^engines keep ia motion, night and day, fixteen pair of mill-ftones, each fix feet in diameter. A thouiaad facks of flour are the daily pro^ duce of thefe mills; a produce fujEicient to fupply food to one-third of the inhabi- tants of London. Four pair of mill- ftonos more are kept ready picked, to replace thofe which are worn out, in order that the movctnent of the whole may never le interrupted. Should this noble enter- prife be attended with that fuccefs which there is every reafon to e:5p6AGASCAR« X63 a diftlngulfhed philofopher, coDjCain nothing, but remarks of little importance upon fome plants defcribed by Flacourt, in his Hiftory. of Madagaicar. The only difl^rtation any. way interefting concerns the Kin\os, which I.£hall here tranfcribe, and add to it a fhort memoir of M. de Modavc on the fame fub* ** Thofe who are fond of the marvellous, ** and who no doubt muft be difpleafed ** with me for having reduced the pretended •* gigantic ftature of the Patagonians to fix ** feet, will accept, perhaps, by way of in- *' demnification, an account *of a race of pigmies who fall into the oppofite ex- treme. I here fpeak of thofe dwarfs, in ^^ the interior parts of the large ifland of *^ Madagafcar, who form a confiderable ** nation called, in the Madecafle language, ^^j^imos. or Kimos. The diftinguifhing ^^ char^Qeriftics of thefe fmall people are, M a ** that 164 VOYAGE TO ifADAGASCAft/ ** that they are whiter or at leaft paler in " colour, than all the negroes hitherto ^' known; that their arms are fo long that " they can ftrctch their hands below their "knees without (looping ; and that the ** women have fcarcely any breafls, except " when they fuckle ; and even then, we ** are alTured, the greater part of theinare ob- ** liged to make ufe of cow's milk in order ** to nouriftx their young. With regard " to intelledlual faculties, thefe Kimos aire " not inferior to the other inhabitants of •* Madagafcar, who are known to be very " lively and ingenious, though they aban- ** don themfelves to the utmoft indolence ; ** but we are told, that the Kimos, as they •* are much more aftive, are alfo much more *' warlike, fo that their courage being, if we ^* may ufe the expreflion, in the double ** ratio of their ftature, they have never •- yet been overcome by their neighbours, *• who ▼OYAOB TO MADAGASCAR. 1 65 cc u who have often made attempts for that , ** purpofe. Though attacked with fupe- ** nor ftrength and weapons, for they are ** not acquainted with the iife of gunpowder " and fire-arms, like their enemies, they " have always fought with courage, and " retained liberty amidft their rocks, which, " as they are extremely difficult of accefs, certainly contribute very much to their fafety. They live there upon rice, va- rious kinds of fruits, roots and vegetables, •' and rear a great number of oxen and " fheep with large tails, which form alfo a " part of their fubfiftence. They hold no ** communication with the different caftes " by whom they are furrounded, either for ** the fake of commerce or on any account ** whatever, as they procure all their necef- " faries from the lands which they poflefs. ** As the object of all the petty wars, be- ^^ tween them and the other inhabitants of M 3 the / t66 TOYAOE TO MArDAOASCiMb " the ifland, is^to carry awiiy on cither fi< "a few cattle or flaves, the 'flimiriutivc (life *'ofthe Kimos faves them from the latter ** injury. With regard to the former^ they ** are fo fond of peace that they rfefolve to •* endure it to a certain degree ; that is tb ^* fay, till they fee from the toj^s of their •• mountains a formidable body advancing, ** with every hoftile pfeparation, in the ^* pl^ils below. They then carry the fu- " perfluity of their flocks to the entrance of ** the defiles, where they leave them ; andj ** as they fay themfelves, make a voluntary *' facrifice of them to the indigence of their •* elder brethren ; but at the fame time dc- •* nouncing with the feverefl threats to at- *' tack them without mercy fhould thfij ** endeavour to penetrate farther into their territories : a proof that it is neither from " wcaknefs nor cowardice, that they pur- ** chafe tranquillity by prefcnts. Their ^ weapon* €€ VOYAGE TO MADJ^GASCAR. 1 67 r ** weapon are affagays and darts, which thej •* ufe with the utmoft dexteritj. It is pre? " tended, if they could, according to their ** ardent wiflies, hold any intercourfe with *^ the Europeans, and procure from them "fire-arms and ammunition, they would " a£t on the offenfive as well as the defen- ** five againft their neighbours, who would ** then perhaps think themfelves very happy " to preferve peace. " At the diftance of two or three days ** journey from Fort Dauphin, the inhabi- " tants of that part of the country fhew a " number of fmall barrows or earthen hil- ** locks, in the form of graves, which, as is ** faid, owe their origin to a great maflacrc ** of the Kimos, who were defeated in the « " field by their anceftors *. However this * I am furprifcd that M. dc Commerfon did not en- deavour to afcertain the truth of this fafl, by digging up the earth of fome of thefe barrows. M 4 " may # _ l68 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCArI •* may be, a tradition generally believed in *^ that diftridl, as well as in the whole ifland ** of Madagafcar, of the aftual exiftence of *' the Kimos, leaves us no room to doubt ** that a part at leaft of what we are told ** refpe£ting thefe people is true. It is ** aftonifhing that every thing which we " know of this nation is coUedled from *' their neighbours; that no one has yet ** made obfervations on the fpot where they •* refide ; and that neither the governor of ** the ifles of France and Bourbon, nor the ^* commanders at the different fettlements ** which the French poffefled on the coaft ** of Madagafcar, ever attempted to pene- *' tratc into the interior parts of the coun* ** try, with a view of adding this difcovery " to many others which they might have ^ made at the fame time. ** To return to the Kimos, I can declare, as being an eye witncfs, that in the voyage I VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 169 ffC €i €€ 4i voyage which I made to Fort Dauphin^ about the end of the year 1 770, the Count de Modave, the laft governor, who had already communicated to me part of his obfervations, at length afforded me ** the fatisfadlion of feeing among his flaves ** a Kimos woman, aged about thirty, and •* three feet feven inches in height. Her complexion was indeed the faireft I had feen among the inhabitants of the ifland ; *' and I remarked that (he was well limbed ** though fo low of ftature, and far from ** being ill-proportioned ; that her arms were exceedingly long, and could reach " without bending the body as far as the " knee ; that her hair was fhort and woolly ; " that her features, which were agreeable, " approached nearer to thofe of an European " than to an inhabitant of Madagafcar j ♦* and that ihe had naturally a pleafant "look, and was good humoured, fenfible, '' and cc I JO VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAI^. ^Vaqd obliging, as far as could be judged " from her behaviour. With regard to ** breads, I faw no appearance of them ex- ** cept the nipples : but this fingle pbferva- ** tion is not at all fuflGicient to eftablifli a •* variation from the common laws of nar " ture, ** A little before our departure from Ma- dagafcar, a defire of recovering ,her li- berty, as much as a dread of being car- ** ried away from her native country, in- ** duced this little flave to make her efcape ** into the woods. *' Every thing conCdered, I am inclined ** firmly to believe in this new variety of " the human fpecies, who have their cha- ^ raderiftic marks as well as their peculiar *' manners, and who inhabit mountains " from fixteen to eighteen: hundred fathoms " high above the level of the fea. . •^ Diminution of ftature, in refjpeft to ** that J*: cc TO J4AI>AGiL8CAlt. 171 ^^^ thatrof the L^plaader^, baliluSft /graduated *• as from the Laplander to the Kimoe. Both inhabit the coIde(l regions and the hightft Mountains - in the world. Thofc of Madagafc^y, where the Kimos liiw, ** are, as I have already obftrVedi fixteen ©r ^^ eighteen hundred fathoms high above the •* level of the Tea. The vegetable produdtioas " which grow onthefe elevated places ap- *Spear to be flunted, fuch as the pine, the ** birch, and a great many others, which "! from the clafs of trees defcend to that of " humble ftirubs, merely becaufe they have ^Vbecome alpicoles,that is to fay^ inhabitants ** of the higheft mountains/' To this extraft from Mr. Commerfon^s Memoir on the Kimos^ I fhall add a fqw obfervations by M. de Modave on the fame fubjed. " When I arrived," lays he, *• at Fort 5* Dauphin, in 1768, an ill-written memoir "was lyi VOYAGE TO MADAOAdCAK. •* was tranfmitted to mc, which contained ** fome particulars concerning a (ingular •• people, called in the language of Mada- ^^ gafcar the Kimos^ who inhabit the mid- "^ die of the ifland, about the twenty-fecond ^* degree of laitude. I Had heard mentiba •* of them feveral times before, but in fo •* confufed a manner that I fcarceljr paid " any attention to a fadi which deferves to " be cleared up, and which relates to a na- * tion of dwarfs, who live in fociety, go- verned by a chief, and proteded by civil ** laws. " I had found in the relation of Flacourt " a paflage refpe ties? Certainly not — andthelcfs enlightened he is, the more will his mind be filled with terror. He will afdibe thefe great cataftro- phes, which feem to threaten the earth with deftrufkion, to the anger of an invifible be- ing who governs it ; he w'ill endeavour to appeafe him by prayers and facrifices ; and, miftaking the natur? of that worfhip which he owes to the Deity, he will invent, in his folly, the moft childifli, abfurd, and often even fanguinary pradiices. It is only through the effe£l of that fpirit of infatuation, from which no people are free, that the Malega- ches appear to us more criminal than cani* bals, when, by the moft culpable fuperfti- tion, they cxpofe to the teeth of ferocious animals, according to the decifion of the ombiafles, their new-born children. Thefe impoftors obferve the afped of the planets and iS6 yOYAOE TO MAOAGASCAX. t and condema new-born children to lofe their lives, when the moment of their birth has been judged unpropitious. The montha of March and April, the laft week of every month, every Wednefday and Friday of the year, are days of profcription ; fo that for nearly one half of the year, the population pf Madagafcar is deftroyed in its fource. The inhuman decree of the ombiaffes, how- ever, is not always executed. Fathers more affedionate, and lefs fuperftitious, often caufe thefe unhappy and innocent vidims, when publicly abandoned in the forefts, to be privately carried away by faithful fervants, and avert by facrifices the malignity of the ftar which prefided over their birth. But let us draw a veil over thefe fcenes of horror, at which human nature revolts. Ought we not, for the honour of humanity, to jcoijfign to oblivion fo barbarous and cri- minal .a pradice ? Of what irregularities is not VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 187 not ignorant and credulous man capable ? The fulnefs of our errors is, if I dare life . the expreffion, that of our miferies. Igno- rance i^creafes, but knowledge baniflbes them. Man is either a very new being on the earth, or the earth has experienced many great revolutions ; for, if we refled: ever fo little on the feeble ray which lUu- minates the moft enlightened nations, caa we diffemble our profound ignorance, and not know that we have as yet fcarcely emerged from chaos ? What the moft learned man knows, is fo little indeed, that none but vain and fuperficial minds can boaft c^ it. The fear of exaggerating our progrefs in the ftudy of the moral and phyfical fciences ought not, however, to render us . unjuft tovyards the prefent age. The rights of man are n,ow better underftood; the caufes of the moft alarming phaenomena- are no longer a. myftery ; and our progrefs in mathe- i' tSS VOYAOE TO MAOAOASCAX. nuthematics and philofophy has unveiled to us fecrets which nature feemed to -have placed beyond the reach of our weak under- ftandings. The path to be purfued in fu- ture refearches, is already traced out to us ; tod thofe who wifh to tread in it, need not be afraid cS bewildering themfclves: the limits of thofe things which are probable, doubtful, or certain, reft upon a foundation that cannot be fhaken. Truth is not like error, fufceptible of a variety of forms : it appears only under one ; and never efcapes thofe who fearch for it with integrity of heart- and folidity of judgment ; but it flies from thofe frivolous mortals who affix a value to objects which have none. Such grovelling beings efteem only thofe fuper- fluities which ferve to pamper vanity and luxury : they muft, confequently, invent, and fet a value upon, fophifms calculated to conceal from the eyes of the multitude, the J fatal VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. iS^ £ital tffcSts of their defhiidive purfuits# Thefe corrupted men^ flaves to prejudices^ the abfurdity of which is hid merely by the Iplendor that furrounds them^ fub(litute contempt for the love of humanity. Reafba deferted, has no influence over their adions« With a deceitful outfide, eafy manners, aa apparent fenfibility, and a fcrupulous atten- tion to follow fafhions, cuftoms, and opini* ons, one may attempt every thing in fociety ; one may fuccefsfully attack whatever is held mod facred among men; and become an advocate for debauchery, luxury, and fla- very. Who, for example, has not repeat- edly heard in company, thofe deteftable fophifms which change, as we may fay, the mod deflrud):ive vices and prejudices into virtues? Such weak minds and corrupted hearts are cert^nly for ever excluded from the fandhiary of true philofophy. The fa- vage is much lefs diftant from it than they. H« 190 VCTTAGi TO MADAGASCAR* Jle who freely cohfefles thkt he knows nothing, is much neater inftrudiiofi than the greater part of thofe prefumptubiis charac- ters, who, though fcareely acquainted with the elements of knowledge, decide on the moft difficult and complex fubjefts, without being checked by a confcioufnefs of th^eir own infignificance. During the time I re- lided at Madagafcar, I never ceafed making experiments on thefe iflanders; the refult of which proved to me, how eafy it is to give them juft notions of our fciences, I had occafion to be furprifed at the aftonifh- ing' facility with which they comprehend the general caufes. of thofe phaenomena which ought to alarm and furprifc them moft» However little verfed people' may be in the mathematics, they know the me- thod which muft be purfued in order to diflfufe them. Is it not by cultivating them that Europe has emerged, almoft ftfddenly, 3 from VOYAelS to maoagascar* 191 fromaflate worfe thanihat 'of ignorance ?- It is to this falutary ftudy we are indebted for the Fall of that falfe fy ftem of inftruo tion, whiph teaches only errors and abfur-r dities. But, in order that we may derive the higheft poffible benefit from this happy change, feari the daughter df ignorance, and the inexhauftibflc fource of illufion, muft be expelled from the face of the earth : it mull: return to that nothing from which it fprung^' for the misfortune of the human race. Has it then fixed its roots fo deep in the mind' as to render it impoflible to extirpate them ? Is it thought a matter of fo much difficulty to perfuade favages that great difafters are only aneceflary confequence of the laws of motion? Shdll the philofopher diredl, at* pleafure, by means of conduftors, the fitie « • of heaven; fhall he draw down from, the' 'clouds, by the help of eledric kit6s, the elednc matter which is there concentered; • ' and t9ft V0Y4GE TO MAOAGASCAlJ and thofe who witnefs fuch decliiTe experi* mentSy not acknowledge the utility .of the fiudy of nature ^ When the favage bnolds tbefe, he will then ceafe to be terrified by the awful noife of thunder ; he will judge^ though unacquainted with its caufe, that it is not unknown to the philofbpher^ who has been able to render himfelf mailer of it ; and this confideration will be fiifficient to free him from uneafmefs. The cafe will be the fame with regard to the cfl^As of vodcanoes and earthquakes, if he be iihewn fpontaneous explofions, convul- five motions, and fimilar efiedls iii fub* ftances which are familiar to his fenfes. We jQuft not fuppofe the ideas of man fo con- fined as not to follow even complex rea- foning, when it is founded on experience. I am well aware, that, in civilifed countries, an innumerable multitude, employed only in providing for their fubfiftence by conti- nus^il YOYAGfi TO MADAGASCAII. I93 iiual labour, and involuntary exertions^ have not time^o countefadJ: thofe erroneous opini- ons ^ich are inculcated into their mind^ from their infancy ; but favage people, inha- biting fertile countries, are not in the like fitu- ation: they are fond of inftruftion; they have leifure for attending to it : and this is an ad- vantage, certainly, which cannot be contefted* Of the North-East Part of Mada- gascar. THE north-eaft part of the ifland of Madagafcar is a rich magazine for the colo^ nies in the Ifles of France and Bourbon. The moft frequented ports in this part, are Foulepointe, St. Mary, and the Bay of An- tongil. It is in thefe three places that the French have attempted to form all their eftablifhments. A foldier in the fervice of the Eaft-India Company, whofe name was Bigorne, gave me fome interefting inform a- O tion 194 ' VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. tion refpcding the fettlements of the^irateg in thefe diftrids. This man haft gained the aflfedion of the iflandersy and by it long refidence amongft them had acquired a kind of influence over thefe people, from which the directors of the Ifles of France and Bour- bon, for a long time, derived great advah- tages. It was from this man that I procured the greater part of my knowledge refpeding the productions, as well as the manners and cuftoms of the inhabitants of the north-eaft part of Madagafcan The inhabitants of this coaft are fbill bet- ter, and more humane than thofe of the province of Carcanoffi. Thefe harmlefs peo- ple ufe neither locks nor bolts, and fhut the doors of their houfes with nothing elfe than thorns, or the branches of trees. Were they even filled with riches, they would leave them in the fame manner, nor entertain any dread of their being robbed. Their houfes, how- V07A0£ TO IftAjbAGASCAR* 195 iiow^ver^ 3^ qonflruded only of le&ves abd « ihMts, \;q|liic:h might be broke through with* out much difficulty. The plrateii, who carried on their depre- dations in the Indian feas, alarmed at the great preparations which were making to put an end to their robbery, took re- fuge on the north- eaft cbaft of Madagafcar. It appears that they formed their eftablifti- ment at the ifle of Nofly-Hibrahim, named by the French St. Mary. One of the extremities of this ifland reaches within eleven leagues of Foulepoibte, and the other extends to the Bay of Antongil. By contrafting alliances with the ifland- CTS, the pirates gained their confidence and friendfhip. It may, perhaps, appear fur- prifmg that men who followed fo infamous a ptofeffion (hoUld not have been more de- tefted.. This foreign land became to them and their children a new country: they O 2 aflumed " 196 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* afTumed its manners, and adopted its cuf^ toms. In fertile and rich regionfi|| abound- ing in every thing neceflary for fubfiften'ce, it is almoft impoffil?le to find any advantage by attacking the projperty of another j fincc the only riches of the inhabitants are thofe of the foil, and the foil belongs in common to all. It is not aftonifhing, therefore, that pirates returning continually to this place of fheker, to repair and re-vi£tual their fhips, fliould be favourably received by the Male- gaches, fince they fhared in their opulence, without knowing how they acquired it. They compared the conduft of thefe wretches with that of the crews of feveral European veflels, and the comparifon was by no means favourable to the latter, who had more than once procured refrefliments by force, and who had exercifed the moft barbarous cruelties againft the natives, burn- ing their villages, or deftroying them with their YOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, I97 their cannon, when they did not bring them oxen, fowls, and rice, as expeditioufly as they required. The people of Foule- pointe have not yet forgotten, and often re- late, that, at the beginning of .this century, the crew of an European vefTel invited a multitude of the iflanders into a large tent, and the moment it was filled, the timber- work fell down, fo that by this ftratagem the Europeans were able to feize a great number of them, whom they made flaves. Were I difpofed to pafs over fuch crimes in filence, I fliould think it ufeful to make mention of them, in order to fhew how many evils and atrocities our European pre- deceflbrs have left us to repair. The pirates continued their depredations with fuccefs till the year 1722 ; but, at this period, feveral nations, alarmed by the enormous loljes which their commerce fuf- tained, united together to deliver the Indian 03* feas S^S yOYAOB TO MA9^AOASCA9t {eas frooii t^e oppreffion Qf tl^ij^ formid^ ble tyrant$ji who. had feiz^d ^ Urge Pom tuguefe veflcl, ia which were po^ot de Recclra ^nd th? archbiOiiop of Goa^ ai^4the fame day aagther ycflfel whigh carried thirty-? two guaa. Both thcfe vahiable prizes were captured before the Ifle of Bourbon, The pirates, accuftoiried to war^ and plated with their fuccef^t n\ade a long and defp^rate refiftance. before they were ex-- tiipated* k was neceflary to bring a conjGlder- ^ble force again^ them ; to terrify them by the fcvereft punifhment, and to purfue them through the moil imminent dangers, even to the place of their retreat, where they were obliged to fet fire to their veflels: — fuch were the fevere means employed to ckar the Indian feaa of thefe plunderers, who had infefted them from the time that Vafco de Gama opened a palfage to India^ by the Cape of Good Hope* The entirt? deftruc- A tion v..^ vo¥AG£ TO maz)AGA^k:ak« tgg tion of their maritime forces prevented the pirates from iaterrupting commerce any more, and compelled them to quit the. wretched efl^blifhment which they had formed at St. Mary, an ifland in the neigh-^ bourhood of Madagafcan Thele banditti, howeyer, being thus forced to renounce their former wandering kind of life^ began to think of flgnalifin^ them&lves by new afts of atrocity. As they could no longer exercife with advantage their infamous employment, in fertile coun- tries where all property is confounded, and being too inferior in number to fubdue the * iflanders, one would have thought that no other means of doing mifchief were left for them than to attempt to promote difcord among thei inhabitants : but had they con- fined themfelves merely to the exciting of quarrels and war among the Malegaches, this flame probably would have been foon O 4 extin- «00 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. cxtinguiflied ; and when tranquillity had en- abled thefc illanders to fee their real in- terefts, they would certainly not have fail- ed to attack the pirates, and to be revenged on them for their perfidy. It was necef- fary, therefore, for the fuccefs of their per- nicious defigns, that thtj fhould render war advantageous to thefe people ; and the fale of prifoners, that is to fay, a trade in flaves, anfwered two ends to them, that of foment- ing and perpetuating divlfipns among the Malegaches, and that of procuring a new mode of enriching themfclves, and of cauf* ing them to be courted and protected by Eu- ropean nations, who favoured this deteftable traffic. By this new crime the pirates- ter- minated their courfe of robbery — a crime which depopulates, and ftill defolates the ifland of Madagafcar. This deftrudtive fcourge, fince the moment of its birth, has not ceafed a moment to acquire, new degrees of VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 26x of vigour and adivity. It would be as dif- ficult to foretel the period when it will end as to eflimate the ravages to which it has given rife. Of all the evils and all the diforders occafioned by the pirates, the greateft, without doubt, is that of having introduced the flave-trade into Madagafcar ; and yet I fhould think I difgraced my pen, did I allow myfelf to trace out the picture of the atrocious cruelties they exercifed, and the infamous ftratagems they praftifed. The flave-trade is an inftitution fo much the more abominable as the evils which it pro- duces are fcarcely felt by thofe whp derive jprofit from them. It would feem as if it required long ftudy and meditation to dif- cover that liberty is connefted with the effence and dignity of man ; and that it is the height of injuftice to have converted it, if I may ufe the expreffion, into a falelble commodity. If this truth does not make that JM VOYACE TQ MAOAGASCAR* that imprQflion which it ought on eaKght^ coed aatipnSt aacJ force them to proCeribc fl^very, how caa they flatter thcmfclves that it will be perceived by favages iavolvcd itt the darknefs of igncrance I We cannot, therefore, be furpri^ that the Malegaches, ftf uck with the advantages which they con- tlAUally derive from the f^le of i}ave$, iliU .atmaia a grateful rem«nta»« rf thefe infamous men, to whom they thiok thev we i«lcbted for the greater part of their rid«^ Before thefe banditti eilablifhed them«- felves i» the iflaiid, cattle aad iheep were of no value. Riqe and various kinds of pro- vifions had no other price than that which W9S affixed on them by navigators ; and it even, appears^ that during the time of their piracy, they fpent in drunkenmefs and de^ bauchery, on. their return frctm every expe- dition, the fruits of their long voyages., Want of forefight is not uncomoKuvapiong men VOYAGE TO MAnAGASCAS;, SQ^ I men accuft:ome4 to a wandering and difli-^ pated life. The extreme profufiou of th.efci profligates is^ therefore, no matter of fm:^ prife } but beiag more deceitful tbaa prc^ digal, it is no wonder th^t they alyirays oar^r fully endeavoured to conceal from thefa iflanders th? impure fource from which they derived their riches. This, perhaps, i» tho. only point on which they wer^ forced to l^c^ prudent, under pain of iueurring the hatred of thefe people, whofe friendfhip it was their intereft to prefer ve. A recital of their fhameful and deteftablc robberies would have carried terror and alarm into thofe countries, where the leaft of thefe crimes was pwiifhed with death. It is not to be doubted that the Malegachej would have exterminated fuch dangerous ^uefls had they beien fully acquainted with their vicious inclinations : but fince their memory is not execrated, and has not left ifl «04 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. in the minds of thefe people any traces of their infamy, they muft have feduced them by a profound diffimulation, and a deceit- ful appearance of confidence arid affediion. And how could favages poflefs fufficient knowledge of mankind to be able to un- maik villains, exefcifed from their infancy in falfehood and cunning, and whofe intereft it was to conceal, or difguife the greater ' part of their vices ? I confefs that this explanation alone can afford fatisfa£tion, after the vain efforts which I made on the fpot, with a view to difcover the true caufe of that kind of re- fped, or rather veneration, which the Ma- legaches entertain for the memory of , thefe infamous plunderers. It was not at the time when the pirates were employed folely in ravaging the Indian feas that they were able to occafion great difofder at Madagafcar j their ftay in that * 6 ifland VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 205 ifland was always very ftiort, and being obliged to repair their veflels fpeedily, and to procure provifions, they could not think of fowing divifion among thefe people, who might have revenged themfelves dur- ing their abfence on their women and children, and have entirely ruined their eftablifliments ; and it was only at certain periods that they could give themfelves up to all the exceffes of drunkennefs and de- bauchery. But when they were forced to renounce their infamous profeffion, they fol- lowed a plan of life entirely different* Their views then were diredted towards the means of recoveritig a part of thofe riches which they had imprudently diffi- pated, and to fecure the protedion of the Europeans by opening to them a branch of commerce, with the extent and importance* of which they were well acquainted. Thefe profligates, therefore, were the firft who in- . • troduced txyS VOtAdft to MAbAoASCAlt^ trodUced the fli^c-ttade into Ae bOrtli-eaft part of Madagafcan This wft are teld hf all the iMditid&s of the country^ atid it wift Goftfirmed to mt by La Bigorne. It w4B not, however, without caufing much trou- ble arid difofder that they were able, about the year t7^^> *^ overcome the averfion li^rhich the Malegaches had for that horrid ttbffic. Before this epoch feveral European ffilp* had made vain efforts to induce them to fell their prifohers and malefactors. Their negociations for this pufpofe, inftcad of bcf- ing attended with fuccefs, were rejected with indignation, and fometimes puniflied in an exemplary manner when they ven- tured to employ ftratagem or force. The pirates were too well acquainted with the intrepid fpirit of the Malegaches to ufe thefe means j and they were fenfible that they were too few in number to fubdue them, or to didate to them concerning a trade which they VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAIU ^^J they detefted. The ieaft violente^ in this refpedy would have occ^iioned their deftrudion ; and with ftill more ceHaltitf that of their wives and fchildren. The fureft way of accomplifliing their end, therefore^ was tfo kindle tip amongft thefe people thfc flames of difcord; and, taking advantage, of their inteftine wars, to prevail' on theih to difpofe of their prifoners,who, on account, of their number, could not fail of being a burthen to them. But it was of the utmoft importance to the fuccefs of their views in the midft of thefe diforders, to be on a good footing with both parties, and to afTume itjt appearance the office of mediators. It was requifite, alfo, that they fhould ftruck with the force and folidity of their reafoning^;. but, being intruded with the interefts of the company, it was not iii his power to make any alteration in the ufual price of provifions. He ordered Bi- gorne ro communicate this to the aflembly ; and to affure them, at the fame time, that the merchants of Foulepointe would be im- mediately and generoufly paid for alt the commodities with which they had fupplied the French, He likewife granted an aug- mentation of falary to thofe domeftics who were in the fervice of the whites ; and ac- companied all his promifes with the moft polite expreffions, and fuch as were likely 0^4 to 2^1 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. to awaken the fenfibility of the chiefs. Whilft he thus treated them as friends and brothers, he recommended peace and concord to them, in the flrongeft terms ; and gave them to underftand^ that the condud of all thofe vrhites, who fhould not entertain the fame fentiments and refpedt for them, would be generally difapproved. Tlie fpeech of M, Poivre, delivered in the Malegache lan-^ guage by Bigocne, feemed to make more impreffion on the orator than on the aflem-^ bly ; and it was only in confequence of the advice given by the former, that the treaty was agreed upon by a general acclamation. The conclufion of this treaty was a^ mat- ter of the utmofl: importance. The wants of the veffels were urgent : for, as they cgnr tained fix hundred men, three oxen a day, with a proportionable quantity of rice, were peceflary to fupply them with provifions. Thi5 treaty was ratified with the utmoft folem^ VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 233 folemnity. The orator flaughtered a vidim; received the blood in an earthen veflel ; and mixed with it fea-water, pimento, gun-flints broken, and bruifed very fine, an^ a fmall quantity of earth and gun-powder, moiften^ ed with tafia J or fpirit'made from the fugar- cane. Two leaden bullets ferved him to pound thefe different ingredients, in order to form a kind of beverage, which he wifhed the devil might convert into poifpn for all thofe who, having drunk of it, Ihould not adhere to their oath. He then took two lances, or affagays, and dipped the points pf them in the liquor, - while John Harre fprinkled a few drops of it upon the ground* The orator, afterwards, taking a knife in his right hand, and firft invoking the god of the whites, and then that of the blacks^ begged thQm with a loud voice to infpire into the hearts of both peace, ^mity, con- cord, and fincerity. Then ^ *34 VOYACE TO MABAGASCAIt. Then flriking wkh bis knife tke pcuilt^ c£ the two aiTagays^ which he had dip-* ped into the liquor, he dbnocinced the i&oft horrid maledi^ions and^ imprecations' againd thofe who fhould infiringe the treaty. ' " If the whites/' faid be, " break their ^* oath, may this beverage become po^on •^to them; may thofe burricaney which •*rufli with fiiry froiti the four quarters of ^ the heavens, fall upon tbclf teflels ; may ^ they ht fwallowed up by the waves j and *^ may the bodies of thefe wicked men be " torn by the formidable monfters which •' inhabit the abyfles of the fea. " Hear, John Harre — liften to the voice *^ of the powerful genius who infpires me : *^ Should the people of Foulepointe be fo " bafe and fo worthlefs as to violate this •^folemn treaty, may they perifh by the ^ fword of the enemy ; may their bellies " burft ; VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 235 M burft ; and may their filthy carcafes be- ^^ come food for the crocodiles. ** Muft not the invifible fpirit who pre- ^* fides at this affembly be avenged ? Muft ^* he not punifh the perjured, fince he re- " ccivefi their oaths ? All men^ whether whit€ "or bUck, are before him ; all are fubjeSed *' to his fupreme will ; and he requires from ♦* us all, under the pain of incurring pu* ♦^ hiPiments equally terrible and fevere, the " fame fidelity, andthe fame fincerity.** • Rabefin (this was the name of the orator) pronounced thefe horrid imprecations three times; and with fo much vehemence in his fpeech and geftures, that they made an im- preffion upon the aflfembly, of which it vrould be impoffible to convey an idea by words. Whilft the aflembly were in this ftate of fear and terror, John Harre and the other chiefs with ^ trembling hand put about a 5 fpoon. 9^6 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. fpoonful of their difgufting liquor into a leaf of raven, and fwallowed it, with the tooft horrid grimaces. Their example was followed by the greater part of thofe who affifted at the ceremony : but forrie of the Frenchmen contented^ the mfelves with only feigning to do it, notwithftanding the jprefling invitation of JSigorne, who, with- out doubt, believed "this ridiculous and dif- agreeable farce neceflary, if not to the fuc^ cefs, at leaft to the folidity of jjjie treaty. Rabefin then proceeded to facrifice the vic- tims ; and a grand feaft, accompanied with dancing, mufic, and fports, terminated, ra^^ ther in a noify but joyful manner, this cele-^ hrzXt(3i pal^bre. I have defcribed the ceremo- pies pradifedat this aflembly in* preference to any of thofe at which I ailifted, merely becaufe it related to affairs of the utmoft im- portance; and by doing fo I have, I think, attained the end which I oue:ht to.l|ave had in / VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. I37 in view, that of tracing out a flight fketch of the chara<3:er and extraordinary cuftoms of thefe people. This fhort defcription will be fufficient to fuch readers as wiih rather for inftnldion^ than to amufe themfelves with all the childifli conceits with which the moft ferious deli- berations are often accompanied, not only in Madagafcar, but in more civilifed coun- tries. Rabefin had the talent of being able to change the features of his face at pleafure : his words, whi^h always correfponded with his geftures, aflumed the appearance of (in- cerity ; and he was no (tranger to the art of moving minds the leaft fufceptible of en- thufiafm, and of enflaming the leafl: iraf* cible. Is it not furpri(ing, that a favage fhould poflfefs, in fo eminent a degree, this art of ilcception, which the orators of civilifed na- tions $3^ yoYAOS TO MAOAGA&CA$. doas often abufe in fo dangecom a manner t How did Rabefin know that, in order to miflead mankind, it is always better to ad^ drefs^the paffions than to fpeak to the judg- ment \ How had he learned to take advan^ tag^of that fecret propenfity which makes tis fo fond of fraud and ddufion ?, What in* £uence oyer the multitude have not tho£e perfidious declaiiiiers, .or cunniag impoftors^ who, either with a view to intereft, or of djitinguiihing themfclves in thc| worlds en- deanrour to varnifh over with brilliant, but f^eUe, colours the moft fatal errors ? Falfe- hood, fufceptible by its nature of an infinite variety of combinations, may be difguifed , ^nder a thoufand forms ; but truth is not attended with this dangerous advantage ; it « has only one appearance ; and to ei>dea- vour to embellifli it is to degrade it, and deftroy its force. Cato wifhed that all thofe fophifts and rhetoricians, who w^re fo ce* lebrated VOXA0E TO AIADAGASlCA^I* 239 Ijebraj^ at Rome in his time, might be iisxw^n from the city. I am much of the fame opijUQU as that great man. Reaifoa has no eoemies inore formidable. £&f- vefceace and .enthufiafm are always attended with danger, even when they are direded towards views .of utility : but if they are directed to hurtful objects, the evils which they produce cannot be exprefled. This ■ ientence, however, can relate only to thofe who, endeavouring to impofe on the multi- tude, djCdain «no means of deception which are likely to accomplifh that end. The decree would be too fevere did it not refpeiS: true eloquence ; that is to fay, that fublime ,- taleiit which carries perfuafion and convic- tion, at the fame time, into the hearts -of enlig^htened men. Real eloquence is the delight of good minds, and one of the moft powerful promoters of happinefs. Clearnefsi precifion, and elegance are its principal at- tributes. ^49 TOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* # tributes. A man truly eloquent never boiV rows foreign afliftarice ; he knows that every thing which is not deeply and fetlflWy felt, has not been ftrongly exprefled* He diC* cbdns and rejects thofe brilliant ornaments, and artificial appendages, which ferve only to give error, if not weight, at leaft the ap^ p^.arance^ and fometimes the Tplendour of truth. " > Rabefiii was held in great reputation; but his morals did not correfpond with his. abilities. Corrupted from infancy*, by his intercourfe with the Europeans, he was accounted one of the mod dangerous and deceitful of villains. Bigorne, who knew better than any one his vices and his influ- ence over the inhabitants of Foulepointe, was obliged, not only to fhew him in pub- lic every kind of deference and refpe£t, l)Ut alfo to gain him over with the utmoft fe* crecy by rich prefents. It was only by pur- fuing VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 24I fulng this method that he could accomplifh bis views; for any other would have made them mifcarry, and have even expofed him. Men proof againft corruption are very un- common. Civilifed nations, do not flatter yourfelves : in this refpe£t you have no advantage over favages. The greater part of your orators imitate with more art, but perhaps with fewer ex- ternal appearances Of deceit, this Rabefin^ who cunningly fold, for his own benefit, thofe interefts of which he was believed to be a moft zealous defender. Would not one have fuppofed him to be abfolutely averfe ta the treaty of commerce, which the agents of the Eaft -India Company wiflied to fotm with the merchants of Foulepointe? And after the fudden and unexpected conclufion of this treaty, could any but John Harre^ and the other chiefs, be reafonably accufed of having promoted it, becaufe a very rich R prefent 244 VOYAGE TO MADAGATOAR. Harfe, whofe propenfity to vice apd de- bauchery increafed every day. The chiefs, who were etiemies to Jt)hn Harre, united together^ in order to prevail on Bigome to take the command of their armies. This brave foldier did not, hbVr- ever, yield to their entreaties, but on con- ditions which muft have iaippeared very ftrange to the favages. He openly declared, that if he affiimed the command of their troops, he would take the prudent precau- tion not to expofe himfelf to the enemies fire ; becaufe his death would infallibly occafion the deftrudion of thofe war- m fiors who fought under his ftandards. A general, who, following only the impulfe of his courage, fuffers himfelf to be hurried into the thickeft of the battle, is no longfer able to difpofe his forces in the moft adS^an- tageous manner ; the army is then abfolutely without a chief ; the combatants are confe- quently VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 245 quently thrown into difordqj: i and chance only decides the vidory. I 4o not kpow whether the Medecafles wpvc Axuclf with La Bigome's reafons. People without difcipline, and who have qq idea of the advantages which always re- fult from good order and perfect harmt^ny, muft have believed that General Bigome had more abilities than courage. However, after fhewing fome marks of aftonifhment and furprife, they ranged themfelves under his banners. La Bigorne then made them gp through fo.me very fimple manoeuvres ; and finding them fubmiffive, and rel^fjfed: to execute his orders pun£):ually, he led them towards the enemy. When the two ^ armies were in fight of each * other, he re- newed his prohibition of beginning the combat until he had given the fignal. The army of John Harre was more nu- merous and much ftronger /han that of R 3 I-a ^. 9 S46 VOYAOB TO MAIfAOASeAl/ La Bigome ; but the pofition of the latter feemed to promife him the moft (iottjilete iri^ory, fhould John Harre venture to at* tack him. John Harret not having ftiffi^ cient abilities to judge of his difadvanta«» geous fituation, charged the enemy with vi^* gour ; but he was repulfed in ib terrible a manner that he was obliged to feek fafety by flight. This chief, therefore^ who had hitherto been accounted invincible^ was overcome merely by the j9ciUul £fpoiitioi| of a man 9 who did not appear in the engage* ment, and who was even at fome diftahc^ from the field of battle. John Harre, having afterwards learned that La Bigorne direded the movements of the army whic'U bad defeated him, obferved, " How could I defend piyfelf againft the ^* invifible fpirit of a white man who atn ^* tacked me ? But, in order to be revenged, ^> I will quit Foulepoiote^ and retire to the ^ bay yOYAOE TO MADAOASCAlt. 247 ** bay of Antongil. My removal from that *^ p6rt will alarm the merchants of Foule^ *• pointe ; the markets will no longer be fup- *' plied ; commerce will, in the mean time, " fuffer ; and La Bigorne*8 chiefs will recal ^ him to the Ifle of France. My departure ^* from Foulepointe, therefore, feems to *• promife me a fpcedy deliverance from my •* moft formidable enemy," What John Harrc had predicted foon afterwards took place. His defeat had oc« cafioned great forrow at Foulepointe; and hia departure put an entire ftop to coni- merce. Some of the chiefs, friends to Bi- goroe, made vain efforts to bring provifions to the markets ; for the merchants at Foiile- pointe oppofed them as much as they could. The French veffels, which had come to . that port for refrefhments, after endeavour- ing, without effeO:, to reftore peace and concord among thefe people, were oUiged R4 to 248 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. to rep^r to the Ille of France, in a very de^ plorable ftate^ and in the utmoft want of the moil common neceiTaries. On their united complaints La Bigorne was recalled and difgraced : yet we are afTured that he was not guilty ; and that , few men in his place would have fufFered fo long the op- preffiye and infolent behaviour of John Harre. I fhould be glad that I could be* lieve this to be the cafe: but his conduft will always appear reprehenfible to thofe who think they have no right to prefcribe irules, and to give laws in a foreign cpua- try. However this may be, La Bigorne's de- parture brought back John Harre to Foule- pointe. On his arrival he met with a much better reception than he had any title to ex- pert ; and commerce foon began to refume its wonted aftivity : but matters did not •long remain in this tranquil fituation. The flames VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 249 flames of difcord were not yet extinguifhed j hatred and animofity flill continued to fo- ment them ; but, at length, after a tedious ft war, the ifland of Madagafcar was delivered from this turbuleqt and formidable tyrant, who could live in peace neither with his allies, nor his fubje£ts. He was killed in 1767 by the Manivoulefe; and his Ijpoilar feryed to enrich the enemy^ and to augment their power. His fen Tavi inherited, only a fnlall part of hb father's pofTeilions, as he was too' young not to be fatisfied with what was given him. Of the reign of this prince I fhall fay nothing, though I had an oppor- tunity of being particularly acquainted with him; for, as he had neither fpirit nor abili* ties, he never performed any action of fuf- jicient importance to merit a place here. At the time when John Harre died, the ifles of France and Bourbon were not undet the «5^ TOTrAOE TO MADAGASCAiel the dtreftion of the Eaft-India Companyt Tte king had reftimed the management of ihem^ and had appointed M. Poivre to be intendant of that colony. Bigome then no longer fotmd any obftacle to prevent his re- 4 turning to Foulepointe, where his prefence, on account of certaia circumftances, was become highly neceflary. On his arrival '^e received frchaa the inhabitants the i&oft flattering teftimohies of friendfliip and eS^ teem. ' The ftrong idea which the iflanders liad before entertained of his talents and in- tegrity caufed him to be chofen arbiter of all their differences. He re-eftablifhed peace Sn the northern part of Madagafcar j and M. Poivre had nothing to beftow upon him but praifes for his good condud. I was •particularly acquainted with him, when I vifited Madagafcar in 1768, and I can fully certify that he deferved them. M. Poivre, who honoured me with his friend- fhip VOYAdS TO MADAGASCAS. Igl ftip aad confidence^ being defirous ojf pro- curing for hU celebrated garden at Mont* plai/iry known at prefent by the name c^ the King*s Bo tomcat Garden in the IJle of France^ the rareft and moft ufeful > plants of that iflind, caft his eyes upon me as a perfoa proper for making that valuable colledion^ He^ indeed^ could not have ^ven a richer prdlfent to the colony entrupi^d to his care^ This able adminiftrator n^er fuilered a vef* |cl to depart without requefting the captain, or fome intelligent officer^ to bring him the Various produdions of the countries which they were going to vifit ; and this demand was always accompanied with proper in- ftrudions. The garden of Montplaifir thus became^ in his hands, one of the richefH aurferies known, fince it contains the moft valuable plants of the four quarters of the world. On my arrival at Foulepointe I did not find 251 VOTAOI XO MADAGASCAR; find La Bigorne ; and this difappointmeat gave mq the more uneafinefs^ as he was particularly enjoined to afford me every a{]^ftance in his power to "accomplifh the objed: pf my miffion. However, after ex- amining the whole environs of Foulepolnte, I fet nut to join him at Mananharre, a vil<* la^e fttuated at the entrance ofth&^bayof Antongil. In my way thither I travdfed the iiland of St. Mary^ where I remained as long as was neceiTary for fludying its dii^erent produ<5tions ; and I did not reach Mananharre till the eighth day after my departure from Foulepointe. La Bigorne received me with every mark of attention, and gave me a variety of in- formation, of which I have been here able to infert only a few fhort extrafts. With him I vifited the moft interefting places in the neighbourhood of the great bay of An* tongili and with him I faw thofe aflonifhing quar- ,VOYA.GE TO MA0ACA6CA1. 253 qnarries of rock cryftal, the mafles of which are fo enormous as almoft to furpafs belief. But let me not lofe fight of my objed, and ptoceed to give an account of the eftablifhments formed by the French in ^ the northern part of Madagafcar. I {hall terminate what appeared to me moft remarkable on this fubjed by an ac« count of that of Benyowfki. This large eftablifhment, which was formed- under the adminiftration of M. de Boynes, coft an immenfe fum of money ; had no fuccefs ; and ended in a very tragical manner. Benyowfki has been fo much celebrated that it may not be here improper to give a ihort account of his principal adventures : , but that I may not venture to fay any thing without good authority, I (hall tranfcribe the memoir which he delivered to the gen- tlemen intruded with the management of the Ifle of France. This memoir was dif- perfcd ft54 ^0^AOS to MA0A6ASCAf; perfed fo much throughout the Colony, thtf it was eafy for me to procure d topy of it. I have not made fhe leaft correSion in it ; becaufe I thought it a matt^ of insportance to exhibit in every point of view this auda- dous man, v^ofe fcandalous behaviour coft millions to France, and brought new cala«» biities on Madagafcar. Letter of Baron d'Aladar, known at present under the name of Benyowski, to the Governor of THE Isle of France. *' IT is with the utmoft pleafure and ** eagemcfs, infpired by my zeal and the ^* defire I have of ferving you, that I proceed f* to fatisfy you refpcding what you require •^ of me. ^^ Born a Hungarian, of the illuftrious ** family VdYApB TO MADA0ASCA1U 2^$ • femily of the barons de Benyowiki, I •* fervcd in quality of general in the armies " of the emprefs our fovereign. My fachicr ** was of the h^fe of Aladar XIII. and tny ** mother of that of the counts de Rerary : ^ I am confequently a Pole by extra6lion. ** In 1765, the king of Poland, elector of ** Saxony, being dead, and his kingdom rn- ** va^ed, I went to Warfaw, to fupport *^ the interefts of a prince, in the midft of " trouble/and of the fubverfion of celebrated ** ftatutes, and of the firft members of the ^* ftate. The grandees of the kingdom had " been arretted by a fecret order ; and as I " was of the party of the prince bifhop " of Cracaw, and other magnates, a re* " queft was made that I might be arrefted ** by prince Repnin, the Ruffian miniftcr/ ** Informed of this defign, and not knowing " what to do, I repaired, as fpeedily as if " could, to a friend 6f prince Radziwil,* 3 •* whofe 15^ VOYAO£ TO MADAOASCAK^ ^ whofe proteiflion I folicited. Here I (laid ^^ till the general confederation of Bar wa$ ^ declared^ to which being invited by mar- ** ihal Pulawiky, I immediattly entered into ^ that of Cracaw, under the command of ^ marshal de Czarnowfky. Boing adniitted ^ as an officer into the regiment of Cadres^ •* I was made a prifoner by the Mufcovites, ** who had taken Cracaw. I, however, ran- ** fomed my felf for the fum of two thoufand •* ducats, and afterwards entered into the •^ confederation of Bar, where having ob- *^ tained the rank of colonel and general, I •^ ferved againft the Mufcovites, under the " command of Fortality-Svaniecz, and com- ** bated the enemy, as is proved in the adS ^ of the confederation* The enemy being •* expelled, I received orders to go to *' Turkey with M. Pulawfky* The bacha *• of Natolia and Chotyn received me with " friendlhip, and gave me affiftance of troops 2 " and TOYAOE TO MADAGASCAR. 257 ^^ and fhoney, with which immediately en«» ^ tering the kingdom of Poland, I fuftain- ^ ed a combat agsdnfl: the Ruffians, near * Pruth, where I was wounded and taken. ** I was then carried to Riovia, where I * found marfhal Czamoiky, count Potofky, ' and young Pular£ky, with three thou* ' fand men« *^ Being afterwards removed to Cazan, I ^ pafTed Nezin and Tuta ; and, by means ^ of a German furgeon, I tranfmitted to his ' eminence the prince bifliop of Cracaw, ' who was at Kaluga, a letter, in which I ' informed him of my misfortune. Tho * governor of Cazan, M. Guafnin Sama* ^ rini, fuffered me, like the reft of the pii* * foners, to enjoy my liberty in the city. " On the 15th of Auguft, 1769, I was ' vifited by a Ruffian officer, who privately * gave me letters from the captive princes, * with orders to carry them to Kaluga. After S *^ conferri;^. f I \ / " Conferring with the princJf alS,- ind talEili^ " fheir a^icfe on this fubjefli,- 1 tkSpid to " Cizan^ by pretending to the gbvefnor that " 1 had an dtdent defire to vifit the copper • * ** mines, and arrived without any atddtot *^ at Kaluga, afEfled by colonel Bacheftte- " triew, the governor of Fortality, ivho Wa$ " of the party of the prifoners. ♦ .1 *^ I had been appornted to treat pirfon- * ^* ally with the princes and magtlatts ; and ** it was agreed, that, confining riiyfelf to ^ a fciW expeditions, I jQi^ld fet dirt for •* Peterfburgh. I even repaired, without de- '* lay, to Quorfum, and taking up my quar- " ters in the houfe of colonel Soacfgk, I "' finiflied the expedition according to my " engagement. When on the point' of re* " turning to Cafan, I was arretted by orders , " of the emprefs of Ruflla j and as nothing *' .certain was known refpe<3:ing my private " flight, I was fent prifoner to Kaluga, to ** which •VOYAOl TO MADAGASCAR. if^ '** which I had been difpatched by the ■*• princes. *' Having formed a fricndfhip with the ** governor, we entered into a treaty, by •* which, with the afEftance of Tuga, we ^ engaged to retire into PQland ; and the ** governor had difpofed every thing to fa- " cilitate our efcape, when, on the i8th of *' Odober 1769, an officer of the guards •* arrived from Peterlburgh with orders to " arreft the governors but the governor prevented him by putting him to death ; " and, feeking fafety by flight, left us all pri- " foners. That very day we were loaded *' with chains, and conducted to Peterf- ** burgh, where it was impoffible for me to ** hear any farther news of my companions " in adverfity* *' I was (hut up in the private prifon of ^* Fortality ; and, on the fourth day after •* bein^ obliged to appear before Oriow and S 2 " Czer- i( aSo VOYAGE TO MADAGA8CA1U ^ Czemichew, I was interrogated refpefUng ^^ feveral points. As they could draw no- ^* thing from my anfwers^ even by threats^ '^ they promifed me a pardon, in the name ^ of the emprefs, if I would fwear fidelity ^^ to her majefty^ and difcover tRofe fecrets *^ with which I had been entrufted. On my •* refufing to comply with thefe terms^ I •* was remanded to prifon, from which, by *• means of an officer, I wrote to prince " Lobkowitz, her majcfty's lieutenant ; but ** I received no anfwen Sonie days after^ ^' having appeared before the commiflion, ** I was compelled to iign the following ** paper : ** /, the underjignedj acknowledge that I not .** only wt/hed to break my chains^ but that I " committed an ajfajjination^ and have been ^y guilty oftreafon againjl her Imperial majef- •' ^ ; and if her majejiy^ through bernatu^ ." ral TOYAGB TO MADAGASCAR. 261 ^* ndgoodnefs^Jball bt pleafed to foften thirU ** gwr of my fentencej I hereby engage^ irfter ** recovering my liberty ^ never to fet a foot . *' again in the dominions of her majejly^ much ^^ kfs to bear arms againji her. ** PctcrfbuVgh, Not. aad, 1 769, ** Baron Maurice Auguftus Aladar de *• Benyowlki, ** General of the firft confederation.** ** After iigning this paper, I was fent *' b^ck to confinement ; and on the 24th of ^^ November^ at midnight, an officer ap« ** peared, at the head of twenty^eight men, ^ who having put irons on my legs, hurried ^^ me into a carriage, aind proceeded towards *' Mofcow. I had as my companion in mif^ " fortune major Vynblat ; and, deprived of ^^ all nourifhment, except bread and water,. ^^ we paiTed through Nizney, Kuzmodem, ^' Jaofkoy, and Solichanfzky, where the of« S3 " ficer, i6d VtiTtA6t TO, MAUAOAfirCATK ♦* ficer, who was enttufted with the care of ^* conducting U89 fell ill, ^hich obliged lis " to IreiHain there feme iliys. ** On tht 3(Sth of .Deoetaber the £axm •* year, one of the foldieis c^me loxd toM •• me, that a body of guarda, . who were ^^ condudling fome prifbnera, had flopped at •* a place not far diftant* As they were in ^^ out neighbourhood, they wifhed very " much to fee people who were unfortunate ^like theihfelves ; and preunailfedott -their ** ofKcer to conduft them to us in the^iight'^ ** time. When they arrived, I immediately •* perceived his ferene highnefs the prince ** bifhop of Cracaw, whofe tears prev^ttted ^^ him from fpeaking ; but we were not *^ long jpermitted to fee each other. -Having ** feparat^d, we purfued our journey, in ** company, but in different carriages, as far ** as Tobolfk, the capital of Siberia. After ** a very fhort flay there, we croffed the de- ^* fart? VOVAQE Ti> U^PAGA^CJ^^. a$3 AC 4lit$. of TAr.t?iry df a^^a by .dog^s, wjkhout itariftg.auy tliitig gf ^c reft* We filtered -Vmuch (firom ibwogerj .4i\d, .after tr^v^rf. •^* iogSibqria* w/e fpiitidjCbnje exiled' officers *^ .of diffei:ept .pjitipps. . •^ At krigt^, fln :^he jzpth .of May, 1 770^ *' W^«Sftqte4 the jpQiit9f,OGhozk,, where, we were ^kiAdly receiyejd ,by Pleniftere, the goverjipr. Soon after, two Ruffi^a ,Qflicer;5 arrived, who faid they belonged to th/2 ** guards of their highnefles the prUices^de- tained at Kaluga, And with whom I formed an intimate friendfhip. On the 3d of September the fame ^* yjsar, we were put on board a ihip, and ♦* conveyed to the port of Bolfao. On the 24th of December I received a letter from the bifliop of Cracaw, by a merehaiU, ** who tranfmitted it to me. It informed " me that the princes were removed \q the "northern part of Tartarj^ .taw^pdg Aixa- 84 " dyo ; 4f 264 VOTAOE TO MADAOASCAm. *^ dyo ; and that a troop, of Ruffian foldiers ^ were preparing to revolt, in order to re* ^^ leafe tliem. I immediately wrote to ma-^ ••jor Vynblat, to inform him what he ^s fhould do to procure us our liberty alfo, ^* For my part, I rendered myfelf the friend ^* of the officer Gurefinim, who never quit- ^^ ted me ; and he not only facilitated the " means of my efcaping, but even opened ** his purfe to me. ** Our aflfairs were in this fituation when ** we were joined by two exiled Ruffian ** officers, who told me, that near us there ^ was a prifoner clofely guarded, who was ^ fuppofed to be a perfon of great diftindkion, " and who had been kept in irons feven ^< years. No perfon could give us any fa- •• tisfa&ory account of him : we were only ^•'told that he was ten or eleven years of ♦* age, and that he was entrufted to the ^ care of an old officer, who wifhed very " much iror AGE TO MAD A G A S C Alt • 165 •* much for his deliverance* I concdved •* then a project of gaining the fritfndfliip ** of this oflGicer, who willingly liftened to "my propofals. He revealed to me the *' name of the prifoner ; who was, indeed, " of an illuftrious birth; and we concerted " tojgether a plan for his efcape, taking each ^ of us an oath that we would exert our* ^ felves to the utmoil to make it fucceed. *^ It was on the 25th of May, that, widi ^^ the affiftance of God, we intended to pro- ** cure our liberty at the price of our blood« ^ As I was the only perfon who underftood •* how to work a (hip, I was appointed the " chief of the enterprife. The confpiracy, ** however, being difcovered on the 2 1 ft of •* April, the governor ordered me to be car- " lied away in the night, for the fecond ** time, with an intention of conveying mc " to fome other place* My brethren in mf. ^^ trefs, frightened at this blow, came to me • under the fifty- ^ fifth degree of latitude^ and the ninth me- ^ ruUan firom the port which I had left. •* Here I found M. Ochotyn^ with eighty ^ men« This Polifh officer, according to ^ what he relatedt had faved himfelf in the ^ fame manner as I^ and had eftabliihed ^ himfelf with his crew in thofe American ^* ifianfls called j^lentis. He had formed an ^alliance with the inhabitants of the coun- ^^ try i and his people had contraded mar- ^ riages amongft them. In this ifland I ** left thrice of my men ; and he gave me ^ letters to fhew wherever I might judge it •* neceflkry to do fo. •* On the 26th of May, fteerlng away a ** confiderable y6rA6B T6 MADAOASCAlt. 269 ^ tonfidemble diftance from that ifland, I «* found the fca covered with ice, which " obliged me on the 2d of June to land at "the ifland of Aladar, fituated under the *• fixty-firft degree of latitude^ and the tweii- ^^ ty-fecond meridian from Kamfchatka. On ^* the 9th of June I again put to fea, and ** direding my route towards the fouth-eafl, ** fell in, according to my reckoning, with ^ the point of the American continent, un« *^ der the fixtieth degree pf latitude, and ^^ the twenty-fixth meridian from Kam« ^* fchat^a. Sailinfg then towards the fifty- **firft degree of latitude, on account of the ** violence of the wind, I afterwards chang- /* ed^ my courfe towards the fouth-weft; •* and on the 20th of June arrived at an ** ifland known to the Ruffians by the nanie ** of Urum-Sir^ or the ifland of ^//, fituated ** under the latitude of 53* 45', and diftant ** if sV of longitude from Kamfchajka* *« Here flyo tOYAOE TO ft M Hefe I formed a fricndihip ^hh the Aittc^ ^ ricahs^ which induced me to rtoilon feme :^ days amongft them j but on the ayih of •* June I fet fail, fleering fcHith*weft, and •* kept at fea till the 30th, when Ldifcotieiv *' ed^ in the latitude of 46® 6', and ten de- grees of longitude frotn Kamfchatka, a land \* inhabited likewife by Ruffians ; but I ^ could not go on fhore on account of con- " trary winds, which, notwithftanding ajl ** my efforts, carried me to a great diftance ** from it* HaVihg, therefore, formed a " defign of refuming my ancient njute, af- ** ter fuffering a long time from tbd incon* " flahcy of the winds, and finding that our ** water was exhaufted, fo that we were •* obliged to drink fea* water, Vendered pota- " ble with fiour and whale oil, I. landed, on the 15th of July, on an iflarid, which lies *' in the latitude of 32^ 45', arid in/ longitude " 334° 45 f^^^^ Kamfchatka* .This ifland «c ** was ct VOYAGE TQ MADAGASCAR. 271 ** tra?^ iiihabited, and tbd beauty of its fitu- ^ atioiiy added to other attractions, induced •* rate to give It the iiato6 of Liqkorts* I quit- ^^ ted it on the 2ad, atid directing my courfe •* ^eft^ird^ arrived^ on the aSth^ at Kitif^ ** Ifar, a Japanefe port, fituated in latitude "34** and longitude .343° from Kamfchatka. ** This port is clofe to a town and citadel, where we were kindly received by the " inhslbitantSi who gave us a fupply of pro- ** vifions. ^*X)n the I ft of Auguft I quitted this " port, and on the 3d landed at Meaco^ *^ where . 1 was infulted by the Japanefe, whotii r found very uiltraftable^ Defir- ous of proceeding thence to the Philip-* pines, 1 continued liiy route towards the fouth, and, coafting along fome other iflands for feveral days, landed in the ifle ** oiUfonay in latitude 27° 28', and longi- " tude 335^ J ^' Being CC 9J2 VOYAGE TO MADAOAtCAM* *' Being perfedly well receired by thr ^ people of this iflandt I fpent fome dayt ^ amongfl: them : they fupplied me with ^^ abundance of proviflons ; and after a miK ^ tual treaty I failed for the ifland of For^ ** mofa. Having entered a port in latitude ** 23^ 15', and longitude 223% J found •• myfelf attacked by the inhabitants, who " killed three of my men. After avenging ^ their death, the winds always contrary •* obliged me to make for the continent of ^ China, coafling along fome fmall iflands •* known under the name of Pifcatoria ; •* and want of water compelled me to enter •* by open force into ^anafoa^ and to attack •* the Chinefe, who endeavoured to prevent •* me from procuring a fupply. I thea •* failed for Macao^ a city belonging to her ^ moft faithful majefty, where I arrived on ** the 2 2d of September, 1771. ** In this place I was received with every ^ mark / I €€ VdYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 273 " mark of friendfliip, by the Sieur Salema ** de Saldanha, the governor, and obtained ** pernlifiion for me and my crew to land ; but we left our arms in the fhip, in order that we might excite no fufpicion. Here I learned that there was a league of friend- ** fhip between our auguft fovereigns ; and " being defirous of keeping a fecret, in " which they were interefted, I afked per- miffion to hoift the flag of his moft Chrif- tian Majefty, which I obtained. What can I fay more to your excellency, ** that your own people are not able to in* " form you of ? Having tranfported my " baggage to the houfe of M. de Robien, " the prefident of the council, now in China, ^* I embarked, on the 1 7th of January, with •* my crew, in two trading veiTels, and ar- *^ rived fafe and found in the Ifle of France, where I have drawn up the prefent rela- tion ; I beg, therefore, that you would be T^ " pleafed 4i 174 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* *' pleafed to Order me a fpccdy paflkge to " Europe. " I ftiall every where acknowledge this " favour received from your friendfhip, and ** fhall be eternally devoted to your fer- ** vice, •* I am your £xcellene/s Ifle of France, March 21, 1772. " moft humble fervant. Baron Maurice Auguftus d'Aladar dc " Benyow&i, " General of the firft cowfedtration.'* (ft ONE cannot help feeling fome emotions of furprife on feeing that Benyow{ki has omitted every thing that might have tended to direct navigators in the route from Kam- fchatka to China, by the way of Japan* Nothing is neceflary but the elements of the nautical fcience to enable one to remark foundings and anchorage j to point out the ftrength VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 275 ftrength and diredlion of the winds ; to de- • termine the variations of the needle ; to fix the fituation of the principal caps and quick- fands ; and, in fhort, to give, if not the lon- gitude, at leaft the latitude of the moft re- markable places. The journal of the pilot, entrufted with the care of the veflel, ought certainly to have informed hiin refpeding all thefe parti- culars. A traveller of abilities, or only animated with a defire of rendering himfelf ufeful, when he vifited diftant countries, and tra- verfed p^ffages little frequented by Europeaa fliips, would not have neglected details* in- difpenfably neceflary to the fafety and im- provement of navigation. Benyowfki, how- ever, boafted of the extent of his know- ledge, and of having difcovered a new route for going from Kamfchatka to China : but the journal of his voyage, while it proves T2 that 276 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. that he was ignorant even of the mo(t com- mon and technical terms ufed in navigation^ % •leaves no document, or certain traces of the courfe which he fays he purfued. This accufation is riot made without fufE- cient rcafon. I appeal for the juftnefs of it, to all thofe who, like me, faw him arrive from Canton at the Ifle of France. They will all certify, that, with a view to render the account of his adventures more roman- tic, he publicly declared, that in a fmall vef- # fpl badly equipped, and almoft deftitute of provifions, or rather having nothing to fub- fifl: on but dried fifli, he quitted, on his de- parture from Kamfchatka, the Afiatic coaft in order to go to America. Over and above, this intrepid adventurer was not afraid to affirm before experienced feamen, that he went on fhore on fome unknown land, fituated to the north of California. This ftrange aflertion gives rife to a muhitude of objedions* VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 377 objedions. The diftreifed fituatiQU of his vcffel rendered his narrc^tion very improba- ble :b elides, the fhort journal which he had the imprudence to publifti, made no men- tion of that land fituated to the north of California, and much lefs of its produdions. On the laft article, above all, Benyowlki appeared to be exceedingly embarrafled ; and he could find no means of delivering himfelf from importunate queftions, but by faying that he referved for his court alone, the honour of being made acquainted with the. particulars of his important difcoveries. This evafion was not attended with fuc- cefs. A general map of the world was pre- fented to him, and he was defired to trace out the courfe of his voyage, after being affured that fuch a flight Iketch could not expofe him j but Benyowfki refufed, fA. Poivre, then intendant of the Ifle of France, was extremely glad that ihefe efforts were T 3 made 278 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. made in his prefence, to deted: the imptK dent impofture of this ftranger. That en* lightened adminiftrator prudently avoided taking any part in ihem ; but he made ufe of this clofe attack to infpire M. de Boynes with a juft and falutary fiifpicion of the pretended difcoveries of Benyo^vlki. If, as we fhall fee hereafter, this information did not produce the intended effeft, it '^duld certainly be highly illiberal to throw, out even the flighteft reproaches agaiQil bim» on that account. However, the relation given by Benyowlki, of his romantic ad- ventures, was fuflScient to i;uin, in the opi- nion of the public, this man, who was not . afhamed to produce before a generous peo- ple a fcandalous declaration, in which, he owned himfelf guilty of^an execrable crime. This ftranger, faid they, is not a mad- man ; and yet he wiflies to perfuade us that force and rigorous means were xxfed to de- prive TOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 279 priv€ him of his innocence, and to caufe him to fign a deed which, while it difgraces andde- bafes him, readers him odious and fufpe^ed. What expreffion in our language is ftrong enough to charaiflerife the unparalleled im- pudence of this ftranger, who thus allowed himfelf to fpread an accufation more de- grading to himfelf than to his enemies ? Is there a country in the world where the open acknowledgment of an aflaffina- tion is the means of recovering liberty ? What could have been the end of this fcan- dalous declaration ? — Is it not impoflible to difcover the motive of it ? Whilft I exprefs my fentiments in this manner, I am only the ^thful interpreter of that univerfal fentiment of indignation with which the people of the Ifle of France were infpired, when they read Benyow&i*8 improbable relation. It was an object of cenfure to every perfon of fenfe s and: if I T 4 have 28o VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAK. have tranfcribed it literally, it was merely becaufe I thought it proper that the moral charafter of this adventurer fliould be known. I hope I (hall be pardoned for fo often beftowing upon him that degrading appella- tion, Benyowfki is not condenjned by his writings alone; there are ftill greater charges againft him. Efcaped from the prifons of Kamfchatka^ Benyowfki proceeded to China with twenty or thirty prifoners. Scarcely had this ftranger arrived at Canton, when he found among the French there fome individuals, who were fenfibly afFeded by his misfortunes ; and he obtained from the fadors and officers of the Eaft- India Company confiderable affiftance for himfelf, as well as for thie peo- ple whom he pretended to have under hU command. They even did more for him : they engaged M. de St. Hylaire to take him on board- his ftiip, and to convey him with all VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 28 X all his fuite to the Ifle of France. M. de St. Hylaire, having a rich cargo under his care belonging to private merchants, made at firft fome hefitation : he was afraid of admitting into his veflel fuch a number of Grangers vrho had broke from the prifons of Kam- fchatka j biit compaflion got the better of every other fenfation. When he had, how- ever, proceeded to fea, his uneafinefs'began to be revived with more ftrength ; and very juftly, for thefe people had given him fome caufe to repent of his imprudent generofity. Thefe adventurers, at the time when they embarked, had carefully concealed their arms. AI. de St. Hylaire, therefore, when informed of this deception, was exceedingly forry to have men in his fhip who were perhaps in a fituation of giving laws to him inilead of receiving them. Thirty or forty' pri- foners, armed in a formidable manner, were, certainly, fuiiicient to alarm him refpefting the ft82 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR.- * tbe fate of his valuable cargo. In £0 delicate and difficult a fituation what courfe could he |mrfue ? Ought he to have made ufe <^ his authority to difarm thefe llrangers I But hb fiup was weak, and badly equipped— ought he in fuch a cafe to have rilked the property of his employers, and to have expofed his life and his liberty againfl: robuft, refolute, and enterprifmg men, who had every thing to gain and nothing to lofe ? The flighteft fwretence might have given rife to a quarrel, and produced an infurredion which it was prudent to avoid. M. de St. Hylaire weighed all thefe matters in bis mind, like a wife man ; and, forefeeing his danger, re- folved, after mature deliberation, to watch privately all the motions of his paffengers. He even did more: he pretended to pay great honour, and to (hew much deference and refped to Count Benyowfki. This ad- venturer then adled the man of importance ; 4 exhaufted • VOYAGE TO MADACJASCAR* 2S3 exhaufted all the refources of the inoft im- pudent impofture to give himfelf a fliU greater air of confcquence ; and by the moft ridiculous bravadoes impofcd even on his companioiQS in misfortune. He openly. de- clared himfelf to be their chief ; his orders were punctually executed : he ever afterwards commanded as a ma(ler» and they behaved to him with the obfequioufnefs of flaves. None but thofe who were gentlemen durft fpeak to him. This is a certain faft. . I was told it by M. de St. Hylaire and his oflScers^ The honours fo prudently paid to » Benj^ owfki, while they flattered his pride, pre- ferved tranquillity and good order in thc^ fhip. Subordination, fo. neceflary for the fafety of navigators, was not interrupted by this dangerous man ; and| at lengthy after a fhort atid favourable pafiage, they ar- rived' at the Ifle of Frahce. Much praife is certainly due to the wife tod cautious con- dud 184 VOYAGE TO MADAQASCAR. d«dt of M. deSt. Hylaire; for it evidc appears that he extricated himfelf, with { ability, from a very diflScult and dangc iituation^ . . Bcnyowfki, furrounded by a humc fuite, repaired immediately on his Ian to the governor of the colony. He longer appeared as an unfortunate -prifi but as the general of an army deco: with feveral infignia, and followed b; ^id-de-camp, whofe rich uniforms annc ed an officer of fu peri or diftindion. "Ji ah aftonifhing metamorphofis, or n what a ridiculous farce ! Had I not hee eye-witnefs of it, I fhould fcarcdy have tured to relate it. When the real hi of thefe adventurers was known at th( of France, the general and his brilliai teiidants became a fubjedt of laughti every fenfible man in the colony. Se; 1 are feldom enthufiafts. Such people VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. nB^^ quire coolnefs to fubdue the elements, and knowledge to conduft, from one extremity of the earth to the other, thofe large float- ing caftlcs, which fecure and proteft the commerce of polifhed nations. The lives of failors, and the fafety of a fhip or fqua- dron, ought not to be entrufted to men too fufceptible of paflion, or whofe imaginations being lively and irregular are apt to be bur- ried into fits of delirium. Men of this kind, who are fond of, and admire, whatever is fabulous or romantic, are * common only among idle and frivolous nations, or in large capitals, where their fatal influence ccca- fions ftill greater diforders than that of pro- fligates. Such enthufiafliic chara(9:ers are rare in the colonies, and are always deftitute of credit and authority. Benyowfki felt the truth of this afliertion # In all its bitternefs. He faw, at the fame time, of how much importance to him it was 286 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. was to immediately quit a country where his adventures and travels excited no enthu- fiafm. The more he prolonged his ftay the lefs refpe<9: was paid to him. On his de- parture for France he threw afide the name of Baron d'Aladar, under which he had hi- therto appeared," and BfTumed that of Count de Benyowfki : but what is highly worthy of remark is, that, at this epoch,* he publicly announced that he was going to foUcit in France the general government of the illand of Madagafcar. This new gafconade occafioned much ^mufement, and excited no alarm. One muft have had a forefight more than human to dread that a hope, in all appearance fo chimerical, fhould one day be realifed. I can, therefore, fafely aflert, that words are. not fufEcient to exprefs thofe fenfations of uneafincfs and furprife which filled the minds of the whole colony, when they learned VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 287 learned that Benyowfki bad been appoint- ed to the important ftation of governor of Madagafcar. I am entirely unacquainted xWith the feducing arts which this adventurer employed to accomplifti his ends: but M. Poivre, when he heard this intelligence, faid to me : *' We have feen fwarms of locufts , " devour, in an inftant, abundant crops ; we ** have £een two terrible hurricanes threaten " the Ifle of France with entire deftrudtion: ^ Madagafcar ferved to repair the evils " caufed by thefe formidable fcourges; but^ " in future, the Ifle of France will have no ^ refource. It muft fmk under its misfor- ^ tunes, and perifh if afflidted with fuch difafters. Under Benyowfki's govern- ment, Madagafcar will not fupply this ^* colony with provifions : we can no longer " have in jour diftrelTes but diftant and pre-- *^ carious fuccours, I have been much ac- " cuftomed to fee the fuccefs of impoftorg " a^d AC 288 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR; ** and adventurers : but that of Benyowlkl " aftonifhes me ; efpecially after the letter ** which I wrote refpedting him to M. dc *^ Boynes. I am well,, aware that every ** thing eccentric pleafes and amufes the " multitude, and leads them into every " excefs of credulity j but who could have " imagined, that a ftranger, lately efcaped '* from the prifons of Kamfchatka> and " whofe chara£ter was blafted by his own " writings, would have obtained an import- "^ ant fituation without my confcrit ? Con- ** neded clofely by my office with the pro- " fperity of the colony, I ought to have in- " fpired him, when he firft fpoke to me of " Madagafcar, with a defire of dethroning " the Great Mogul, His requeft, without " doubt, would have been granted j and we " fhould have been delivered." Benyowfki, however, was permitted to raife a company of volunteers j and he wifhed VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 289 wiflied that this troop might be dreffed and arriled in fuch a manner as to fpread fear and terror among the Malegaches ; but by this he proved how • little he was ac- quainted with the charafter of thefe people. He then chofe the Bay of Antongil for the place of his principal eftablifliment, though that part of the country is ravaged and ,de- folated by peftilential fevers^ from the montli of October to the beginning of May. Na- vigators call that fatal feafon the winter. No doubt can be entertained that thp nox- ious vapours, which arife from the woods and marflies, are the real caufe of thefe epi- demical difeafes. The inflammable air and putrid exhalations, which proceed in abiin- dance from water in a ftate of ftagnation, and corrupted by the remains of vegetables, change ff^Q good quality of the atmofpheric air, during calm weather or great heats. On fuch occafions the air is feldom renewed by U the 290 VOYAGE TQ MADAGASCAR* the fea breezes; the north vrinds carry thefe exhalatioiis along the cbafts; and drought and tranquiinty vender their effi^s more fatal. The Malegaches koow^ in a fmall degree, how to preferve themfeWdi by remaining in their huts, or houfes, amidft a thick fmoke ; yet the fobereft and mod ro- buil of thefe iflandera cannot always with- * {land the malignancy of the diforder. It is not furprifing, therefore, that the Euro- peans, who are obliged to refide on that coafli fhould fall vidims to diftempers, which attack even thofe who are feafohed to the climate. I was witnefs to the entire deftru£kion of a fmall French eftablifh'ment at Foulepointe, about the end of the year 1768. Though afliftance of every kind was fpeedily given to the unfortunate people who beldDged to it, not one of them could be faved. The robuft as well as the weak all fell vidims to VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAH. 29I to difeafe in the courfe of a very fliort time* If 1 beheld this calamity without fliaring the fate of the reft, it was becaufe the falubrious fea air, with which our veffel was furrounded, correfted, in fome degree, the fatal effeds of the putrid exhalations. Befides, as foon as the firft fymptoms of the difeafe appeared in the village, all commu- nication with the land, except what was indifpenfably neceflary, was rigoroufly for- bidden. The crew were no longer allowed to have any intercourfe with the iflanders ; . nor were their piroguas fufFered to approach our veffel. Without this precaution the infedion might have been introduced into the fhip ; and no means could have been devifed to check its progrefs. Thofe who intend to frequent this dangerous coaft ought not to defpife thefe obfervations, the juftnefs of which is confirmed by a multitude of examples. In a word, one U 2 muft igi VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. mull either perifh or fly from that un- wholefome climate when the infedlion breaks out. No part in the northern quar- ter of Mad^gafcar is free from putrid and malignant fevers ; but thefe cruel difeafes do not every year occafion the fame ra- vages. Their violence and duration feem to depend more particularly on the dirediion of the wind. When it blows long from the north, the evil is at its height. There are few men robuft and ftrong enough to refifl the influence of this dangerous wind, which prevails only from the end of October till the beginning of May. Benyowfl$:i certainly could r^ot have had very juft notions, or accurate accounts, re- fpe£ling the unhealthfulnefs of Madagafcar. Yet it cannot be prefumed that the badnefs of its climate was entirely unknown to him, as he had refided fome time at the Ifle of France. It was obferved even then that he had formed VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 293 formed a defign of foliciting the govern- ment of it : but this man, accuftoixied to brave every kind of danger, muft not have thought fuch an obftacle capable of op-» pofmg the fucccfs of a permanent eftablifh- ment. ' However this may be, Benyowfki ar- rived at the Bay of Antongil, furrounded by a body of troops, fufficient to overawe the iflanders. His foldiers were furnifhed with enormous fabres ; they wore piftols in their girdles; and it appeared as if their arms, their helmets, and their uniforms had been invented to fpread fear and terror amongft the natives of Madagafcar. As foon as he had landed, he took formal pofleffion ■♦ . of the ifland,and made himfelf be proclaim- ed governor-general. He then traced out the plans of feveral fortrefles, with a view of rendering himfelf formidable to the Mae - gaches, whom he wiihed to conquer and U 3 fubdue. 2^4- VOYAGB TO MA'DAGABCAlt. -fubdile. His projeflis, however, were neU ther founded onjuftice, nor dire6:ed by a local knowledge 'of the country. He made war upon f the Malegaches j exercife4 every kind of cruelty againft them ;v' and was foon execrated as the tyrant of the coun^ try. The natives frightened fled into the interior parts of the ifland ; all commerce was fufpended ; and Benyowfki deferted was known throughout all Madagafcar by the name of the wicked white man. It was, doubtlefs, very eafy to foreiee that Benyowfki's eftablifliment would not be attended with fuccefs : but fuch a begin-^ ning would, certainly, appear .furprifmg, were not the immorality and mifcondu£t of this adventurer well known, The recep- tion Benyowfki met with in France, and his being vefted with unlimited power, muft indeed aftonifh every perfon of fenfe. We Jive in an enlightened age, and, on that ac- 5 count, ▼OYAGK TO MADAGASCAR. 295 coutit, it is more difficult to account for tbe French nation thus confiding in, and em- ploying, a ftranger whofe anions were more than liifpicious. Several millions were thus facrificed to a falfe and imprudent fpe- cuiation, from which nothing could refult but great evils to the Ifle of France, and ilill greater to Madagafcar. A fimple recital 6f fad\s conveys the mod fcvere cenfure upon the imprudent confi- dence repofed in this adventurer. M. * Poivre certainly is free from all blame on that account; for he did every thing in his r power to guard his country againft the danger of being deluded by him. But let U8 hear the account of an officer of diftindion, who has every title to the higheft celebrity. I am not allowed to men- tion his name ; becaufe, being now ab- fent, I had not an opportunity of afking his pcrmiffion. This oiBcer accompanied U 4 M. de (4 296 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. M. de Belcombe and M. Chevreau when they infpeded Benyowfki's' eftablifhments at Madaga{«ar. ^ When I arrived/' fays he, " at Foule- ** pointe, on the 1 7th of September 1 776, the papulation of the villages in ,the neighbourhood of the fort had decreafed one half; bloody wars had defolated the •' whole country ; the trops were entirely " deftroyed ; and agriculture was fo much ** negledied that we could hardly procure three hundred pounds of rice.. A fcarcity of other provifions was equally felt. My ^' furprife, on this account, was very great; " for, when I was in the fame fpot three ** years before, I obferved commerce and *' agriculture 'flourifliihg ; the markets were *^ abundantly iPupplied ;, and ten large v"^- '^ fels found a fufficiency of ^ce to load ^^ them, witliout any increafe taking place *' in the value of that neceflary commodity. 7 " This 44 iC VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 297 *' This large quantity of provifion wasfolely ** deftined for the Ifle of France, which three *^ fucceffive hurricanes had redj|ced to a moft ^' alarmingftate of diftrefs. All the crops were *' loft ; a dreadful famine, the inevitable con- ** fequence of thefe fcourges, threatened the ^* colony with ruin ; and the feverity of it ** began even to be felt when the fpeedy ^' arrival of thefe ten veflels, loaded with ■ ** rice, quieted the uneafinefs of the inhabi- ** tants, in the firft moments of their diftrefs. " If, on this occafion as on many others, ** Foulepointe faved the Ifle of France, wc ' ** could no longer hope for the fame *^ aflSftance, The fields were unculti- .** vated, and commerce entirely annihilat- 5' ed. The defpotifm of Benyowfki had " fpread a general alarm throughout the ^* ifland/ The Malegaches in confttrnation '' fled from the borders of the fea, and re- f* tired to tlie iaterior parts of the country. " M. de acfi TOTAGS TO MADAOASCAK« ** M. dc Belcombc having affea ** Yavi, the fovereign of Foulepointc, ' •* the other iichiefs of the neighbourt •* afked them if they had any reafa ^ complain of the French^ and aboi ^* of the fifteen foidicrs ^f Benyov •* legion, who guarded the harbou ^ Foulepointc. Their anfwef to this ( ** tion was not explicit : they were, di •* lefs, afraid that their complaints v •• ferve as a pretence for new periecutl ** and confined themfelves merely to tl: ^* qucfting of a free-trade. M. de Beici •* aflured Yavi and the reft of the cl ** that the French foldiers were kept at dagafcar only to proteft and fecun liberty of the Malegaches ; and he *^ hortcd them to cultivate their landl. « to live in peace with their neighb *^ M. Chevreau took an inventory oi *' ftores belonging to the king ; and IS t( ■ I'Sl'^- the P/ain of Health. Be- ** tvveen this place and Louifburgh we vi-* *' fitcd fevcral fmall forts, and fifteen viU ** lages. Benyowfki had boafted much to *• us of the happy fituation of this place^ ** which was truly rural ; but w^e found ** that its denomination was altogether Jim- T •* proper. The Plain of Health appeared "to VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* JOJ *' to u* to be a very unhealthful fpot, fur- ** rounded by mountains, the great height of ^^ which attrafts the clouds, and conden&s *' them into ram. M^ dc Belcombe re- " marked to Bcnjowiki the diEsidvantages " of this poft : but though they were ob- « *' vious, be obftinately refufed to acknow- " kdge them. In vain was be fhewn the " defiles in the mountains, which it was ** impoffible to guard : he ftill perfifted ** that this poft was lefs fufceptible of an '* attack than that of Louiiburgh. Hemain- ** tained that a fmall battery, which he cal- ** led Fort Auguftus, fituated on a peaked mounts in the middle of the Plain of Healih^ would protect and defend his *^ oftablifhraent in fuch a manner as to re- '* pel an enemy, however numerous.. I af- " cended to this fine fortrefs by a paltry ftair, " confiftiog of 20 hundred and fifty fteps, ** and found it a fc^uare of eight fathoms, " furrounded «6 (4 304 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. €6 furrounded by palifades abfolutely rotten. Four three-pounders were the formidable *^ artillery which, on the one hand, were to ** proteft the navigation of the river Lin- *^ gucbate, and on the other to defend the ** grand eftablifhment which he propofed " to form at the bottom of the fort, ana to ** which he had already given the name of ** the Town of the Plain of Health. *^ This town confifted, when we faw it, " of a magazine fifty feet in length, andthir- " ty in breadth ; and of two other fmaller ** edifices, one of which was intended for ^' an hofpital, and the other for barracks. *' M. de Belcombe, in my prefence, afked " Benyow&i, if he had nothing more to *' fhew him. Benyowfki, without being " in the leafldifconcerted, replied, My forts *' proted: the navigation of the import- '* ant river Linguebate, and the free navi- ** gation of this river renders me abfolute ** mailer VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 305 •* mafter of the adjacent country. Have I *V.iiot in this rendered a very eflential fer- ** vice to France? Could anything more *' be expeded from the forces and funds ^' which were at my difpofal ? Would an- " other in my place have done more ?— " Would he have done a^ much ? M. de " Belcombe fmiled, and faid,You fent word, *' governor, to the minifter of the marine, '^ that you had laid the foundation of a '' large town, which you called the P/ain of ** Healths Where is that town ? — What is *' become of it ?— Has it difappeared ? for I ** fee nothing here but a few miferable " huts. " To this embarraffing queftion Beny- ** owlki replied, that his funds had failed. •* My citadel, added he, has coft more than *' I expeded. It was neceflary that I fhould *' firftpay attention to the fafety of the town, ** the plan of which I will now fhew you : X "this 306 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAH. ^ *' this project is not a chimera ; it ml 9 ^' carried into execution as fooa as i; *^ procure funds fufficient to undertake ^ *But your citadel, faid M. dc Belcc^ •* is a fmall pitiful battery, commands ^' all fides by the high mountains vi '* f unround it : this battery of four tl •^ pounders, placed pn the fummit *^ fmall mount, can never anfwer the " you propofe. Befides, I here come *^ France, by orders of the minifter, i " fpedt your labours, and I cannot ; *^ making you acquainted with my r <^ tions. Permit me to aflc you another ( " tion, no lefs interefting— Where h ** grand highway from Louilburgh to ! ^* betoc ? Enable me, I pray, to gii /* account of it to the minifter. You *^ explained the advantages of it to h ** the minuteft manner. You have ** him that this communication of the cc IKOtlAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 307 ** era. with, the weftern fide of the ifland ^•-.muft* nicjke yoi!: fovereign, a^r oiM may ** fay, of the African coaft, becaufe the port ** of Bombetoc is feparated from Africa* "only by the channel of Mqzaiftbique. *^ That. this wild country^ int^rfoded by " high mountains, forefts^ andjiyfci?^ fhould .not have thrown obftacles in )the: way o£ your project, is to me a matter of giloniflx- *^ ment and furprife. . *^ That route, faid Benyowiki,, is traced " but : this is a fadt that cannot be con- " tcfted. I fllall fhew you an itinerary, " and diredions to be purfued for travcrf- *^ ing that chain of. mountains which fe-» " parates the eaftern froni the weftern ^* coaft. You m,uft leave on the fouth the ";high mountain; of Vigagorai 4nd follow, " a few deviations, excepted, t-he road fre- ** quented by the iflander^, twhen they ^ come from the coaft of Bombetoc to the X 2 ' "Bay 5o8 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. iC Bay of Antongil. Some labour wilt- ^^ doubtlefS) neceflary to render this xi ^^ more pradicable ; but the prefent fed •* and my iituation with regard to' ^^ iflanders, will not permit me, for fi ^* time, to engage in that undertaking. ^* you wifh, however, to explore this ro •' I will accompany you ; and you " then fee what difficulties I miuft exj ** ence, before I can overcome thofe di m ** cles which are to be furmoiinted. ** M. de Belcombe had neither lei ^^ nor inclination to undertake a long *• difficult journeyacrofs the ifland of *' dagafcar, and he rightly conjedlurcd Benyowiki had not made the pro] but from a certainty of being refi " M. de Belcombe thought it his du ** obferve, that he was commiflioned t •* fped works executed, and not works •* jeded. Proceeding then to a new < iC €i VOYAOE TO MADAGASCAR. 309 " tion, he afked him why he had ceafed to *' fend rice and oxen to the Ifle of France, *' The wars which I have had to carry on " againft the iflanders, faid Benyowlki, ** have deprived, and ftill deprive me, of "the provifions neceflary for my own " people. In fuch a fituation^ how could I *' fend fupplies to the Ifle of France ? You ** muft -readily fee that it wasimpoffible. I •* can with equal eafe juftify the wars I " have undertaken. I aflemble a palabre^ ** and propofe to the iflanders plans calcu- *• lated to promote their advantage. They, " however, not only rejeft them, but the *' chiefs have the infolencfe to threaten me. They even do more : a fignal is given for defl;roying me j feveral mufkets arc " difcharged at once ; and I cfcape, almofl: *' miraculoufly, from this imminent danger. ** Being vigorouflyfupported by my foldiers, ^^ I difperfe the multitude, and frighten them X 3 , " b7 3IO VdYAGE. TO MADAGASCAR, •* by fome cannoa fliots which I ordei ** be difcharged frooi the fort, I infift ** having the heads of thofe chiefs f •* made an attempt on my life, in themic ** of a folemn aflembly ; but this is reftt *' I then call to my affiftance the Sani " rives, a people who live on the banfc *' the river Manaharre: five hundred ** their warriors range themfelves under *' ftandards, and enable me to punifh . ** fubduc my dangerous neighbours, B( *' compelled to fue , for peace^ the arti ^' of a treaty were formally agreed on ** fandioned in a grand cabar or "palai ** the ufual ceremonies were obferved ^' rewarded the Sambarivcs when I *^ miffed them ; I promifed to proted: '* defend them againft the enterprife ** their enemies j and I exhorted then ** cultivate their lands, as the fpee< *^ mode of remedying thofe evils which VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 3II ** been occafioned by our diffenfions. Thefe " evils are undoubtedly great ; the country *' is laid wafte ; the principal part of the ' " villages prefent nothing to the fight but •* heaps of aflies j the lands are left unculti- *' vated ; and a famine has been ^he necef- " lary confequence of all thefe diforders. " Peace and tranquillity, however, are about " to bereftored : the iflandcrs, more timor- ** ous and fubhiiffive, will apply to agricul- •' turc ; and will repair thofe misfortunes, " which they have brought upon themfelves " by their odious and criminal plot againft '* a man who knows how to make himfelf *' be feared and refpeded. The authority " with which I am inveftedftiall never lofe " its force in my hands ; I will never fuffer •' it to be defpifed; I will enforce obedience* " Every military man muft approve my *' condu£t, and adopt my principles. . The " whites ought never to truft to the friend- X 4 . '' fhip iC €C 312 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, ** fhip of the blacks j they ought not e •* to demean themfelvcs fo far as to feek •' it. I am a foreigner, and on that accc ought to exert myfelf the more in a to procure refpeft to the French flag. •* ad minift ration will reftore t6 it that dq *' of weight which the weaknefs of my " deceflbrs made it lofe. Such almoft ** the fubftance of Benyowfki's conv( *' tion. He added inveftives of every 1 ** againft the iflanders, whofe charadte " delineated under the blackeft and fa ** colours. " We judged that an abfolute wan provifions was the only motive which determined him to preferve peace. ** hatred and refentment of this reveng *' man had given way only to the moft *' gent neceffity. M. Belcombe, being it " alarmed on this account, cndeavourc " infpire Benyowlki with jufter and n " hun 4C VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 313 « ** humane ideas j and, though he was " convinced of the inutility of his exhorta* " tions and efforts to render the peace dur- ** able, he refolved, on his return to Louif- burgh, to make a new treaty, in order to convince the inhabitants of Madagafcar " that he entertained fentiments truly pa- « cific. " Benyow&i violently oppofed this plan, " which M. de Belcombe had formed, of ** again affembling the iflanders, for the *' purpofe of confirming the peace ; and he ** endeavoured to prove, that the holding of a new palabre would be attended with great inconveniences. His remonftrances however were of no avail j the affembly " was held on thefecond of Odober 1776-; *' but it was not numerous, and confided ** only of an hundred and fifty of the na- " tives. M. de Belcombe^ on tliis occafion, ** renewed^the treaty ; exhorted thefe peo- «♦ pie 46 a 314 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. •* pie to cultivate their lands ; to avoic •• caufe of difcord among themfelves ; ** aflured thenv that the French eilab •* ment at the Bay of Antongil had other objed: in view than that of fe ing to them happinefs and tranquil •* Sell, faid he, what provifions you •* fpare to the French, and they will ; ^ ted yon. Your enemies will then *^ longer dare to attack you ; and you 1 ^ in future, apply to commerce and ; ** culture with the greateft fafety. It it .^' doing jullice to M. de Belcomhi ** obferve, that he neglefted no m which w^ere likely to re-efl:abli{h con and confidence among the iflanders ; every hope of profperity was chimei as long as the French, fettlements ^ under the direction of B.enyowfki. '^ iflanders remained motionlefs, and fee ** to be infenfible to all the teftinnonw j Ci c; « ■ VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAlt* 315 ^^ friendfhip and affurances of good will •' which were given to them. Benyowfki ** appeared to me very much chagrined at ^^ the infinuations thrown out againft his " conduiS. This was very evident ; for " M. de Belcombe wifhed that his fen- » ** timents might not be mifunderftood, though he always behaved to the governor with that deference and refpedl which are neceffary for preferving fubordination. Before our departure from Madagafcar, " I had a converfation with Benyowfki, on the little advantage which France was likely to derive from the eftablifhment *^ at the Bay of Antongil. You are right, " faid he, in yotir opinion ; but a leffoa " which has coft two millions of livres, " is not too dear to teach your nation, that it ought to have allowed me a fqua- , *' dron of (hips, with two millions of livres " for my annual expenditure. Had it then , •* fent €( ii €C u ^i6 TOTAGB TO MADAGASCAR ^^ fent fix hundred recruits every yes ^ ihould have railed in the courfe of tvi ^ ty years a flcurifhing and formidabic ^^ lony« I obferved to hitA that the cc ^ try was unhealthful ; and that five in ** of the people fent tluther fell vidim ^ the infalubrity of the climate* In an! to this, Benyowfki replied, that by cl ^^ ing confiderable trads of land, during *^ favourable feafon, difeafes might be ^ vented, and that the Plain of Health ** a healthful fpot, whatever M, de ! ^* combe might fay to the contrary. *^ I have loft a great many people, cc ** nued he ; and if the eighty who reir •* are either fick, or in a ftate of conv ** cence, this deplorable fituation, in w " you find me, is to be afcribed to the ** I was obliged to undertake againft " iflandcrs, and ftill more to my refidir *^ Louifburgh, Bcfides, it is always n 3 "e voYAOE to Madagascar; 317 •^ eafier to conquer a colony belonging to ^ an enemy, than to eftablifh one. I agreed ^ with him in this idea ; and quitted him| ^ much aftoniftied at thfe confidence re- ** pofed by • the French miniftry in the ** projects of this foreigner. ' " On our arrival at the Ifle of France^ •^ that colony began to be in want of pro " vifions. The refources of Madagafcar " had abfolutely failed. It was neceffary^ *• therefore, to fend fhips to the Cape of " Good Hope ; and heavy complaints pro- •* ceeded from every quarter, in order to ** open the eyes of the miniftry refpe^ting " the mifcondu£t of Benyowlki.** The journal from which the above ac- count is extrafted proves, that the eftabliih- ment formed at the Bay of Antongil was not fufceptible of being preferved. At the tinie when it was inTpei^ed by M. de Belcombe, M. de Boyne$ was not mi- nifter I . ^tS VOTAOB TO HADAOASCAtt^ fiifter o^the marine* M. Turgot had HiiC^ ceeded to that office ; and un^er the admU Qiftration of this prudent minifter fuch an eftablifhment could not be fopported* Vain efibrt8 were made to avert the ftorm^ for impollors every where find protedora;; but fentence was pronounced ; and if it was «ot put in execution till the adnuniftration of his (ucceflfor, it was becaufe M. Turgot did not remain long enough in office to pay particular attention to this part of his duty* This illuftrious man, whofe eminent talents raifed him far above the generality of hie cotemporaries, knew from M, Poivre, that iBenyowlki was a dangerous adventurer, who had rendered himfelf the tyrant and fcourge of the natives of Madagafcar. Hav- ing juft then returned to Europe, I learned that Benyowfki had made a conqueft of the ifland of Madagafcar ; and I heard his courage and abilities every where extolled. A I was yOYACE TO MADAGAltfCAR, 315! , 1 was aflured that he had built towns and fortreflcs ; that he had conftru£fced a grand road from Louifburgh to Bombetoc ; and all thefe reveries ferioufly propagated were fo much believed, as to becom^e a fubjcft of vronder and converfation in the city. One Was fcarcely allowed to doubt the truth trf* thefe ridiculous fables ; and M. Poivre him;* felf vjras obliged to undertake the tafk of re-^ futing them* In the mean time Benyowiki, difgraced^ arrivfed in Paris, where he endca* voured to confirm the reports which had been fpread of his brilliant exploits in M^ diagafcar. He comjJamed loudly of the injuftice of the adminiftratiori of the Ifle of France ; and was at length able, if not to juftify himfclf, at leaft to obtain new rfr* wards. He then infinuated himfelf into favour with Dr. Franklin : this fa^ is in- contcftable, as I was an eye-witnefs of it j but 1 dannot reproach myfelf wkh having fuffercd ■:: 320 VOYAGE TO MADAGA3CAII# fufiered that celebrated man to be ignon of what I knew refpeiling this adventm Benyowlki, however, went to Amen where he had fcarcely arrived when again formed a projeA of getting pofieff of Madagafcar ; and with that view p ceeded to the Bay of AntongiU in an Ai rican veiTeL I am not acquainted wi(h objeifl of this expedition ; but I know t M, de 3ouillac, the governor of the lilc France, fent, on the 9th of May 1786 veflel, called the Louifa, commanded Vifcount de la Croix, to oppofe Benyowfl enterprifes ; and caufed a detachment fixty men from the regiment of Pod cherry, under the orders of M. Larchej captain of infantry, to accompany h M. Mayeur, alfo, the principal fador, c barked in the fame vefTel, in order to g M. Larcher every information neceflarj counteraft the views of Benyowfki j fo; VgyAGE to MADAGASCAR* 32! ti^as known, that he had feized a magazine belonging to the king at Angoncy, a village % fituated to the north of the Bay of An* tongiL The Louifa eaft andhor at Foulepointe on the 17th of the fame month; and Count de la Croix, after procuring fuch provifions as he flood in need of, quitted that port and proceeded to Angoncy^ He arrived there on the 23d ; but ihftead of anchoring in the bay, the entrance of which is difficult, and the (ituation badly laid down in charts, he chofb rather to anchor at the diflance of half a league from the ftiore^ in the bay of the caftern cape near to that of Angoncy. When the veffel was fafely moored, M. Larcheif prepared to make good a landing ; and fome boats well manned, and having each two pieces of cannon in their- bows, advanced towards a part of the coaft where no obftacle appeared to interrupt them : but when the Y people u ::: Tr^r.iJff to Madagascar* pjctTic vt*^. ult ready to go on fliorr, a tciIl^v .Vuta IJettyowlki's troops left them ui no aoui)£ refpedling the hoftile intentions ci'in*^fc .\uventurer. A few cannon fhots, he^v lorved him as guides, conduced him bv A more open route, which would, howjL ever, have prefented infurmountable obfta- clc> >*.id it been guarded and defended. M. Larcher had five marflies, and a bad bridge, ninety feet long, to crofs, before he could arrive at Benyowflci's fettlement. It may VOYAGfi to MADAGASCAR* 323 tfiay be readily . fuppofed that he would hot have purfiied this route had he bcca Acquainted with the danger of it : but Beny- t)W!(ki was fo little afraid that any one could inarch by fo difficult a road,, that he had negledled to cut dawn the bridge which rendered it "^ paflfabki This negligence^ il inconceivable in a man who expected an at- tack : for it was afterwards known, that hie openly faid, *' The people of Foulepointc " will foon come to afk reftitution of the " magazine I have feized : I am glad of it ; for they will fave me the trouble of gor- ing to attack them at Foulepointe." When M. Larcher had paffed the bridge with his artillery, he diftin&ly heard the noife of people at work. A little while after the advanced guard announced that he faw a red flag, which is the ordinary Hgnal for engaging in this ifland. M. Larcher im- mediately ordered his men to iafpc6t their ' Y 2 . arms* cc 3^4 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAIU arms, and to prepare for marching towri Uic enemy in order of battle. Fifty hoU Were then perceived, all regularly placetj a line, one of which, larger and higher til the reft,, was judged to be that of Benyc &i. They had not yet feen the fort^ the view of it was intercepted by a fq grove of trees : but as foon as they difl guifhed it, they obferved about ai) hunij men who were retiring to it with prec tation. This fort, fituated on an eminence, furroundcd by ftrong palifades, was defen by two four pounders and a few fwivels, foon. as Benyowlki judged that the Frc were near enough^ he ordered his \ to fire the cannon. The firft difcharge with bullets ; the fecond with grape € and the third with fmall balls. Thefe t . difcharges were fuppprted by a brifk fii mufketry ; but notwithftanding this f< VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 32^. fence, the French continued to advance in good order. When the commanding officer thought that he was at a proper diftanc9 from the engmy, he ordered them to return Benyowfki's fire. This fingle volley proved decifive: Benyowlki received a wound in the bread with a ball, which put an end to his ^ cxiftence, at the moment when he was juft applying a match to a cannon loaded with grape -(hot. Luckily the priming did not catch fire : had this cannon been difcharged, it would certainly have occafioned great dif- order among the French ; and might have,, perhaps, caufed their expedition to mifcarry. They were in a fituation where it was ne- ceflary for them either to conquer or perifh ; they were deprived of every means of being fupported ; all communication with the coaft was cut ofFj and they were inclofed in fuch a manner, that it would have been impoffible for them to regain their vefleL Y 3 Imme- ^6 yOYAOE TO MAbA6ASfcAR* to Immediately after Benyowfki's death| tl fort futrendtred at difcretion. The great part of the iflanders, faved themfelvcs ox the palifa:des ; , and no attempt was piade, ftop them. The objefl: of the expeditii was accomplifhed ; and ]VJ. Larcher h » ftri£t orders to treat the inhabitants of t country with humanity. Some of the "• ' • ■ . * who joined the whites, laid down ^h arrns, and furrendered themfelves prifonei but they were the faipe moment releaf and reftored to their full liberty. This j tierous behaviour induced the chief of -fl goncy to come to requeft peace, and throw himfelf under the protedion of French. He prefented to M. Larcher old Portuguefe woman, and the Baror d'Adefcheins, the widow of an ofEcer v had followed Benybwfki to Madagaf< Thefe two women had fled for (helter to chief J and it was in compliance with tl enti VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ 327 entreaties that he delivered them into the hands of the French. This chief complained bitterly of Benyowflci's tyranny. He faid he had reigned over that fertile part of the country where he was eftablifhed with a rod of iron ; that he plundered the inhabi-f tants without mercy; and deftroyed^ through fear, the fruits of their induftry. He was continually adding new taxes to the buiv thens which he thought proper to impofe. on them ; and he violated, in an outrageous manner, the moft refpedled ufages and cus- toms. Their vain remonftrances were re- jedled with harflinefs. la treating them as flaves, and fubjeding them to the njoft galling yoke, he wifhed to make them lofe even the hopes of recovering their liberty, Thefe people were fubmiffive to his ca- prices: his confummate audacity, hiscunning, and ftill more the impetuofity of his cha- rader, had* rendered him abiblute mafter'of y4 • Mada- ^zS voVaob to masagascae. Madagafcar ; and, at the time when he was killed, he was preparing to drive the Frenclj from the ifland, and even tp turn their kindnefles againft themfelves. Generous nation, but too e^ftr to l>e de-r luded, ceafe to give way tq that entbufiafm which has involved yoq in fo many evilst Remember that the Malcg^ches have ftill to . reproach you for abandoning their country to pillage, and to the tyranny of an advent, turer, who was, iji every refpeiS:, unworthy of *the reception with which you honoured him. You entrufted to this foreignej: fe- veral millions of money, and objedts of the utmoft importance. You granted him re-s wards and marks of diftin£tJ.on referved for your moft zealous defenders ; but what gratitude did he fhew for them ? He took up arms againft you ; he fired upon your trocp.- ; he plundered your magazines, JIf d 110^ inconfiftency and imprudence pre- fide^ VOYAGE TO MAOAOASCAft. 329 fided over all hU adipns, he would hav^ £ouQd means to prevent you from carrying Qn commerce, or bav^Dg any idtercourf^ lij^ith Madagafcan The Malegaches, exhaufted by inteftime IR^ars, had lo(|t, during the adminiilratioa of Benyowfki, alipoil all their good quaFities ; they were become bafe flaves, devoted to the caprices of a ferocious and intr^Q^ble mafter^ Under him thAQASCA1BL. lentil. This leguminous plant rifes to tl height of the cherry-tree : in fome of t interior provinces its leaves are employ for feeding filk-worms. When you quit the plains aiid meadon to enter thofe immenfe forefts which fer as a retreat for a variety of wild anima jour imagination is flruck with beauties another kind. Profound folitude, a cooln which -furprifes you in fo warm a cliraa ihades inaccefSble to the rays of the fi) and echoes which on all fides repeat t bellowing of the cattle, ftill afford you ne enjoy ments^ But thefe enjoyments do n equally delight all : tliey feem to be fuit in a peculiar manner to tbofc. who are ol ferious and melancholy difpofition : y however infenfible people may be to t beauties of nature, they will always behc with a kind of enthufiafm that multitu VOYAGE TO ITADAGASCAK, 34^ of trees of a prodigious fize and height^ among which the foterjbe is particularly diftinguifhed, Thofc who prefer the ftudy of botany to that of mineralogy will find abundance of plants in the mountains of Ambotifmene to gratify their curiofity. Enormous blocks of rock-cryftal alfo may be feen there, fome of which are cryftallized, while others appear to have no regular form ; fome of them contain fchorl and other foreign bo-' dies. Thofe kinds of fchorl in greateft re-» Gueft among naturalifts, are common in thefe mountains, as well as indices of tin-^ . mines, which the iflanders call voula-fouU (hefine. Irourmines of an excellent qiiality are difperfed in great profufion all over the ifland, and very near to the furface of the garth. The Malegaches break and pound the ore, and place it between four ftones Jined with potter's clay j they then employ a double 348 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. a double wooden pump, inftead of a pair bellows, to give the fire more ftrength ; a in the fpace of an hour the mineral is ic ftatc of fufion* The iron produced by t operation is foft and malleable : no bettei known iti the world. There are, doubtU other mines in this ifland ; but thofe who w to fearch for them muft not be afraid of d ficulties and labour. Riches of this ki being inclofed in the bowels of the ear) much digging and tedious exertions 2 neceflary to procure them : befide^, acc< to the mountains of Ambotifmene is ir practicable, as the iflanders fay, to the E ropeans; for their fummits abound wi fteep rocks and precipices, which preve them from being approached. The high< of thefe mountains is about eighteen hui dred fathoms above the level of the fe In its fhape it has a great refemblance 1 the Table Mount defcribed by every trave VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 349 ler who has vifited the Cape of Good Hope. I can only give this faint fketch of the mineralogical riches of Madagafcar. The real riches, however, of this ifland are its numerous vegetable produdions, varied almoft without end by ' the nature and fer- tility of its foil, I (hall here give a defcrip- tion of thofe which I brought to the Ifle of France to M. Poivre. Description of Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, WHicHGROw in the north- ern Part of Madagascar, and which i carried to the isle of France, in the end of the year ' 1768. MJL^O'MJNGHir, 2ihrgc tree, the bark of which is brown, the trunk ftraight. ) J 5J;o Voyage to uAbAbrAicA^t ftraighty and the wood white. Its &ji firft white and milky^ becomes, t^heiv poTed to the air, as red is blood. The I is a kind of nutmeg. The Malegai afcribe to this nut the fame vtrtueqf al afcribe to the real nutmeg* Rarabh This is a wild nutmeg^t larger and much more beaudflil than malae^maf^bhl It fumifhes a iiutmeg £ which the Malegaches extra£k a very j matic oiL This oil, with which they their bodies and hair» is^ efficacious in i ing and difEpating cold hutnours, Ta internally it ftrcngthens the ftomach. Bachi'-bachL The bachi-bachi refera the rarabd ; but its leaves and /ruit a little different. It' grows in elevated plia Its fruit, as well as the covering which c tains them, is aromatic. Rhara-horac is a real wild nutmcg-1 the trunk of which is large, and the bran< bu Voyage to Madagascar* jjt bufhy. It delights to grow in moift marfhy J>laces, Thtfouningo-mena-rabou^ a large {)igeon of a blue colour, is very fond of the fruit of this tree. Afteir digefting the mace, it fows the nuts throtighout the whole ifland. Ravend-fara. Of all the ntltmeg-trees in the ifland of Madagafcar the ravend-fara has principally engaged the attention of botanifts* The odour of cloves, cinnamon and nutmegs is not. rauch different from that of a kind of perfume extrafled by diftillation from the leaves , of this tree* They yield an effential oil much more efteemed than that procured from cloves. The cooks in India employ this perfume for ragouts, in preference to any other kind of fpicery. This valuable tree grows in moift places ; but a dry foil is not abfolutely contrary to its nature. It becomes very * ' - • • ■ large and bufhyj its top, which a§ of a pyramidal 35^ Voyage to Madagascar* pyramidal form, is well furniflied ^ leaves ; its wood is white, exceedingly h as well as heavy, and deftitutepf fmell, the bark exhales a very ftrong odouf , frdtt is a rfeal nut flattened at the two ex mities. The perfume of the nut, and hufk in which it is inclofed, is not fo ftr as that of the leaves, but in my opinioi is piuch more delicate. Harame. The harame is the largeft tailed kind of tree that grows in the nei bourhood of Foulepointe. The wood the trunk appears whitifh externally, of a reddifli colour in the heart. Whe has attained its utmoft fize, it every ] cafts its outer bark, which is thick grey. The trunk is fmooth and wit! branches, except at the upper extrem: but its branches are well furnifhed \ leaves, and the bufli on its top has a \ beautiful appearance. YQYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, ^^^ The fmalleft incifion made in this tree produces, in great abundance, a white refiri- ous gum, which has a very ftrong aromatic fmell. The Malegache women make it into a kind of pafte * with which they rub thabr faces, in order to preferve the freflxnefs of the fkin. When this refmous gum is burnt, it ex- hales a perfume like that of incenfe. The fruit is a nutf the hufk of which, only, i$ aromatic. Laben. This tree grows in fandy places on the fea-fhore, and rifes to a very great height. Its wood, tvhich is hard, and of a reddifti colpur, is proper for being employed in cabinet work. The fruit of the laben is of the fliape and fize of a large olive. The kernel it contains is white and oily, and has a delicate tafle. Fouraha. The fouraha is one of the xnofl beautiful and ufeful trees to be found A a in 354 VOTAGB TO MAOAGASCAt. in warm climates. The wood of it^ next to that of Te^is the befl: in India for con« ftruAing veffels. It may very properly be compared to the Tacamaca of the Ifle of Fhince. Like that tree it yields a balm of a green colour, which is excellent for curing wounds. This tree, which is large and bufliy, is loaded with branches of a great fize, and is remarkable for its prodigious height. «> • Tevartna. The tevartna exhibits, in the midft of the forefts, all the fymmctry of art. It feems to have been cut on purpofc into a pyramid confifting of feven ftories ; and its bufliy branches, placed horizontally around a fmooth ftraight trunk, give it an appearance altogether lingular. It is, per- haps, the moft beautiful tree known for de- coration. Hinichy. This tree, the moft common of all thofe found in the forefts near Fou1«t pointe, Voyage to Madagascar. ^sS pointe, is exceedingly proper for forming avenues^ as its top is well furniihed with leaves. It refembles the plum-tree, and rifeft to the fame height. The wood, which is of a red colour, may be ufed for cabinet work. Its bark is fmooth and white ; and the leaves are large, and of a beautiful green. Foterjbe. The fbterfbe is one of the largeft trees in M adagafcar ; but its wood is fit only for f||el. Another kind oifoterjbi^ defcribed by Flacourt under the nlame of Vduafoutra^ grows in the marfhes. Tanguern. This tree grows on the borders of the fea. Its wood, which is hard and variegated with veins, is proper for cabinet and inlaid work. The Malegaches make too much ufe of the fruit of this tree, to the dangerous qualities of which they are no ftrangers. It is a real manchineel, which, as is well known, produces one of the opioft formidable of poifons. A a 2 Ant afar a. 356 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR^ Aniafcma. The ahtafara is known in? the Ifle of France under the name of milk- wood. Its flowers have the fame fmell and fhape a& thofe of jafmine* If a flight inci- fion be made in the trunk of this tree, it yields, in great abundance, a miflcy juice which is of a very cauftic nature. AJJy. This tree, which is a beautiful kind of palm, rifes to th^ height of ten feet*. Its trunk is marked with, the imprefliioa of its leaves, which are continually falling in fucceflion. Its top is crowned with three or four rows of leaves, four or five feet in lengthy and an inch and a half in breadth. Thefe leaves refemble thofe of the lily: they are as thick as one's hand, and form a beautiful umbrella. T'afoumouna. The wood of this tree> which is large and bufliy, is white, and ita bark fmooth. Its fniit is a real acorn, like that of the oak. The kernel has a tafl:e fome* VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 357 fomewhat aromatic, and fmells like turpen^ tine, HountH.' The wood of the hounits is of 4i beautiful yellow colour. The bark is red, and when an incifion is made in it, a juice red as coral iffues from it. By the help of a common lye the Malegaches «xtra£t a fine red dye from the bark of the root. The hounits is large and beautiful. Zavin-raven. This tree rifes to a mode- rate fize, and is .not bufliy. The trunk is full of knots; the bark is grey, and the wood white. It grows in marfhy places. Lingo. The lingo is a woody creeping twig, which afcendsto the fummits of, the higheft trees. This twig \% only two inches in diameter. Its wood is yellow, ^s well as the interior part of the bark. The Malegaches' employ the root and bark of the lingo to dye thresvd red and yel- low. Aa3 Harongan^ 358 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. ^ Harongan. This tree, which is about fifteen feet in height ^ grows in a Tandy foiU Its leaves are ufed to dye mats and bafkets red. The gum extraded from it is a kind of dragon's blood. ^ancajfon. The tancaflbn is a kind of wild vine, the fruit of which is four, and fomewhat agreeable to the tafte. This twig rifes to the tops of the higheft trees. Its root is diuretic The iflanders efteem the fruit of the tancajfon. Flacourt, who has de- fcribed feveral kinds of wild vines, makes no mention of it. J'aco. A kind of wild vine like the tan-- cajfon. : Foua-lomba. A kind of vine, the fruit of which the Europeans prefer to all others, and which they call Madagafcar grapes. Their tafte is fqmewhat foyrifh. This plant 4ies every year. Its root is a kind of yam* ^finakuey. A large fenfitive plant. ^refou. VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 359 Arefcu. A fpecies of elder. Tougnounan. The flowers of this tree are fhaped like a bell ; and the wood of it is ufed for making aflagays. Tqfoumounan. Small white flowers : fruit like an acorn. Racoudriu A green fruit that grow in clufters. Uvang'biri. A parafite plant bearing large fquare pods, the feeds of which are anti-hemorrhoidal . TevarU. A pyramidal flirub, cut natu- rally into ftories. Azambou. Has a fruit which grows in the form of a red nofegay, Uua-he-'fditchou. Produces a fruit good to 9at. Sampathleva. Has a fruit in the form of a yellow chaplet, ^qhingit. A kind of baftard fenna tree, with yellow flowers. A a 4 Lacca. / \ 360 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAKW ^ Lacca. Bears a fmall fruit lik^ a g| of pepper. Its flowers grow hx the fora the bezel of a ring. j I Vognindofong. ; Fanpecbourou. A kind of lily in the f| of a ftan This flower announces the ^ fc\n for whale fiihing. Voua^htnichu Filao. Equifetum arborefcens. Voantlijdn. A prickly tree, bearing leaves but on the top. Tchuvi-'OvL A kir^ of ipecacua feriploca. Jacuan. A fpecies of almond-tree, v out leaves, which produces gum. ^imbalave. Shrub with white gondo flowers. Ampalt. Has round leaves which file AnghlvL Its fruit gives a bittei agreeable tafte to the liquors drunk b MadecaiTes. VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 361 A%on^Ranou. A frefli-water mangle, the pods o£ which grow oppofite to each other. Farafer. A parafite plant, the flower of which is long and red, and ihaped like a man's hand, or a fork with five prongs. Fongo. A beautiful tree, the fruit of which is called Vaas-fou- vara. When an in- cifion is made in its trunk, it produces a yel- low gum. Voua-mltfa^vou A fpecics of after, or ftar- wort. Tongouna-kin'teln. Kind of mint. Sanoang^matan-nabanrou. Kind of creep- ingafparagus. Ranga-zaa. Bulbous plant with a white flower. Tchi/otou, White tulip. Ftfoutche. Tree with leaves like thofe of mallow. Flowers grow around the trunk. Schira. 'talm-tree, thei)ark: of which is burnt I V 362 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* burnt in order to cxtrad a fait from it, u by the Malegacbes with their food,. Raven-tongharts. Balfamic plant. Tanrotgou. Kind of benjamin, bearin button-fhaped fruit. Axou^ranou. Shrub, the fruit of wh y of a cinnamon colour. Afafrah}. Shrub, the bark of which odoriferous^ Vaing'bare^ Parafite plant j its leaves ; downy, and its flowers white. Talate. Bears thick leaves, and berr like thofe of the holly. Jang. A tree which produces lar bunches of flowers. VUa-tani. Has a flower like that of t lihoa of China. Vun-montucung.. Parafite plant, wi leaves like thofe of the tamarind-tree. ] fruit refembles a bean. Ftia-toufouc. Shrub^ v?ith red fruU, wbj< h VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 363 are eaten, and which tafte like ilra wher- ries. Moulton-rongou. Refembles the rara. Its leaves are fmall, and the fruit oblong and angular. Vouang-titirang. ProducQS a kind of nut^ the hufk of which is dpwny, and of a yel- low colour. Voua-malim. Bears a pod like the apo- cynon. Voua^rougnu Kind of frefli- water mangle* Voua-fourindi. , Large tree with fmall red flowers difpofed in clufters. Ampalu Has long leaves, ufed for po« lifhing wood, and freeing iron from ruIL Joudi'fafal. Semper vivens^ Voua-fevarantou. Fouang'tah Malum cidonium. Fouafatre. Kind of box. Its fruit, whicU are aromatic, are eaten. '^nghi'panza. Small ipecies of indigd. 2lSj^ VOYACE TO .MADAGASCAR.' Enghi^bc Large indigo with big pod Vna-macoUong. Kind of tamarind, frc which an oil is extracted. Sacavtr$'ambou. Hog-gingen A ^kl ofzedoary. Fu^rfao. Species of the fago palm. ^ Ouvi-romb}. Creeping twig, the leai? of which 'are fmall, and fhaped likea£haF] pointed heatt. Chifonifui. Has fmall leaves difpofed i! pairs, like thofe of the leffer harame. } flowers confift of four green leaves incloft in a calyx. i Vtia-honda. Bears a fruit of the form i a cucumber, which fmell like a quince. \ SangnamoU'batou. The leaves of th plant have the fame efFe£t as thofe of d coculus indicus. When ufed to catch ^1] ^ they muft be bruifed. VainUrombou . Herb endowed with l| fame properties as the above. f; ^ VOYMJS TO MADAGASCAR; 565^ Sun^^Sang^ A triangular kind of btil- rufh, the real papyrus. . \- Fuartoudinga. Bears a fruit like the //j&jr of China. yua^carabo. A kind of twig which bears a fruit like a large cheftnut. . : ^ Vua^nantoula . \ Bears a fruit which coA* if tains a •lai;ge kernel like the feeds of the fa* potilla, but much thicker, . Vouang'pin^Jela. Has leaves like thofe of the cinnamon-tree, withoutany fmell. Fua^tingui-le-pas. Produces a fruit of a green colour, thjB pulp of which difpofed in coats opens like the petals of a flower.. The feeds are found in the hearty inclofed in a bag with three round comers. jinja^oidy. Kind of very high heath. Vua-ichirie. Species of vacoua with long; narrow leaves. Fua-khicafoiu Bears a fmall fhiit like^ the rangoiiftan. 366 VOTAOB TO MAOAQjLiCAIt* Tcbouti-tHorou or ramu. Small. filiqn plant. Vua-hia^vavh Creeping twig with male white flowers. Vua-^nambouavon. Bears red fruit difpi in the form, of a nofegay. The flowers of a violet colour ; the' leaves^ which whitifh, and which grow in pairs, are \ fill for healing wounds and ulcers* : Vua-^rha. Kind of fig-tree, the fru which are eaten, Vua-hC'tattfou. Varou. Kind of mallow. JJndem. Species of palm« Angnan-rambou4ahe. Tongou-htntchi. Harame. The gum of this tree app to be of the fame nature z s ambergris, Chlngolpont. Chjjlala. Alut-mandrouf. 5 Fangh VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAit* 3^ Fanghoui-nangboua. Bakrang. Creeping twig which bears large berries like buttons. jirdourangcu Small plant, with a re4 fiU- quous flower like indigo« Vaguinang-boua. Shrub with white downy leaves, and white flowers* Its root heals wounds. Cani'-pouti. Grafs with large leaves, the juice of which is employed for making; figures on the body. . TbipouloU'foulL Adabou. Large tree. Ouoi-randra. An aquatic plant with in- dented leaves ; flowers (haped like a crei^ cent ; ropt fit to be eat. ^ottlas. Kind of laurel, the leaves and berries of which are aromatic. Foua-honda. 3ears a large fruit like an oblong cylindrical mango. It has a fweet odour. .- +. Mi 5(58. VOYAGE TO MABAOASCAir* odour^ and its feeds are ramified. The le^ are placed exadly oppofite to e other. - « MounoU'founace. A fhrub with vi flowers. The leaves are difpofed by thr Jkou^mintL Curious pyramidal flin] J[zou-^minti-be. The fame with h leaves. A beautiful tree. Tocam-^bouiu Afmall palm with h leaves divided at the extremity. Fouraugdra. A kind of creeping t which bears a triangular bladden Its le; are like parfley. Voua^mandroucou. Produces flowers wl grow from the trunk. The petals haii fpiral form. Voua-mena. Bears a fweet fruit as as coral. The wood and the leaves alfo red. Mang. Tree^ the leaves of which VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 369 like thofe of the mallow, but larger and ftronger. Its flowers are downy like thofe bf the ketmia^ and of a rofe colour. AnguU'-malou.' Kind of aromatic fhrub, with flowers like golden buttons. Falang-bondi'-pouni. Red wood, .which tiirns black as it grows old. ' This wood is r proper for dying. %fmamafQO. Creeping twig, the flowers of which are like thofe ofjafmine, and of a bright. red colour. Manouquibonga. Shrub compofed of twigs like the vine. Its flowers, which are beau- tifult and red, are difpofed in the form of a plume of feathersw Maan. Kind of downy plant, with leaves like thofe of the mallow. •-. ■ Sommoutorang. Bears a downy flower, in fliape like the bezel of a ring. Lalong. Bl> F!a^ 370 IrOIAGE TCT UADAOASCAtL^ Fia^foutchu Woody creeping twig, fruit is inck>£ed ia a ffar-Iike calyx. Diti-azou. Has a fruit likfe a. fmttll pi Tavoutala. Smalt bulbous pkntw a fpecies of orchis, and bears a fiower fkxen colour. Chetchla. Kind of hicracium, t*it yellow flower. Angnan-ramhoiu Attother hieracimn^ ^ a violet-coloured flower. Catoubanda. Kind of chickweed, emp ed to difHpate fwellings. Nantou. Mat- wood of two. kinds, ^ large and fmall leaves. Amp-elang'thUfouhe. Gentlanella, wi violet-coloured flower. Campoudi. Kind of chickweed, or all Onbave. Tree which produces a j like gum-arabic. Bontou. Tree the root of which < ycl! VoVaGE to MAfaAGASCAR, 37I fellow. It grows near water: its leaves ^ are thick and difpored in pairs. Foai-marang. Shrub the bark of which flops fluxes. Vuendrdhg. Kiild of galega. Afi. Large polipbdium, the feeds of * Which are eaten. labour ounangdt. Betel tree. Vua-rozan. Voua-aJJifn. Ampelantghi. Beautiful plant which rifes tb the height of a foot. Sondi-fd-fat. Plant found on the bordera tof the fea. The Malegaches when fatigued tub their bodies with the leaves of this plants iand fuch fridions render them frefli and nimble. They pretend that the leaves of the Sgndi-fa-fat are incorruptible. They are applied with fuccefs to wounds. Fognin d*ofong. ' Parafite plant, the leaves of which refemble thofe of the lily. The B b 2 period ; • i 372 VOYAdE TO MADAOASCAft» : period When this plaht flowers annouq the time of whale -fifliing* It flowers > June. The prows of the piroguas wli are intended for the whale-fifliery are or mented with large bunches of its flowersi Aiimena. Very beautiful flirub wit bufhy top. Its leaves are thick, and c bright green colour- It rifes tp the hei of four feet ; arid its flowers exhale an ceeding fweet odour. J'eulan'gouala. A fhrub thfc leaves which are odoriferous, and ferve the M gaches to make pillows. It is about 1 feet in height, and its fruit are bitter, c and arotiiafie. Voua-azigne. The ftraighteft and ta tree found in Madagafcar. It greatly pafles in 'height all the other trees of ifland. Its wood, which is yellow, b and heavy, is employed for building hou but. more commonly for making the 1 VOYApE TO MADAGASCAR. 373 of piroguas. The gum, which diftils from this tree, is as yellow as amber ; but it is vif- cons and without fm.ell. The Malegaches procure from this valuable tree a kind of clear oil, which when frefh has a very agreeable tafte. This oil mixed with rice renders that food more delicate ;. and it is for the moft part prepared j§ this manner ty thefe iflanders, Tougmonnam. Tree which grows on the fummits of tire mountains. Its wood, which is hard and heavy, is of a red or brownifli yellow colour, ^nd is ufed fpr cabinet work and aflagays. • Vt)han*jil0n. Trge twelve feet in height. Jts trunk, i«/hich is ftraight, is covered with prickles ; and its leaves, which arq four inches and a- half in length, and two and a half in breadth, are of ^^ beautiful green polour. There are no leaves on the trunk pf this tree ; but its top, which is perfeiflly B b ^ round| / 374 VQYAG* TO MAPAOASCAR* round, is loaded with them; .The wen pigeons are remarkably fp.nd pf the fruil the vohan-jilan^ the appearance pf whidl altogether fingular. ^ouJouc. Bufhy fhrub which growjj every kind of foil. The fruit of this £h has an agreeable tafte, and is known uc * the name of ^e Madagafcar (Irawberry, is efteemed by the Europeans as weU as the Malegaches. Voua-feverantou. Bufhy flirub which J to the height of fix or feven feet. It gri commonly in a fandy foil. Its woo^ white. ChUfoni-fuu Beautiful fhrub, the f of which is flraight, and without lea Its top is round and bufhy. Flngnere. Kind of wild fig-tree, w^j when incifions are made in it, yields a no juice. This juice, after it coagulates, fc a real elaflic gum, like that which d: f yOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 375 from the caoutchxnic. The Makgaches make flambeaux of it^ which burn without wicks, and afford them an excellent light when they go out to £fh in the night-time. 3pirit of wine makes no imprellion on this gum ; but it diflfolves in aether and linfeed- oil. There arc alfo other fat and oily fijb^ glances which affed it very fenfibly^v Thtfingucre rifes to the height of twenty feet. Its leaves are eight inches long, and four in breadth. Its fruit refembjes a round fig, and is full of fmall feeds. The Male- gaches Mt this fig with pleafure: but for my part I found it bitter and cauftic. On attentively examining the bottles and other veflels which the Peruvians make of elaftic gum, it may be readily comprehend- ed how eafy it would be to employ it in t:hir4irgical operations. Belts and bandages made of this fubftance would be attended ^ith many advantages. Diflbl vcd in linfeed- B b 4 pil ft 376 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAIU oil or aether, it in a great meafure lofei elaflicity^ and in that (late it is verji: pre for coating over filk, in order to rgid( impervious to air or w^ter* M. Bert lately has employed elaftic gum for a vari of purpofes, which it would be too tedi to enumerate. I muft, however, obfe that the Chinefe have been long acquaic with the art of diflblving this qlaftic gi and of giving it various colours. M, E tin, minifter of (late, was fo kind as to jQi me feveral articles made of it, the moft markabk of which wa§ a fmall ball, p fe(3:ly refembling a ball of amben Bagnets. Plant from which real ind: is procured in Madagafcar. The ifland extract this dye from it by a v^ry fim bperation. When the plant begins to flow they infufe the ftera and the leaves in wat After they have become putrid, the wa aflumes a violet colour, and when this < Ic VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 377 Jour grows very dark, the ftem and leaves are taken out. A certain quantity of oil is then^poiired into the coloured water, and the water being drawn, off, a fediment re-.' mains behind, which^ when dried in the fun, furnifhes a, beautiful indigo. M. dela Marck made me obferve that the revendfas is not a nutmeg-tree, but a V proper genus. It is the bagatophyllum*. The tntchy^ according to the opinion of that learned botanift, is a courbariUhymenaa. Thf antafara, according to the fame, is a fpecies of the gen,us called taberna-montana. Thtflao is the cafuanna of Forfter aixd .1 . ^ Linnasus the fon. The vua'ichirie is iht panddmus. In the enumeration, here given, of the trees and plant? of Madagafcar, I have made tio mention of ananas, white pepper, watef-^ melons, bananas, Indian faffron, the large * ^//^G^//. p. 431, ' ■ f arda-f » 378 VOYAGE TO M^DACASCAt< cardamum, ginger, veromca, alkd^ngi, f lain, fweet bafil, ilar-wort, geotianellai winter cherry, the papyrus of the ^nci^ ^ cilXtA fang(hfangay the nenuphar, &c» With regard to the animals found in ^1 gafcar, Flacourt has left nothing of io) tance for m? to fay on that fubje(^f Description of a Tree, which be a singular Fruit, much celebb ED IN India, and known under Name of t|ie Cocoa of the ]VJ DIVES. THE tree which bears that fruit, kn tinder the name of the Cocoa of the . dhes^ or ihtfea-cocoa^ rifes to the heig forty or fifty feet. The top of this be ful tree, which may be clafled among palms, has the form of a fan ; and is ( pofed of ten or twelve branches, twenty 1 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 379 }ong» Each of thefe branches, or palms^ proceeds from a pedicle fix feet in length, which is indented quite round. From the bottpn* of the leaves arifcs n ramified panicle, the branches of which arc terminated by female flowers. The piftil pf thefe flowers, when ripe, produces a fphe^ rical fruit, eight or ten inches in diameter* The covering of the fruit is thick and fibrous, like that of the common cocoa. The fhape pf thefe coqoas, however, is extremely fmr gular ; and the bottom of them is filled with a ,milky fubflance, of a bitter and difagree-r able tafle. The trunk of this tree differ? yery little from that of the cocoa-tree ; but it is larger and harder. The Ifle- of Palms is covered with this tree : but it is not to be found in any of the neighbouring iHands, or in any other known part of the world* It is probable, therefore, that thofe nuts which are accidentally found at the Mai* dives 38q voyage to MADAGASCAlt, -.1 dives have come from the Ifle of PaB though the diftance between thefe two pla is about three hundred leagues. This^ mark may ferve to point out the ditcdl pf the currents in the Indian Ocean, ' The Indians- afcribe great medicinall tues to this nut, known to botanifts urt the name oJF pu^ medica. The Afiatic pi ficians pretend that it is antifcprbutic ; t it radically cures the venereal difeafe ; t that it is a powerful antidote againft poil The Indian princes caufe cups to be mj of it, which are always more or lefs on mented with jgold and precious ftoc Thefe cocoas are in fo much requeft kll o Afia, that it was not uncommon, about ' year 1759, ^^^ period when they were i covered, to fee them fold for upwards four hundred pounds fterling each. . J COGHINCHINA* 381 Description of Cochinchina. THE kingdom of Cochinchina, which IS about one hundred and fifty lea;gues ia length, extends from the eleventh to the twenty-feventh degree of northern latitude. On the north it is bounded by Tonquin } on the fouth by Ciampa and Gamboja ; ort the eaft by the Indian Ocean j and on the weft by the kingdom of Laos, and a favage people named 'the Kemouys. , Its greateft breadth does not exceed twelve or fifteea leagues. It is divided into eleven provinces^ four of which, Dtnheaty ^amblng^ Dmh-^ gno^y and Hue\ lie towards the north. Hu^ is called the Royal Province ; and its capital 18 diftinguiftied by the fame name. The feven fouthern provinces are Chaniy ^angz^ hiay ^Inbinj Fouyen^ Fanriphanrang^ Nan^. langy and Bounay.^ The laft province -ha$ been lately conquered from the Gamboges. sftl 60CH!tJCHlkA. /'^ Hu^y which contains the royal ciiy, ^. the kings of Cophinchina refide, is the l beautiful of all thiefe provinces. For.al fixty y6ars, (ihce Cochinchina and Toni Were feparated, the royal city his had other remarkabk edifices than the king*! lace and fome pagpdas : the reft of it is ' ill built. This capital is fituated neir a I iand beautiful riverj which v^afr fcftmirl deep as to be capable of bearing fhij great burthen i but fince a dreadful inu: tion, which happened about fiVe or fix j ago, fand-banks have been formed al niouth, fo that fmall veflels only tan e it. The city of Hue is intdrfefted by ca after the Chinefe manner^ in ofder to fa tatethe tranfportationof merchandife, aiic the convenience of the inhabitants, '' are pretty numerous, and x^^ho could endure the great heats of fummer witt batl CoCttlllCHmA* 3?^ twthing two or three times a day. The king maiotaios aboUt twtlre or fifteen thoufand foldiers around his palace, to protcGt his perfon as Weil as to defend his ftates ; and near three hundred neat galleys, whxcb^ ia the time of war, ferve to convey troops from one place to another^ and ia the time of peate to carry the monarch when he tra-* Vels : for he never quits bis palace but iri that manner. Thofe which he ufes are fextremely beautiful, and eVen richly gilt : fefpeci-aily thofe of his womein, part of whom always accompany him wherever he goes^ This prince keeps^ befides, four hundred elephants trained to war ; and it is in the numbel? of thefe animals that the ftrength of his kingdom coflfifts. The government of Cochinchina is rflo- harchical. The fovereign is abfolute mafter of the whole kingdom, which he governs If ith the affiftance of his fouf principal mi- i nifters. 3^4 COCHINCHmA; '^ nifters,, two of whom are called his it( hand, or Tba : and two his left hand^ Hifan. Thefe minifters havd the powe* ajppointing to all employments, both d and military* Each province is undfer the nlanageto of a governor^ who both commands i militia^^ and admtnifters juflice : in the p vince of Phanriphanrang the governor ] the title of viceroy. The whole mil are divided into two diftin£t bodies, fea i land foldiers, and both of thefe are divi< into regiments. The king's houfehold is coiftpofed of fineft men to be found in the kingdom. 1 mod beautiful Company of thefe is t tvhich is diflinguifhed by the title oi gOt fabres. The men of this company are pic from all the other companies* They the ftrongeft, as well as the braveft, and tl i^uthority, confequently^ is much greater cociiiNciiiNAi 381 • » The king who was on the throne in the yeir 1 744^ was the ninth who had governed Cochinchina after its feparation from Ton- quin. He was a tall, virell-looked man thirty years of age* At firft he had only the title tof chua;, or fovereign : but at the fourth liioon of the above year he declared hUnfelf vua^ or kingj What emboldened him to take this ftep was, the difmal fituation to which he knew Tonquin was reduced by the civil wars thit had ravaged it for almoft fix years. Until that period, he contented himfelf with the modeft title of chua^ through a dread of being attacked by the Tonquinefe, whofe I}.ing pretends to be vua . df Cochinchina. •^ — ■•'^'^^-mmtk^mitmm^ Taxes* THE king of Cochinchina is rich in gold C c and^ 386 COCHINCHINA.. and money, of which he has always- f edifices full. His great wealth arifes £1 tax piid by all his fubjeds from the a nineteen to that of ifixty. This tax is g or lefs according to the ftrength and ation of each individual. Every three the governor of each province caiifes i lift to be made out, of all thofe wh( cording to law, have attained to the p age of taxation. To enable him to dc « the chief of every village forms a Kft great care, and carries a copy of it t< governor, who orders all thofe whofe li are irlferted in it to appear before hii the day appointed. They all ftrip them' from head to foot : ^the mandarin then i his officers to examine them; and' who are robuft and well proportioned who feem to have moft ftrength to la are taxed at a higher rate than thofe= being feeble and weak, or in a bad ft; h ■-J CoCMlNCHlNAi 387 health, can with diflScuIty gain a livelihood. I^his tax, which goes into the king's trea- fury, is paid according to the ftrength or fituation of each individual, either in gold, money, or rice* Every year, in the feventh, tndnth, the taxes of all the provinces are ' tranfported to court with great pomp and magnificence. On this occafion there are great rejoicings in the capital for a month, during which the people are efnployed in feafting, feeing plays, artificial fire-Works, and diverllons of various kinds. Manners and Customs. THE Cochinchinefe, compared with the Indians, are brave, adive, and induftrious. They^are fond of truth, and clofely adhere to it when they know it* They are, how- ever, poor and * ignorant j but extremely C c 2 polite 388 COCHINCHINA^ polite to each other, and to flraogers. They have a great efteem for the Chinefe, on ac« count of their learning j and they call their empire Moedaitninh^ or the kingdom flight : but fince the mifiionaries have redded araongft them, they feem to have a greater refpefl: for the Europeans, The king, above all, is very fond of them j and encourages them to frequent his ports for the fake of carrying on commerce with them. The Cochinchinefe are much addided to wo- men; and polygamy is allowed amongil them. A man generally has as many wives as he can maintain ; and the law gives him •great authority over them, as well as over his children. Women convided of infide- lity to their hufhands are condemned to be expofed to the fury of elephants. The wo- men, who are not remarkable for their mo- dcfty> go quite naked to the middle ; and they publicly bathe, without any ceremony, in COCHXM[C«lNA. 389 in the view of every body. In their per- fons, the Cochinphinefe have a great refenx- blance to the Chinefe, except that they are more tawny ; their women are beautiful and very fair. Their drefs is the fame as that which was ufed in China before the irrup- tion of the Tartars. The mandarins of letters in Cochinchina have adopted the Ja- panefe drefs. They preferve their hair, on which they fet great value, and particularly the women, fome of whom hgive it fo long that it reaches to the ground. a '^^ i f ^ ■ i ."P > Religion. THE religion of this country is the fame as that of China. The people frequent pa-* godas credited in honour of Fo- At and Tchoua^ and their mandarins of letters go to the temple of Confucius ^ v^Yio is their mafter, as C c 3 well 390 COCHINCHINA. well as that of the Chinefc. At prefent the Chriftian religion is tolerated, and makes great progrefs. Some princes and niinda* rins of the firft rank are Chriftians, We may reckon that there are about fixty thou-» fand people in the whole kingdom who havQ ■ embraced the Chriftian religion* Literature. ALL the learning of the Cochinchinefe confifts in their being able to read Chinefe books, and in acquiring a knowledge of the morality which they contain. It is this knowledge which qualifies them fqr becQm*«^ ing mandarins. Wool)* COCHINCHINA. 39I W00D5 AND Forests. COCHINCHINA is only a chain of mountains, the valleys and plains between which are well cultivated. The eminences are abandoned to tygers, elephants, and other animals of various kinds. The moun- tains, though uncultivated, are covered with woods and forefts, the timber of which is of great utility. The Cqchinchinefe pro*- cure from them rofe-wood, ebony, iron- wood, fapan, the cinnamon-tree, calembpuc, fandal wood, and in general all thofe kinds of wood which are ufed in India for con- ilruding houfes, barks, and furniture ; or froih which gum, balm, and perfumes are extraded. I have even heard it aflerted by fome of the liatives, that the clove-tree is to be found in thefe mountains. Cc4 Goio « 39^ COCHINCHINAf Gold Mines* THE Cochinchinefe procure alfo frot^ their mountains various other productions^ fuch as honey, wax, rattans, and gamboge. They find there, likewife, ivory, and even, gold, in pretty large quantities. Mines of this metal are very abundant. The moH; celebrated are thofe in the province of Cbam^ fituated in a place called Phunra}^ where the French miflionaries have a church, an4 where there are a great number of CJtrif- tians. This place is about eight Icagjuesi diftant from Faifo. There are other famous mines in the province of Nanlang. Every body, even foreigners, are allowed to work; thefe mines j and they would be very pro-n duftive, did the inhabitants of the country give themfelves the trouble to dig them j but there are few people who choofe to apply «OCHINCHINA« J95 ^pply to this labour, and thofe who do fo, are very ignorant of the art of mining,^ They never dig deeper than the height of a man. In the place where I faw them at worK, m^fles of pure gold, perfedly free from the mixture of e^iLtr^neous bodies, and weighing two ounces, are fometimcs founds This gold, coUeded iqi duft or fmall frag-* pients, is afterwards formed into cakes, and carried to market, where it is fold like other merchandife. The ufual price of it, ac-* cording to the Chinefe value, is an hundred ?ind thirty quans^; but it has been fold foraetimes for an hundred and feventeen* A great many mines of iron, which in this country is fold at a dear rate, are found alfo |n the mountains. * The reader will fee the value of a quan in diQ grtjcle pf Money, ' OXHElt 394 COCHINCHINA. Other Productions of the Country. LAND inCochinchina,whencultivated,is cxtrcqfiely fertile, and the people reap every year two crops of rice, which is fold almoft for nothing. This country abounds with all the fruits of India, fuch as ananas, man- goes, citrons, oranges, and with many others peculiar to itfiplf. It produces alfo plenty of pepper, together with arec and beteU Arec, in feveral provinces, forms the principal riches of the inhabitants ; and large quanti- ties of it are every year fold to the Chinefe, who come hither to procure it. They have alfo abundance of cotton ; but they are not acquainted with the art of making it into fine cloth. They cultivate mulberry-rtrees, upon which they feed filk-werms, and ma-^ nufadure a kind of coarfe filk fluffs. They do not, however, fuccced but in fome kinds of COCHINCHINA. 395 of fatin. Raw filk is here fold at a very ... , . dear rate : a Cochinchinefe foot cofts fome- times two hundred quans. The Cochinchi- nefe fugar is undoubtedly the fineft in India, and this article alone brings immenfe fums from the Chinefe merchants, wlio carry car- goes of it from Fai/b to Canton and Japan, where they gain at leaft four hundred per icent. by it* The beft is fold for four guans the Cochinchinefe foot. It is almoft all made in the province of Cbam^ near Faijo. The Cochinchinefe cut thdr canes before the end of three years, and have a crop an- - Bually in the autumn. None of thofe kinds of grain which we have in Europe grow ia Cochinchina, except maize, or ^Turkey com« Jt produces neither wheat, barley, nor rye, and even few peafe or beans. It is indeed very ill fupplied with thofe vegetable pro* 4u£tTcn8 which form the riches of our kitchen 'V V 39^ CQCHINCHINA. kitchen gardens j and this, perhaps, is owing to the people being bad gardeners. Agriculture, THE Cochinchinefe employ buffaloes only in cultivating their lands. Thefs ani- mals are (Ironger than oxen, and. fupport themfelves better among the mud of the rice-fields. They have, however, a great many oxen ; but they are fmall, lean, and almoft of no ufe. They have no fheep, and their butchers' flxops are very iU fup- plied with provifions. To make up for this deficiency, they are rich in poultry ; fowls, ducks, and pigeons are fold cheap, end game may be procured for little op no- thing. Thefe people never eat fifli, though tbey have them excellent, and in great plenty ; COCHINCHINA. 397 plenty: their riversi as well as the fea, abound with them. \. Commerce. WITH regard to the commerce of this country^ it may be obferved, that the Co- chinchinefe are neither rich, nor well ac- quainted with the nature cf trade. As to foreign trade, they never carried on any, except with the Chinefe and the people of Japan ; but the latter, about twenty-five years ago, gave up all intercourfe with them, by order of their fovereign, who forbade his fubje(3:s to go out of the kingdom. The like prohibition was made in Cochinchina ; and, on that account, the Cochinchinefe are obliged to be contented with fuch merchan- dize as the Chinefe bring to them. The inhabitants of Cochinchina, however, are 6 far I 39^ fcOCHlltCHINA^ far inferior to the Chlnefe in acutenefs; the latter, therefore, find very, little diffi in over- reaching them. The articles brc them from China are generally tuu yellow, red, and white copper ; tea, p lain, embroidered filk duffs, drugs, am dicines of every kind; fuch as rhubarb, ! wort, ginfeng, celadine, fpiceries, a great many roots, of which the Chine large quantities* The Chinefe carry t alfo abundance of paper, which is u£ burying the dead ; gilt and coloured for their pagodas and facrifices ; and 2 nankeen, together with paintings of all '. vermilion, azure, orpiment, and gj and cotton cloth. Sommes^ a kind ol nefe veflels, go from Honang^ loaded all forts of earthen- ware and kitchen fils, for which they find a ready anc fitable fale. Thofe fommes wliich from the eaftern coaft of China, o: J COCIllNClllNA. 399 » Emouy, or Ning-pOj bring fotnetimes with them the merchandife of Japan, which they difpofe of to great advantage, and particu- larly copper and fword-blades. Thc/ommes which conie from the coafts of Camboja and Slam bring worked copper, * drugs, cardamom, peltries, &c. The articles of merchandife which the Chinefe import from GDchinchina, are gold, ivory, eagle-wood, fugar-candy, arec, wood for cabinet work, and for dying, pepper, mufk, a certain kind offalt-filh, birds ncfts, and drugs which the Cochinchinefe procure from their mountains, fuch as the horns of the rhinoceros, gamboge, &c. The Chi- nefe yS/ww^j take in return gold, fugar, and horfes: thefe animals are fold at a cheap rate in Cochinchina. The manner in which the Chinefe carry on trade in Cochinchina is as follows : As foon as they arrive in fight of the harbour, they find Cochinchinefe pi- « lots, COCHINCHIKA. lots, who cdnduflk them in. Thcfe pUbiii who are of the rank of maudarins, have orders to be always in readinefs to affofci this afliftance to ftrangers. When they have come to anchor^ the captain^ i^ith fome of his officers, goes on fhore, aiid re« pairs to court with H general lift of his goods, and fuch prefents as are intended for the king. It may be proper here to ob-* ferve, that bufmefs and contrafts of every ft kind begin and terminate with prefents ; and it is of great importance to bring fuch as may be agreeable to the fovereign ; becaufe^ if he is fatisfied, he exempts the veffel from paying the duties of anchorage, which are confiderable, and which are higher or' lower according to the nature of the merchandife with which it is loaded. The Chinefe pay ten per cent, agreeable to an ancient tarif, which determines the price of all commo-' dities imported. On his return from coiirt, the cochinchinA. 401 the qaptain unloads his veflel, and tranfports his goods to a fadtory, which is vlfited hy the mandarins who prefide over the cuftp lonls, in order to fee whether they can meet with any thihg ciirious^ or that might be agreeable to the king, 6t the principal mandarins oi the kingdom. Thefe man- darins of the cuftonis prefent a lift of what they wifh to buy j and if they find among the cargo any of the articles in their lift^ they feparate theih from the feft, and fettle the price with the captain, who muft be contented with a bill payable in two or three months^ Before this vifit, the captain can difpofe of nothing : he muft alfo be very exadt, and make no omiffion iri the lift' which he prefents to the king on his arrival ; For if the mandarins of the cuftoms fhould find any thing not mentioned in the lift, the confequences might be very difagrce* able. He *iuft, likewife, give fome prefents D d to « 402 COCHIN CHIN^A. to the miriifter, and to the principal corri-- * r 9 miflioner of the cuftoms, who, in Cochin- thina, is always a powerful mandarin, and Q,jhd On/aibotao. With regard to the fale of their merchandize, the Chinefe apply to fome ofthe mandarins, who readily become merchants when any thing is to be gained, and who purchafe the deareft an,d moft va- luable articles. For objeds of left im- pottancCj there are trufty women, well ac- quainted with commerce, who each take charge of a few lots, on receiving a fmall fum for their trouble. An European cap- tain who might go to this country, would eafily find rich chriftian merchants to affift him* Money and the value of Gold and Silver. MERCHANDIZE in Cochinchina is paid for with gokl and filver ; but oftcner with caches y tOCHINCHINA. 463 tacheSy the only kind of coin ufed in the country. They are ftrung after the Chi- nefe manner ; and each ftring contains fix hundred, which are equal to a ^uM. The guan is divided into ten ti^tmesy or majfeiy which contain each fixty caches. The Co^ ft chinchinefe have no denomination for mo- ney lower than the tienne. Below the qudn they reckon by cnches^ and above it by chu^^ each of which makes ten quans^ or fix thou-^ fand caches. The quan^ or /^^/of Cochinchini makes therefore only fix Chinefe mq/fes ; and the mafsj in China^ is equal to the tenth part of a tael. The Ghinefe tae/^ confequently, is equal to one quan, fix tienneSy and forty caches of Cochinchina. Gold and filver are here ar- ticles of merchandize ; but they have fixed prices^ and are cheaper or dearer according to the quantity which the Chinefe annually bring them. The people of Cochinchina are not ac- ijuainted with the value of our piaftres. They D d 2 melt 404 COCHINCHINA* melt them into cakes, containing each fifteefl piaftres, which were long worth twenty- two or twenty-three quans : at prefenf they arc Worth only from feventeen to twenty. By carrying thefe piaftres to Co* chinchina, the Chinefe acquire a prpfit which they would not get by felling thera at home, where a piaftre is worth no more than feven hundred caches: but ift Cochin- chma it is reckoned to be equivalent to at leaft eight hundred. They choofc, there- fore, to carry filver thither fometim^s rathef than other merchandise, which they might find it difficult to fell, and en which they could gain nothing; for their profit depends not fo much on the goods which they im- port into Cochinehina, as thofe which they export from that country. The value of gold rifes and falls in the fame manner, ac- cording to the number of buyers. At the time when the Chintk/ommes arrive, it can- not r. COCHINCHINA. 405 not be purchafed in the market for lefs than one hundred and thirty quarts ; towards the period of their departure, it rifes to one hun- dred and fifty : but if it be purchafed in the winter time, that is to fay, between the firft of June and the end of the Cochinchinefe year, a period which correfponds with our months of October, November, December, and till the month of March the year follow- ing, it may be procured for an hundred and ten, and even an hundred* Thofe who are well acquainted with the country, may find means to purchafe it at a dill lower Rte. Weights and Measures. THE meafure ufed by the Cochinchinefe, for buying and felling, contains about two of our French feet. This meafure, which js palled tlme^ is confequently one half, J) d 3 wanting 406 COGHINCHINA, 4 \ wanting an inch, fliorter than our ,| and fix pontes four condor in$!^ longer | the Chinefe cove. They have no othei cept that ufed for rice, which the | alone, purchafe by meafure. It is eqij about fix Cochinchinefe pounds. This g contains fourteen ounces more than J and ten more than the Chinefe, whi equivalent to twenty French ounces, i therefore, equal to thirty French ounc In this country, there are certain ' of goods, fuch as ivory, and calambac 3 which are prohibited; that is to faj king alone referves 'the right of \ them. Thefe two articles cannot h chafed but from the fovereign. Thof might purchafe them from private fans, would run a great rifk of being ^ ed. All kinds of merchandize, in g< whether purchafed from the king o \iduals, are exempted from duty. cochinchina: 407 chants, therefore, may carry them on board their veffels, when, and in whatever manner ^ they choofe. ^ Sea Ports. THERE are feveral ports in Cochinchina, the mdft confiderablc of which is that called by the inhabitants Hoyan^ and by the Portu- guefe Faifo. It is fituated in the province of Cham, in the latitude of fixteen degrees, and fome days journey diftant from court. This harbour has fufficient depth of water,^ and fhips may remain in it in perfed fafety*. It is extremely commodious for merchants, as their veffels may anchor clofe to the fac- tories. The entrance of it, which is the mouth of a large river that comes from the mountains o£ Laos, and traverfes the pro- vince of Cham^ is extremely eafy. Faifo }& the place of greateft trade in^Cochinchina; D d 4* there 4o8 COCHIISrCHINA, '^ there arc here always about fix thoufil Chinefc, who are the richeft merchants, « who have married in the country, and J! tribute to the king. It contains two church one belonging to the Portuguefe jefii and the other to the Spanifh Francifca The governor of the province refides at ^ diftance of a league^ in a place called Ri which lies upon the banks of the rit and where the French miffionaries hav church. Merchants who arrive at Fi always find fadories to be let, the largcft which generally coft about an hund piaftres for the trading feafon. In the province of ^inhin there is other port called Nuoeman^ that is to 1 the Port of fait water ^ This harbour fafe, and well frequented, but not fo hj as that of Fatfo. It is not however con nient, as it is at feveral days journey fr court, to which captains are obliged to frequen * COCHINCHINA. 409 frequently. It would, ncverthelefs, be com-t modious for fliips which went thither to -^ procure filk or arec, becaufe thefe two arti- cles are found in that province. Befides thefe, there are feveral other ftnall ports, ef- pecialljr in Nanlang ; but they are neither {ujBBciently fafe nor deep for large veffels. The Chinefe never frequent them, on ac- count of their diftance from court. * Commerce which might be carried ON BY THE Europeans in Cochin- china. WITH regard to the commerce which might be carried on by the Europeans in Cochinchina, it may be eafily feen by the preceding account, what kinds of merchan- dize might be procured there, either for tranfporting to China, and the coafts of 5 India, 419 COCHINCRIKA* India, or even to Europe. The great • (ulty would be, refpefting the goods w ought to be carried thither. On this jeft the following' remarks may be ufefi The Cochinchinefe fet a great value i €very thing that comes from Europe. N articles of little confequence in France highly efteemed by them, fuch as t glafs ware, and light ftuffs, particularly t of a red colour, which would in Cochinci find a profitaUe market. All kinds of 2 manufadured^in Europe, efpeciallyfwi blades made • after the fafhion of the cc try ; and all forts of jewels, from diamc to cofnmon cryflal, would alfo be j cjiafed at a high rate, by the fovereign, the great mandarins. . The latter w< take, likewife, gold and filver wire^' which one hundred per cent, might be gj ^d } but it would be proper not to can Ijirge quantity of thefe articles. Brail i tpOCHINCHINA, 41 1 fold in Cochinchina at leaft for four quam the Chinefe foot : fomething, in my opU aion^ might be gained on that commodity* , Sulphur too, which feHt there at a great price, might be carried thither, as well as quinquina, to the virtues of which the Co- chinchinefe are no ftrangers, Canadian Gin-r feng, and other European drugs and medi-- cineSt We have many kinds of goods ia France, which would be too dear for thefc people ; but fmall quantities of them might neverthelefs be fold to great advantage: fuch, for example, as the filk fluffs of Lyons» embroidered with gold and filver, which the Cochinchinefe ufe for making bags to, ' hold their betel and tobacco : part of their magnificence confifts in having feveral of thefe bags richly ornamented. One might ^ilfo carry to Cochinchina fome pieces ot fcarlet cloth, tapeflry made in imitation of |}iat of PerHa, and a few pieces of that kind of 4X2 COCHINCHINA. of linen which is manufadured in Britan Among the. toys, bracelets and ear-ring( pinchbeck ought not to be omitted. Tk are many other tWngs which would doi lefs anfwer for the trade of that count but experience alpne can deternjine tl which would be in the greateft requ When the Europeans fend thither fome i fels loaded with European goods, they ^ be then able to learn what will fuit the ( X chinchinefe market beft. Should any European merchants freigl veffel to Cochinchina, they muft, as I hi obferved, fend prefents for the king, t their veflel would run the rifk of being v( ill received. The prefents mod likely afford fatisfadion to the king, would be m rors, watches, jewels, filk brocades, chryi toys; optical machines, fuch as a telefco magic lantern, cylinder, &c.; mechanical ( liofitifs, hand organs, and woollen tapef COCHINCHINA. 4IJ an they are both collected without any diftinc- tion. The third, or the fecond for fonie, and lafl crop, is more abundant, and is coUeded about the end of April) or the beginning of May, when the leaves have attained to their full growth, either in fize or number. There are fonte people who negledt the two firft crops, and who confine themfelves entirely to this ; the leaves of which are feleded with great caire, and diftributed into clafTes ac« cording to their fize and goodnefs. Tea ought 43Sl MfiMOtft dN t&e / ought to be rejeded as of a bad quality/ when old, and as it were withered leaves are found amongft it : which may be eafily known, by infufing a little of it in watef" ; for then the leaves dilate, and return to their * natural ftate; V The leaves of the ted fhrtib are oblong,* fharp-pointed, indented on the edges^ and of a very beautiful green colour. The flower iscompofed of five white petals difpofed iri the form of a rofe, and is fucceeded by a pod of the fize 6f a filberd, containing tvfro or three fnxall green feeds, which are wrin- kled, and have a difagreeable tafte. Its root is fibrous, and fpreads itfelf out near the fu-? perficies of the ground. This fhrub grows equally well in a rich as in a pooi; foil. It is to be found all ovet China ; but there are certain places where the tea is of a better quality than in others; Some people give the preference to the tea of of Japan, but we have reafon to doubt whether there is any real difference, Thle manner of preparing tea is very fim- pie: when the leaves are colleflied, they are fcxpofed to tji^ fteam of boiling water, in Order to foften them ; and they' are then' fjpread out upon ttietal plates, placed over a moderate fire, where they acquire that fhri- veiled appearance which they have when brought to Europe* In China there are only two kinds of the tea-flirub; but the Chinefe, by their induftry, have confiderably multiplied each of them^ If there are therefore large quantities of tea in that country which is exceflively dear, there is fome alfo very common, and fold at a low rate. The Chinefe^ however, are very fond of good tea, and take as much pains to procure it of an excellent quality, as the Europeans do to procure excellent wine. F f BOHEA 1 4J4- M£MOIE ON TBX BoH£A Tea. .^ THE Chinefe name of this tea is i tchaf that is to fay, tea of the kind < « fignifies quinte The latter is thus named, either 1 growing on the middle of the mo and being fheltered from the injuries weather, it acquires a greater degree < * The names of the laft two kinds arc in corrupted into congp ^xAJoucliong* fiefs than the reft ; or becatife none of the leaves afe gathered, except fuch ^8 are full ancj juicy, ^htfaoUchaon tea fold to the Europeans^ is nothing, therefore, but cong-fou tea of a fuperior quality* The three flirubs diftin- guifhed by the above names, are in every refpedk the fame ; and the only difference of the tea confifls in the manner of preparing it. Bohea teas, in general, ought to be dry, and heavy in the hand ithis is a fign that the leaves have been full and juicy. When infufed, they ought to communicate to the water a yellow colour, inclining a little to green, which indicates that they are frefh, for old tea produces a red colour. Care muft be taken, above all, to avoid red leaves, and to choofe fuch as are large and entire. This alfo is a fign of frefhnefs j for the longer tea is kept, the more it is (haken, F f 2 which 4^6 MEMOIR ON THE which breaks the leares, and mixes t with a great deal of dull. It fometimes j pens, however, that the tea-duft is owi^ the naanner in which it is put into thtf as the Ghinefe tread upon it with theiz^ to make it hold a larger quantity, leaves of the cong-fou and faoUcbaon ought to have a beautiful black fhining to be large and weighty, and to comn cate to water a very bright colour, \ mild tafle. 'X\i^pekao is a particular kind of tea-il the leaves of which are all black on the fide, and all white on the other. A real pekao tea is very fcarce and dear, in thofe places where it grows, the Ch who ftudy the art of adulterating theii in general, take care, when this valuabl is colledled, to put into it a great many black than white leaves. They adul It, likcwife, by mixing with it fome o CHINESE TRADE. 437 fmall half-grown leaves, as yet white, which grow on the top of the common bohea tea- tree. This changes the quality of the pe^ kao ; for thefe leaves being fcarcely formed, can have very little fap or flavour. Green Tea. GREEN Teas do not grow In the fame places as the Bohea tea. They are brought from the province of Nankin, and are dif* tinguifhed into three forts. The firfl is known under the name oi Jonglo tea^ but oftener under that of green toukay ; the fe- cond is called bin tea^ and the third hayjjuen tea. There are alfo fome other kinds ; but the greater part of them are unknown, or of little importance to foreigners. T\xtfonglo and hayjjuen teas come from the fame fhrub. F f 3 Their 438 MEMOIR. ON THE Their only differeuce is in the mann< their being prepared. Bin tea grows on a different fhrub leaves of which are thicker and larger thofe of other kinds. All thefe teas ought to have a { leaden tint : the older they are, th^ 1< become more yellow, which is a very j fault. They ought alfo to have a bur fcorched fmell, not too ftrong, but agree; for wiien they hav« been long kept, have a fiftiy fmell, fomewhat like th pilchards. The French wilh to fini green teas, and particularly in fonglo^ imperial, an odour fimilar to that of fo; In thefe different kinds of tea whi have mentioned, there is a particular tindlion to be made, as they are gene clafTcd into one, two, or three kinds, ao ing to the periods at which they wen thcredt CHINESE TRADE. 439 Tea IV 6alls. IN China there is a kiod of tea calle4 poncul'tcha^ to which the Europeans giv* the name of tea in balls. It is procured from the provifice of Fk-ichteny or Tunnan^ and is a compofition or mixture of different teas formed into balls. When it is ufed, a fmali quantity of it is cut off, and f^ffered to infufe a much longer time than common tea. It is not agreeable to the tafle, but it has the peculiar virtue of curing diforders of the breail, and facilitating digeilion. Some of this tea is brought alfo from Slangy ang^ a town in the province of Houquang^ but it is inferior in quality to the former. The latter may be eafily jknown, by apply- ing it to the mouth, and breathing ftrqngly upon it ; if it is penetrated by the breath, it is accounted genuine. The older the pon^ F f 4 cuUtcha 44^ MEMOIR ON THB cul-tcha is, the more it is in rcqueft j even pretended, tharit has been kept in families, with aftpnilhing precautions more than a century : but this is an aff tafte, abfolutely foreign to commerce? ^i"p China Ink. THIS is a compofition of fifli-glucj gal], and lamp-black. When in a li ftate, it is poured into fmalj wooden moi where it is fufiered to harden. The Chinefe confider it as an excel remedy for fpitting of blood. They t feme of it, therefore, often in their mou as the Europeans do lozenges. The bel made at "Tcienien^ a city of the provincf Nankin, fituated on the Ktang^ or l river. That of the fineft quality is dry, hj black, and fhining. GaleC % HINESE trade; 44! 4 'Galega. THERE arc two kinds of galcga. The &ft, and the largeft, is a thick, heavy plant, covered with a hard, reddiih bark, whitiih 'if*. in the inlide, and of a fbarp, bitter tafte. Its flower is like that of peafe, without fmell» and fometimes of a blue^ and fometimes of a white colour. It gives an agreeable tafte to vinegar, and is accoQOted a ijpecific in dii^ orders of the breaft. The fecond fort is a hard root, of the fize of the little finger, reddiih within and with*- out, and of a ftronger and more aromatic tafte than the former. The plant which fifes from it, has the form of a fmall tree, bearing leaves lilce thofe of the myrtle. It ought ^tp be chofen frefh, juicy, of a high colour, compa£t, odoriferous, and with a iharp aromatic tafte. The Chinefe cut it into 442 M2MOIR OK TH into pieces of the fize of a filbert, in d that they may be dried anitranfported^ more eafe. They confider it as an e: lent antidote. Thefe two kinds of gs are cultivated in tiie jprovince of -Xl and the merchants of the citfjjpi Ta carry dn a trade in them. lb THIS is a rednous gummy juice, < yellow colour, extrad:ed drop by dro incifion, from a prickly fhrub, which to a confiderabie height, and climbs n other trees like ivy. The bcft kind is tie, hard, high-coloured, of an infipid at firft, and then fharpifh, inflammaUe capable of being, in a great meafure, folved in fpirits of wine^ This gum, v 6 Of % HINESE TftADB. 443 Is ufed in medicine^ is procured from Slgan^ A village in the province of Kiangsu Some people prefer the gamboge of Siam to that oi China* ^ i^)* GuMfLAC. THIS gi^, employedhi'lke compofitioa of Spanifli wax, oiigtjtlp bepiofen in bright ■ ■ * tranfparent leaves. ItjyMfcigh|^rom ^an^ ton J in the province ffHr^eicbeu j but it is much inferior to that of BengaK ,■■; -^ ■ - r Curcuma. TIfi|ci|rcuma is a plant, the root of which Us haro]^ of a yellowifh colour^ both within jind without, and approaches aear to that of ginger. 1% 444 MEMOIR ON THZ^ ^ngcr. It bears a purple flower ; Its fruit 18 covered with briftles, likl the Indian cheft- nut ; and its feeds, which are as round as peafe, are good to eat. They are boiled with meat, and mixed alfo with rice, and different kinds of ragouts. This plant is ufed likewife in medicine ; and it produces a fine faffron-coloured dye. It ought to be chofen frefli, heavy, compafty juicy, and of s beautiful yellow colour. The befl: corner from Carfungy in the province of Honan. Quicksilver. THIS fluid, heavy mineral, which pene- trates gold and filver, is a natural produc- tion of feveral parts of China and the Eaft- Indies. It is generally found in the moun- tains, covered with a kind of foft ftones, as white as chalk. It is remarked, that the plants ^QHii^ESE TRADE* 445 plants which grow upon thefe mountains are greener and taller than any where elfe; but the trees feldom produce fruit* Whca a thick mift, or vapour, which does not afcend very high, is feen to arife from the mountain, it is a certain Iign that there is a mine of quickfilver below. The richeft mines are thofe fituated towards the north : ' they are always furrounded by water, which muft be evacuated before they are worked. It is feldom poffible to get quickfilver pure from the mine, as it is found mixed with earth, or reduced to natural cinnabar, that m is to fay, mercury combined with fulphun^ If the mercury is mixed only with a fmall quantity of earth, it is drained through a fhamoy fkin, on which the earth remains alone ; but when it is in the form of native cinnabar, it muft be extraded by means bf iron and fire. The iron ferves to detach the fulphureous acid which confined the mercury j 4 446 MEMOIR o«r rut mercury j and the fire gives the mercurj opportunity of fhooting in a receiver fS with water^ which is necefiary, that it i condenfe, by the coolnefs it finds whc rifes from the fire* 4 This mineral fubftance, being compc of fmall globules^ always difunited, is more difficult to be fixed and retail when it is preffed. It remains, howr motionlfefs, when fuffered to fettle in • place ; yet the old Eaft India Comp gave over carrying any of it in their ' fels, for fear of accidents. It was brou home by the commanders of private fti who were lefs timid, and without any convenience, after ufing proper precautit The advantage they derived from this 2 cle, ought to encourage us to imitate th provided we do not negleft the necef prefervativcs. chinese trade. 447 Cinnabar. THERE arc two forts of cinnabar : one. natural, which is found perfedly formed in the bowels of the earthy as defcribed in the preceding article; and the other artificial, which confills of three parts of crude mer« curyi and one of fulphur, mixed and fubli« mated together. The latter pounded a long time on a piece of porphyry, may be reduced to a very fine powder, called vermilion, which is one of the 'mod beautiful red co« lours we have. It is ufed for rendering Spanilh wax red. Fine cinnabar ought to be of a bright red colour. Borax. THIS is a fait, proper for accelerating the fufioa of metals. It muft be chofen •. as 1 44^. HBMOlk ON Tttit as white and cryflalline as pofllble. It generally, in pieces as broad as the ha and ffom one to two inches in thi nefs, when it has not been broken^ ( mud not, however,be too nice in havin] always in large maffes : wer6 they no big than an egg, it is a matter of no coi quence, provided they are white and pi The borax procured from Surat, is much fcrior to that of China* Rhubarb. THIS IS a large iroot, which grows low, cold, moift places, in the provinces Houquang and Leaotong. Its leaves . broad, of a dark green colour, and have acid and agreeable tafte. When the root taken from the earth, its outer bark is fcraf off, as well as the thin yellow membra 5 whi CHINESE TRADE. 449 tvhich is below j it is then perforated, and filed on a firing, in order that it may be fufpended in the open air^ or dried in the Ihade. The largeft pieces are not the beft, becaufe the furface of them only becomes dry. Rhubarb ought to be chofen in pieces of a moderate fize, two inches at moil in thicknefs} flat, bard, and heavy] frefh^ fmooth on the outfide, and of a faffron and! nutmeg colour; veined in the heart, andl having a bitter tafte, and an aromatic fmelL The excellence of this plant as a remedy, is well known : it produces alfo, a yellow die^ tvhich makes it at all times an article of great eonfumptioui ^— —————— —■——■— i—*A ChiKa Root. THIS plant, called Jmilax China^ has a r€>ot as large as a child^s hand. It is G g twifted, ■} 450 MEMOIR ON THE fwifted, full of knots, reddifli on tlie out of a flefti colour in the heart, and defB of fmell. It fends forth thorny ftilks, yf are of a creeping nature, and which c around fuch tr^es as grow in its neighlj hood. It muft be chofen full, heavy, compad; of a reddifh colour, and from rdttennefs: for it is much fubjei Be gnawed by worms* It is employed fuccefe as a medicine, iii the provinc Onanfi^ where it abounds* The Ch ufe it for food, infte'ad of rice ; and this tributes not a little to render them luft^ Musk. THIS IS a kind of bilious, fermc curdled, and almoft corrupted blood, from a bag under the belly of a fpec roe-buck, the hair of which is dry^ bj CHINESE TRADE.. ^^t and brittle. Wheqi the animal is killed^ ■■ • • • • this bag is cut off; and the curdled blood being fepatated from it, is hung up to dry - in the fun. In this fituation it is foon con- verted into a light fubftance, almoft in pow- der, and of a brown colour, which is again put int6 the bag for the fake of tranfporta* tion* Thefe animals are caught in the be- ginning of fummer, becaufe, having been . half-^ftarved during wintef, on account of the fnow, which lies very deep on the ground, their blood is heated, and in a ftate of fermentation. Mulk ought to be chofen very dry, and in bags pf the fize of an egg^ thin, having a ftrong flnpll, aind well covered with '^hair^ which fhould be of a brown colour. It is neceffary to obferve carefully, that the bags have not been opened^ and again fewed up ; and that no fmall ftones, or bits of lead^ have been put into them, which is a tritk very G g ^ 26 common / 45* MEMOIR ON THE common among the Chincfe. If one is obliged to keep the mufk feparate from the bag, it ought to be preferved in a leaden box, in order that the coolnefs of the metal may prevent it from becoming dry, and con- trading a bad fmell. TOUTENAG. THIS is a white, metallic alloy, made of tin and bifmuth; hard, compadt, and heavy. The beft, which is in cakes, is very fonorous when ftruck, and pure and brilliant when broken. The emperor of China, alone, has the right of felling to his fubjeOiSj g^M, quickfilver, and toutenag. Mother CHINESE TRADE. 453 Mother of Pearl. THIS article confifts of large thick oyfter- (hells, of a grey colour on the outfide, and fmooth and filvcry within. They have in- ternally the fame beauty and fplendor as ft thofe pearls which are commonly found in them* The Chinefe do not procure thefe (hells in their own country, but from Cochin- china and Camboja. They manufacture all kinds of toys of them ; and ufe them alfo inftead of window-glafs, as they admit almoft as much light as fome of our glafs in Europe. They employ them, fikewife, in malting lime ; not for building, becaufe it is not fo ftrong a cement as that made of (lone ; but for plafter and ftucco, as it is much finer and whiter. Mother of pearl ought to be chofen of a beautiful white co- G g 3 lour. 454 MEMOIR ON THfi lour, thick and fmobth, and, above i from yellow or grey fpois ae neweft is the beft. PiNSENGt i|.58 MEMOIft ON THB GlKS£VG« THIS oriental plant. So much celebrated j ^rowsin the mountains of Tartary, which border on certain provinces of the Chinefe empire. Its ftenii i^vhich is as thick as that of wheat, and about a foot in height, bears at firft red . buttons, which ei^paud each into fix white leaves like thofe of the violet. This knotty root has almofl the figure of the mandragora ; ' but it is fmaller, tranfpa^ rent, and ioterfperfed with fmall black veins, which form two or three branches. It has a fweet tafte, with a flight mixture of bitternefs; and is of an aromatic fmell, which is far from being difagreeable. This root, in order that it may be preferved, is dried, and then it becomes red on the out- fide, and yellowifli within.. It is fold at a high price, efpecially when it is of a good quality. CHINESt TKADE. 4^^ quality. Thofe kmds whicfh are brown and grey are much inferior to tbe other. Worms fometimeB get into 'tihe girifeng, and gnaw it, which Would render it unfit for fale, were it not fqi: 'the cunning df fhc .Chinefe, who have the prticnce to 'fill u|> the holes with a yellow powder -which tefe a great refemblalice to the colour df ihfe root. They infinusLte this poWfler into the fmall eyes of the plant, with fo much art, that one ipuft be a great conoiffeur to avoid being deceived. The Ghinefe themfelves, however, iare fometimes dupes, in their turn, to the fraud of tome European merchants, who mix with their oriental ginfeng a cer- tain quantity of that of Canada, which is far inferior in value. It is deficient not i^nly in colour, fmell, and tranf^rency, but alfo in its virtue and properties. Notwith- jftanding the high idea entertained of this plant, the trials made of it in Europe never corrc- 460 MEMOIR ON THE porrefponded with the wonders afcribed to it by the Chinefe, The immoderate ufe of ginfeng would foon \ffing on death. The rich are con- tented witl^ taking, in the morning, a fmall quantity of lU equal in weight to about a grain of ^orn.. When taken in fmall dofes^ either iijfufed or in powder, it is falutary. for old men, and thof^ who are exhaufted by exceffes : but it i$ prejudicial to young people, and to thofe who ^re of s warm tempcramjsnt, The ftrength and virtue of this roQt i§ fo great, that the fam^ dofe of it will ferve twic? for ii^fufion withput any addition. The beft ginfeng ought tp be frefli, heavy^ of a ftrong fmell, and fre? from caries and worm-holes. The Chinefe name of it fig> pifies refembhnce to the thighs of a man^ Nankin CHINESE TRADE/ 4^t Nankin Sixk. . THIS filk is the mod efleemed on ac« count of its clearnefs and whitenefs. When it does not pofTefs thefe two qualities, it ought to be reje£bed. Care ought to be taken alfo, that in the fkains there be no bad filk in large flocks, which ferve to in- creafe its weight ; and not to purchafe it till it has been well dried, and expofed to the lur, in order to guard againfl the deception of the Chinefe, who often keep it fhut up in moift places. « t Silk Stuffs. SILK fluffs of a good quality ought to have fine borders, and to be clofely woven, very foft, fmooth, and bright. To judge of 46t MEBtdtR 0^ TttE of the goodncfs of a piece of filk, one miiff not be diredled by the weight ; becaufe thd more Canton fflk, tvhich is a hard kind of an inferiot quality, has been employed in raanufadturing it, the more it will weigh* s * Stuffs made of that filk do not take the die well, efpecially green and blue colours j and they are always hard and (liff td the touch- The goodnefs of a piece of fattin or damalk may be known by its being foft, fmooth, , and even. If made of coarfe filk, it will l?ef rough and uneven. The woof of the fluffs manufaftured at Canton is made of coarfe filk, which ren-* ders them very inferior to thofe of Nankin^ where the materials are finer, and where the workmen are more fkilful, becaufe they fupply furniture for the emperor's palace. The principal filk fluffs brought from China are, Plain pekins of from 1 1 4 to 12 ells by!. 6 Luftrings, C H I NESE TR ABE. 463, Luftrings, of 1 2 ells by from ^ to ^, and of 14 ells by the fame. Plain goiirgourans, of 13 ells by f, and of 14 ells by i. • - .... Plain padifefoys of 14 ells by 4, and near* Double ditto of 14 ells. Pekin handkerchiefs, twenty in a piece. Plain, embroidered, and brocaded fattios, of from 1 14. to 12 ells by 4. Plain and painted gauzes, fmgle or double. Lampafes for drefles, of 1 2 ells by r. Ditto for furniture, of from 2 1 t to 2 2 elU by 4. Painted pekins for drefles, of from 11 itB. 22 ells by 4- Yellow nankeens; firft, fecond, and third kinds. White ditto, firft and fecond kind«. "White nankeen cloth, in pieces of twenty^ _ fcTen ells. Porcelain. ♦ * »« 4641 MEMOIR ON THfi Porcelain. WE are liot kiformcd who was the in-*' ventor of porcelain, nor to what chance or experiments we are inde1>ted for that difco« very. It is, however, probable, according) to fome of the Chinefe annals^ that porcelain was ufed in China before the year 4^4 of the Chriftian aera. Since that period it has been gradually! brought to a degree of per- fedion, which induces the moft opulent people in Europe to ufe it. * ^t; * Formerly the manufafturers of porceliin refided in the cities Feon4eang^ Kinte-ching^ ziidjao-tchsoUy in the province of Kiangfi. The works which were made there, and tranfported to foreign kingdoms, had no other name than valuable jewels of jao-^ • tcbeou and Klnte-ching. Porcelain was after- wards manufactured in other places ; but it is very different both in colour and finenefs. Strangers CHINESE trade: 465 Strangers may, without any difEcuIty, dif- tinguifh that which is made in the provinces of Canton and Fokien. It is of a coarfe white colour, without brightnefs, and with- out any mixture. of thofe delicate tints which are peculiar to the porcelain of Kinte-ching. The latter is unqueftionably the fined known ; and is even piirchafed by the Japanefe them- felves. The Europeans procure almoft all their porcelain from Canton, except that which is ortered : for the Chinefe merchants fend models to Kinte-ching to have various arti- cles manufaftured in the fame manner j but it often happens that the workmen, being fure of a ready fale for their own patterns, negle£t thefe works, and do not give themfelves the trouble to corred any faults which may be in the materials or the workmanftiip. One ought never to give commiffions of that kind but to merchants ' H h of 466 MEMOIR ON THE of eftabliflied probity and reputation, who may be interefted in caufing them to be well executed upon the fpot. BeGdes this, there is another inconvenience in thefe commif- fioned works. Being all made according to new models, in which it is difficult to fuc- ceed, if they have even a few imperfections, they are rejed:ed by the Europeans, who will purchafe nothing but what is thorough- ly finifhed. They remain therefore in the hands of the manufadiurers, who not being able to difpofe of them to the Chinefijii be- caufc they are not agreeable to their tafte, lay upon the pieces they fell an additional price, in order to make up for the lofs they fuftain by thofe which are returned. Nothing is more certain than that the difficulty of imitating models fent from Europe, is one of thofe caufes which aug- ment the price of porcelain when ordered ; for we muft not believe that the workmen caa CHINE.:gS TRADE. 467 can copy eviery pattern indifcriminately which is fent to them from foreign nations. There are fome really impracticable in China ; though, at the fame time, the Chi- nefe can execute fome furprifmg works, which we, in our turn, confider as impof- fible. . Several people imagine, that porcelain ac- quires a fuperior degree of perfection when it has been buried in the earth. This, how- ever, is a falfe idea, which the Chinefe ridi- cule» The hiftory of Kinte-ching, fpeak- ing of the beautiful porcelain of old times, informs us, that it was in fo much requeft, that fcarcely were the furnaces opened when the merchants difputed who fhould have it, which certainly does not imply that it was buried in the earth. It is very true, tliat in digging up ruins, or in clearing old neg, • ledted wells, fome very beautiful pieces of porcelain are now and then found, which H h 2 have 468 MItMOIR ON THE have been hid during the time of war or- revolutions ; but thefe pieces are beautiful merely becaufe the owners of them thought of concealing only the moft valuable, with a view of finding them again when the troubles were over. If they are highly valued, it is not on account of their having acquired any fuperior quality in the bofoni of the earth, but becaufe their ancient beauty is preferved. There are fome con- noifleurs alfo in China, who give a high price for the moft trifling utenfils employed by their emperors in remote ages. AH the change made in porcelain by lying Ion in the earthy refpefts its tints and colouring. This mark of antiquity is'obferved alfo in marble and ivory ; but fooncr than in porce- lain, the varnifh and enamel of which retard the progrefs of moifture. A method has been lately difcovered of imitating the ancient porcelain, or at leaft that S • CHlNESi: TRADE, 469 '■ that of confiderable antiquity. Pieces of I this kind are generally very thick and hea- vy* They are firft dipped in commoQ mixed with yellow oil, which gives thcm^ when baked, .a fea-green colour : they are then baked a fecond time, in a very fat kind of liquor made from capons and other meat, after which they are put into a dirty fewer for two or three months ; and at the end of that time they refemble porcelain made three or four hundred years ago, which was the period when pieces of that colour and thicknefs were efteemed by the Chinefe. Thefe falfe antiques refemble the real alfo, in not refounding when ftruck, and in producing no humming noife when applied to the ear. The Chinefe are remarkably fond of thofe glafs and cryftal wares which are brought to them from Europe, Porcelain, however, is preferable ; for it has a certain kind 470 MEMOIR ON THE kind of fplendour as well as glafs ; and if it is lefs tranfparent, it is alfo lefs brittle. It likewife bears warm liquors ; and one may hold it in the hand with boiling tea, which could not be done with a filver cup of the fame figure and thicknefs. The Chinefe fucceed extremely well in forming grotefque figures and animals of porcelain. This kind of china is commonly called ifcky. Such, in general, are the principal ob- jeds which might be procured from this vafl empire, with the hope of certain gain, I fhall therefore now fay a few words re- fpedipg certain Afiatic articles which might be carried to China, and fold there with confiderable profit, Aphrodifiacs and reftoratives are in great requefl among the Chinefe. They are, above all, fond of a kind of birds nefts, found on the rocks near the fea-coafl, and CHINESE TRADE. 471 and made by a fpecies of fmall fwallows, of the fry of fifh and* a vifcous foam which the fun afterwards hardens. Their price is in proportion to their quality. The ifland of Java furniflies the beft : the white are moft efteemed. The Chinefe fet a great value, alfo, on the fins of the fhark, the fea priapus, crabs, fago, tripam, and a certain kind of Molucca beans defcribed by Rumphius. Sago is the pith of a palm of the fame name found in the ifland of Timor. Tri- pam is a fmall fpongy plant without roots, and refembling a mufhroom. The rounder and blacker it is, it is fo much the more ipcrfed:^ It is very common at the ifland of Celebes. As the mofl exquifite food appears in- fipid to the Chinefe, and as every thing they eat requires to be heightened by feafoning, they confume large quantities of fpiceries, fuch as cloves, nutmegs, and pepper. 3 The 47^ MEMOIR ON THE The beft cloves are procured at the ifland of Amboyna. They ought to be full, juicy, heavy, of a ftrong odour, and hot aromatic tafte, and to leave a flight oil on the fingers. The nutmegs and mace of the ifland of Banda are the mofl; efteemed. They ought to be chofen frefli, round, heavy, of a flirong" fmell and tafte, fomevvhat bitterifli, and withi an oily juice, Benjamin and opium, fandal wood, am-s" bergris, camphire of Sumatra, and Socotrine aloes may alfo be carried to China. The latter article, which grows in the ifland of Socotora, near the Red Sea, ought to be bright and tranfparent, to have a tawny colour, with a bitter aromatic tafte, and to be almoft deftitute of fmcll. Benjamin may be procured at Bantam. This aromatic gum is commonly fold in boxes of one or two hundred weight each. It ought to be chofen with a ftrong fmell, 4 and CHINESE TRADE* 473 and marbled in different places, in the in- fide with white. The Bengal opium is preferable to any other. It is the infpiflatedjuice of poppies^ formed into fmall cakes* It ought to be fomewhat foft, of a brownifh colour and ftrong fetid fmell, and to yield to the linger when preffed. That which is dry, friable, burnt, and mixed with earthy is of a bad quality. Sandal wood ought to be heavy, to have a fweet fmell, no pith, and to be of a beau- tiful flefh colour in the infide. Ambergris is found on the fea-coaftj in many parts of India. This relinous, fpongy, and inflammable fubftance is reckoned to be of a good quality when it is of a cinder- grey colour, and has a fine fmell. The mafles are of different forms ; but generally they are flat, of the fize of the hand, and c^nfifl: of different coats, or leaves, two or I i three * • ■ /«r ■ • 474 MEMO» ON THB three lines in thicknefs; fo that ten or twelve leaves, laid one upon another, form at leaft the thicknefs of two or three inches. The bills of paroquets are fometimes found in them, which is a certain fign that they are of a good quality. I fhall terminate this article with fome remarks on the trade which might be eafily carried on at Timor, fituated to the fouth of the Moluccas, and to the eaft of Java. The articles which will find the readied fale there, are fufees, gun-flints, powder and ball, piftols, fabres, iron in bars, common toys, cloth of different colours, filver bracelets, coarfe handkerchiefs, and Indian cotton fluffs, a little opium, and Spanifh or Ma- deira wine of a rough flavour. In return, one might procure rice, falt- petre, tortoife-fhell, wax, fandal, and fapan wood, and even a little gold. Large quan- tities of cadiangy a kind of fmall beans, which the • . . -• "-t. CHINESE TRADE. 475 the Dutch give to their failors, may be alfo procured here. I fhall pafs over in filence a branch of commerce which humanity, reafon, and philofophy have fhewn to be odious ; vvrith- out, however, having been able to triumph over prejudices, habitude, and the felf-in- tereftednefs of a few individuals. When * fhail we have the happinefs not to be ac- quainted with flavery in our colonies ? THE END. MARS 1918 f. V • r BOUND Fto 11919 9992 ^98S0 S 1-06 £ liiilll|9