JDOVICUS
CHRISTIANISSIMUS

S.R
P
Library
OF THE
(ROYAL ARTILLERY)
INSTITUTION.
DIEV
SOIT
ET
QUI
MALY
TBIQUE
MON
DROV
FAS ET GLORIA DICUN
Pesented by
1
DYAL
ARTILLERY
23 JUL 97
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
DT
468
D823

**
PUTAL ART
ERY

23 JUL 97
SUPPLEMENT
TO
THE VOYAGE
OF
FRANÇOIS LEGUAT
ISSUED BY
The Hakluyt Society
Nos. LXXXII & LXXXIII
MDCCC. XCI

a
THE
VOYAGES
MADE
BY THE SIEUR
SIEUR D.B.
TO THE ISLANDS DAUPHINE OR
MADAGASCAR & BOURBON
OR MASCARENNE IN THE YEARS
1669. 70. 71 & 72
TRANSLATED & EDITED
BY
CAPTAIN PASFIELD OLIVER
LATE ROYAL ARTILLERY
Editor of 'THE VOYAGE OF FRANÇOIS LEGUAT’
(Hakluyt Edition)
With Facsimile Maps and Illustrations
'Victali soektmen hier en vlees van't pluim gediert,
Der pallembomen sap, de dronten rond van stuiten,
't Wylmen de papegai hout dat hij piept en tiert,
En doet dat and're meer ook raaken inder miuten.'
LONDON
PRINTED FOR DAVID NUTT, 270 STRAND
BY T. AND A. CONSTABLE, THISTLE ST. EDINBURGH
MDCCCXCVII
!
Реа
Regent R. L. Hubbard
q+.
2-5-1925
1
CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
EDITOR'S PREFACE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BRIEF CHRONOLOGY.
INTRODUCTION
•
TITLE.
ENGLISH EDITION
DEDICATORY LETTER TO MONSIEUR LOYSEAU
PAGE
V
vii
ix
xi
XV
xvii
xxxix
I
3
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION
7
JOURNAL
REMARKS on various things which happened in Madagascar
27
ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR .
49
VOYAGE OF MONSIEUR DE LA HAYE to Bourbon
72
DESCRIPTION of the Island of Bourbon or Mascarenne
74
DESCRIPTION of some Birds of the Island of Bourbon
LAND BIRDS and their names
FRUITS of the Island of Mascarenne .
GARDEN PLANTS of the Isle of Mascaregne
•
76
77
85
87

vi
Contents
OF THINGS which can be done in the Island of Bourbon.
RELATION of Fort Dauphin, &c.
RELATION of the Rest of the Voyage.
NOTES
APPENDICES
INDEX.
RANGAHY BÉ.
PAGE
92
96
99
. 109
. 129
154
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
FRONTISPIECE. GIGANTIC TORTOISES-Living Survivals of
almost extinct Chelonian genera, from Islands in the Indian
Ocean, now in the possession of the Hon. Walter Rothschild
Head of Malagasy Chief, Rangahy Bé, from photo. by Dr. Catat
Betsileo Woman, from photo. by Dr. Catat
Mascarinus Duboisi, from the Planches Enluminées.
The Dodaers of Bontekoe van Horn .
Perruche à Collier, de l'Isle de Bourbon
Mordoré, or Bruant de l'Isle de Bourbon
Huppe du Cap de Bonne Espérance
•
Medal of Colonia Madagascariensis, 1665 .
PAGE
iii
vi
viii
xvii
XXV
•
xxviii
XXX
xxxii
•
XXXV
Malagasy Graveyard, East Madagascar, from photo. by Dr. Catat xxxvi
Map of Isle Dauphine by Sanson fils, 1667
ENGLISH EDITION
FRONTISPIECE. The White Dodo, from Drawing by Pierre
Withoos.
xxxvii
Colonial Medal of Louis XIV.
2
Chart of West Coast by Eberard, 1667
4
Interior of Gateway, Fort Dauphin, from photo. by Dr. Catat.
5
South-East Coast of Madagascar
do.
do.
7
Old Casemated Battery at Fort Dauphin do.
do.
26
An Antandroy
do.
do.
27
Village near Fort Dauphin
do.
do.
48
Citadel and Ramparts, Fort Dauphin
do.
do.
49
Woman of Antaisaka Tribe
do.
do.
51
Young Girls of Antanosy
do.
do.
53

viii
List of Illustrations and Maps
PAGE
Antaisaka warriors with sagayes, from photo. by Dr. Catat
55
Emounouques and Trangues de Beliche
do.
do.
.
57
Crocodilus Madagascariensis
do.
do.
60
Malagasy Oxen
do.
do.
64
Approach to Fort Dauphin
do.
do.
. 71
Inscribed Stone at St. Denis, from Maillard
. 72
Map of Bourbon, Facsimile of Flacourt's map, 1661.
238
85
89
Cochon Marron, from photo. by Dr. Catat
Head of Parrot of Isle Mascaregne, now extinct (Mascarinus
Duboisi), from Ibis 1879
Malagasy Woman and Child, from photo. by Dr. Catat
Rice Granary, neighbourhood of Fort Dauphin do.
Malagasy Girl, from photo. by Dr. Catat
An Antandroy
do.
do.
Feet of Mascarinus Duboisi, after Forbes, from Ibis 1879
A BETSILEO WOMAN.
91
95
96
98
99
. 140
EDITOR'S PREFACE
4
HALF a century ago the president of the Ashmolean
Society in his monograph-The Dodo and its Kindred—
mentioned the expedition of Admiral de la Haye to
the Island of Bourbon, and referred particularly to the
account given of it by 'one of the party, who calls him-
self the Sieur D.B.' 'His journal,' he added, 'is con-
tained in a MS. given by Mr. Telfair to the Zoological
Society of London, which I hope will not be allowed
to remain much longer unpublished.' This modern manu-
script copy, still preserved in the library of the Zoological
Society, consists of 246 pages quarto notepaper, bearing
the water-mark of Britannia in oval cartouche, surmounted
by a crown, with the name J. Whatman, and dates, varying
on the different quires, from 1805 to 1811, showing that
the sheets were manufactured at the well-known Turkey
Mill, before the Springfield paper-mills were established
on the Medway at Maidstone. The pages are stitched
into a somewhat weather-beaten leather cover with mottled
red and blue paper lining, whilst the outer edges are much
stained, apparently by sea-water, as though the book had
been well handled on deck of some homeward-bound
East Indiaman during its owner's passage from Mauritius.
When Strickland first quoted this MS. to the Zoological
Society in 1844, he did not know the name of the author,
or that the journal had ever been printed, because Mr.
!
X
Editor's Preface
1
Telfair, who presented the copy to the Society in 1833,
died before he could give information on this point.
The original little book, from which the MS. journal was
transcribed at Port Louis in the first decade of the present
century, is a rare duodecimo volume published by Claude
Barbin in 1674. This book was noticed in the Biographie
Universelle (vol. xii. p. 70) as early as 1814, under the
heading Dubois, the real name of the author, which
is found subscribed to the dedication omitted from the
manuscript copy; but the existence of this book does not
seem to have been recognised by naturalists 2 in England
until it was pointed out in 1852 by Mr. Pinkerton in
Notes and Queries, vol. vi. p. 83, although it seems to
have been known in Réunion, where it was noticed by
Dr. Coquerel and M. Maillard in 1862-63. It was more
prominently set forth by M. Alphonse Milne-Edwards,
who, in 1866, reprinted the whole of the ornithological
portion of the work."
3
4
In furtherance of the wish expressed by Strickland
in his monograph on the Dodo, an English version of
Dubois' ingenuous little book is now presented by
the Editor,
FINDON, January 30, 1897.
S. PASFIELD OLIVER.
¹ As General Decaen surrendered Port Napoleon to General Abercromby in
1810, it might be that the transcript was made subsequent to the capitulation,
possibly in 1811-1812, when Mr. Telfair was secretary to Governor Farquhar.
2 Vide The Ibis for July 1876, p. 286: Messrs. Alfred and Edward Newton
on the Psittaci of the Mascarene Islands, note.
3 Album de l'île de la Réunion.
2 vols. in 4to.
4 Notes sur l'île de la Réunion. I vol. 8vo.
•
5 Annales des Sciences Naturelles (Zoologie).
Saint-Denis, 1860-62.
Paris, 1863.
Série v. vi. p. 42, note. A
portion of the Voyages du Sieur D. B. has also been reprinted at Port Louis,
Mauritius, in the Revue Historique et Littéraire de l'Ile Maurice, 1889.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Album de l'île de la Réunion. Recueil de dessins par le Dr. A.
Roussin; Texte historique et descriptif par une Société de gens
de lettres. 3 vols. 4to. Saint-Denis (Réunion), 1860-63.
Annuaire de l'île de la Réunion. Saint-Denis, 1896.
Anonymous. Recueil de Quelques Mémoires servans d'instruction
pour l'Etablissement de l'isle d'Eden. Amsterdam, 1689. Vide
Du Quesne and Sauzier (Th.).
Brisson (Mathurin-Jacques). Ornithologie. 6 vols. in 4to. Paris,
1760.
Baker (J. G.). Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles. London, 1877.
Boddaert. Table des Planches Enluminées. Utrecht, 1783. Vide
Daubenton.
Buffon (Leclerc de). Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, Rédigé par
C. S. Sonnini. Paris, 1801-5.
Bellanger de Lespinay (de L. A.). Mémoires sur son voyage aux
Indes Orientales (1670-1675), publiées sur le manuscrit original
et annotés par Henri Froidevaux. Vendôme, 1895.
Bojer (Venceslas). Hortus Mauritianus, 1837.
Bontekoe van Hoorn (Willem Ysbrantsz.). Journal van de acht-jarige
avontuerlijcke Reyse. Amsterdam, circa 1647.
Bory de Saint Vincent. Voyage dans les quatre principals îles des
mers d'Afrique. 3 vols. with Atlas. Paris, 1804.
Brunet (Dr. P.). Voyage à l'île de France (1803-5). Paris, 1825.
Cap (P. Antoine). Philibert Commerson, naturaliste voyageur.
Paris, 1861.
Carpeau du Saussay. Voyage de Madagascar par M. de De V
(1662-66). Paris, 1722.
Carré. Voyage des Indes Orientales.
2 vols. Paris, 1699.
Catat (Docteur Louis). Voyage à Madagascar (1889-90). Paris, 1895.
Cauche (François). Relation du Voyage. Relations Véritables et
Curieuses. Paris, 1651.
Charpentier de Cossigny (C.). Voyage à Canton
France et de la Réunion. Paris, 1798.
•
et les Isles de
Charpentier (François). Discours d'un fidèle sujet, etc. Paris, 1664.
Relation de l'Etablissement de la Compagnie françoise.
Paris, 1665.
Clément (Pierre). Lettres, Instructions, et Mémoires de Colbert.
7 vols. Paris, 1861-82.
Codine (J.). Mémoire Géographique sur la mer des Indes. Paris, 1868.
Commerson (Philibert). Vide Montessus and Cap.
Cordemoy (E. Jacob de). Flore de l'Ile de la Réunion. Paris, 1895.
xii
Bibliography
|
Dapper (O.). Naaukeurige beschryvinge der Africaensche Gewesten.
Amsterdam, 2º druk, 1676.
Daubenton (le jeune). Planches Enluminéez d'histoire naturelle.
Paris, 1765-83.
Dellon (Dr.). Nouvelle Relation d'un Voyage aux Indes Orientales.
Amsterdam, 1699.
D'Epinay (Adrien). Renseignements pour servir à l'Histoire de l'île
de France. Ile Maurice, 1890.
Desjardins (Julien). Notice historique sur Charles Telfair, President
de la Société d'histoire naturelle de l'île Maurice . . . Port
Louis, Ile Maurice, 1836.
(Dubois), D. B. Voyage à Madagascar... Paris, 1674.
Duméril et Bibron. Erpétologie générale. Paris, 1835.
Du Quesne (Le Marquis Henri).
Recueil de quelques mémoires
servans d'instruction pour l'etablissement de l'isle d'Eden.
Amsterdam, 1689.
Du Quesne. Journal d'un Voyage fait aux Indes Orientales (1690-91).
Rouen, 1721.
Eyriés. Notice on 'Dubois,' Biographie Universelle, tome xii.
Paris, 1814.
Flacourt (Etienne de). Histoire de la grande isle de Madagascar.
Paris, 1658. 2nd edition, 1661.
Forbes (W. A.). On the Systematic Position of 'Le Perroquet mas-
carin.' Ibis, July 1879.
Froberville (Eugène de). Les Iles de l'Afrique. Paris, 1848.
Froidevaux (Henri). Mémoires de Bellanger de Lespinay, 1670-75.
Vendôme, 1895.
Un Explorateur inconnu de Madagascar au xviie siècle.
Paris, 1896.
Grandidier (Alfred). L'Histoire physique, naturelle, et politique de
Madagascar. 40 vols., 4to. Paris, 1890-7.
Grant (Charles). The History of Mauritius and neighbouring Islands.
London, 1801.
Guët (M. J.). Les Origines de l'île Bourbon. Paris, 1888.
Guillain. Voyage à Madagascar. Paris, 1845.
Günther (Dr. Albert). The Gigantic Land-Tortoises in British
Museum. London, 1877.
Herbert (Sir Thomas). Relation of some yeares' Travaile. London,
1634. 2nd edition, 1638 (the best).
Hermann (Jules). Colonisation de l'île Bourbon.-Bulletin de la
Société des sciences et arts de l'île de la Réunion. St. Denis, 1887.
Jadin (M. F.). Voyage aux Iles Mascareignes en 1890. Mont-
pellier, 1891.
Labarbinais-Legentil. Nouveau Voyage autour du Monde. Amster-
dam, 1728.
La Bourdonnais (B. F. Mahé de). Mémoires Historiques. Paris,
1827.
Bibliography
xiii
La Caille. Journal de Voyage. Paris, 1763.
La Roque. Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse. Paris, 1716.
Le Gentil de la Galaisière (G. J. H. J. B.). Voyage dans les Mers de
l'Inde. 2 vols. Paris, 1779.
Leguat (François). Voyages et Avantures.
2 vols.
Londres, 1708.
Maillard (L.). Notes sur l'île de la Réunion. Paris, 1862.
Maudave (Louis Laurent de Féderbe, Comte de). Vide St. André
(Pouget de).
Montessus (Dr. F. B. de). Martyrologe et Biographie de Commerson.
Châlon-sur-Saône, 1889.
Milne-Edwards (Professor Alphonse).
Annales des Sciences
Naturelles, Zoologie. Série V. Vol. vi. Paris, 1866.
et Oustalet (E.). Notice sur quelques espèces d'oiseaux
actuellement éteintes qui se trouvent représentées dans les
collections du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris, 1893.
Newton (Professor Alfred). On Picture of supposed Didine Bird of
Bourbon. Transactions of Zoological Society.
A Dictionary of Birds. London, 1893.
1867.
and (Sir Edward) Newton. On the Psittaci of the Mascarene
Islands. Ibis, July. London, 1876.
Newton (Sir Edward) and Gadow (Hans). On Additional Bones of
the Dodo and other Extinct Birds of Mauritius, obtained by Mr.
Théodore Sauzier. Transactions Zoological Society, vol. xiii.
part vii. London, 1893.
Oliver (Dudley). Crags and Craters. Rambles in the French
Island of Réunion. London, 1896.
Oustalet (E.). Note sur la Faune Ornithologique éteinte des Iles
Mascareignes. Bulletin du Muséum d'histoire naturelle, 1896.
Notice sur la Faune Ornithologique ancienne et moderne des
Iles Mascareignes. Paris, 1896.
Owen (Professor). Evidence of a Species, perhaps extinct, of Large
Parrot contemporary with Dodo in Mauritius. Ibis, April.
London, 1866.
Pauliat (Louis). Louis XIV. et la Compagnie des Indes Orientales
de 1664. Paris, 1886.
Pingré (le Père). Voyage à Rodrigue. Manuscript in the Library
of Hydrographic Department. Paris, 1761.
Pinkerton. Note on Dubois in Notes and Queries, vol. vi. London,
1852.
Pitot (V.). Revue Historique et Littéraire de l'Ile Maurice. Port
Louis, Mauritius, 1889.
Poivre (Pierre). Voyage d'un Philosophe. Paris, 1794.
Rennefort (Souchu de). Relation du premier Voyage de la Compagnie
des Indes Orientales en l'isle de Madagascar ou Dauphine.
Paris, 1668.
M. S. D. R. Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des Indes
Orientales. Paris, 1688.
xiv
·Bibliography
Rochon (L'Abbé Alexis). Voyage à Madagascar. Paris, 1791.
Rothschild (The Hon. Walter). Novitates Zoologica. Vols. 4.
Tring, 1894-97.
Roussin (A.). Album de l'île de la Réunion. Saint Denis, 1860-63.
Rozier (l'Abbé). Observations sur la physique, l'histoire naturelle,
etc. Paris, 1775.
St. André (H. Pouget de). La Colonisation de Madagascar sous
Louis xv. d'après la correspondance inédite du Comte de
Maudave. Paris, 1886.
Saint-Pierre (Bernardin de). Voyage à l'isle de France.
2 vols.
Amsterdam, 1773.
Sauzier (Th.). Un Projet de République à l'île Eden en 1689, par
Du Quesne. Paris, 1887.
Les Tortues de Terre Gigantesques des Mascareignes.
Paris, 1893.
Schlegel (H.). Over eenige uitgestorvene reusachtige vogels van de
Mascarenhas Eilanden (Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Konin-
klijhe Akademie van Vetenschappen, vol. vii., 1857). Trans-
lated by J. H. Hessels. On some Extinct Gigantic Birds of the
Mascarene Islands. The Ibis, April 1866.
Sonnerat. Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine. 4 vols. in
8vo, with Atlas. Paris, 1782.
Strickland (H. E.) and Melville (A. G.). The Dodo and its Kindred,
or the History, Affinities, and Osteology of the Dodo, Solitaire,
and other extinct Birds of the Islands Mauritius, Rodriguez, and
Bourbon. London, 1848.
Thévenot (Melchizedec). Relations de divers Voyages curieux.
2 vols. folio. Paris, 1663.
Tombe. Voyage aux Indes. 2 vols. in 8vo. Paris, 1811.
Unienville (Le Baron d'). Statistique de l'île Maurice et ses Dépen-
dances. 3 vols. Paris, 1838.
Vaillant (Léon). Les Tortues éteintes de l'île Rodriguez. Volume
commémoratif centenaire de la fondation du Muséum d'Histoire
Naturelle. Paris, 1893.
Vinson (Dr. Auguste). Aranéides des îles de la Réunion, Maurice,
et Madagascar. Paris, 1863.
1888.
Voyage à Madagascar. Paris, 1865.
Salazie ou le Piton d'Anchaine, Légende Créole. Paris,
Notes publiées sur la Flore de l'île de la Réunion. Saint
Denis, 1896.
Acclimatation à l'île Réunion.
Bulletin de la Société des
sciences et arts de l'île de la Réunion. Saint Denis, 1868.
Wallace (Alfred Russel). The Geographical Distribution of Animals.
2 vols. London, 1876.
- Island Life. Phenomena of Insular Faunas and
Floras. London, 1880.
BRIEF CHRONOLOGY¹
1506. Discovery of Ilha Santo Lorenzo (Madagascar).
1507. Discovery of Ilha Santa Appollonya, attributed to Diego
Fernandez Pereira.
1528. Re-discovery of Las Ilhas de Mascarenhas.
1529. Names and positions of Las Ilhas de Mascarenhas first appear
on chart of Diego Ribero.
1540. A Lazarist mission from Goa said to have been founded on
Santo Lorenzo.
1545. Portuguese take possession of Ilhas de Mascarenhas for King
João III.
1547. Alleged discovery of islands south-east of St. Laurent by Jean
Alphonse, a Captain of Saintonge.
1548. Reputed martyrdom of Lazarist missionaries by the Malagasy.
1598. Attempted Dutch settlement in Santa Appollonya (?).
1600. Another Lazarist mission from Goa visits Madagascar.
1613. Captain Castleton, in the Pearl, lands on 'England's Forest'
(Mascareigne).
1615. Andrian Ramaka, a Malagasy, accompanies Portuguese mis-
sionaries to Goa.
1619. Willem Ysbrantsz. Bontekoe van Hoorn lands on the Insul
Maskarinas.
1627. Sir Thomas Herbert lands hogs and goats on 'England's
Forest,' or Pulo-Par (Mascareigne).
1638. Salomon Goubert finds the arms of France erected in Ile
Mascareigne.
1642. The Société de l'Orient founded by Rigault.
1643. Jacques de Pronis takes possession of Ile Mascareigne for the
Société de l'Orient, and establishes settlement in south
of Madagascar, named Fort Dauphin.
1646. Twelve mutineers deported from Fort Dauphin to Ile Mas-
careigne, then first inhabited.
1649. Formal 'prise de possession' of Ile Mascareigne, now named
Ile Bourbon. The twelve Frenchmen brought back to Fort
Dauphin, leaving the island uninhabited.
1653. Pillar erected by the Sieur de Flacourt at Sta. Lucia on south-
east coast of Madagascar.
1654. Coillard, dit Taureau, with seven Frenchmen, settles on Ile
Bourbon.
¹ In correction of Chronology given in Hakluyt Edition of Leguat.
xvi
Brief Chronology
1658. Taureau and his companions leave Ile Bourbon again un-
inhabited.
1660. Sieur de Flacourt killed on voyage from France to Ile Bourbon.
1662. Settlement made at St. Paul in Ile Bourbon by Louis Payen.
1664. Louis XIV. grants concession of St. Laurent, now Ile Dauphine,
and Ile Bourbon to the Compagnie des Indes Orientales.
M. de Beausse and Souchu de Rennefort arrive at Fort
Dauphin.
1665. Medals of the Colonia Madagascarensis and the Great Seal of
Gallia Orientalis struck at the Mint in Paris.
1666. Souchu de Rennefort returns to France.
1667. Marquis de Mondevergue, MM. La Faye and Caron land at
Fort Dauphin.
1668. Carré lands on Ile Bourbon.
1669. April 13. The Sieur Dubois begins his voyage to Madagascar
and leaves Port Louis in the S. Paul.
August 31. The S. Paul arrives at Mascarenne.
October 2. The S. Paul arrives at Fort Dauphin.
October 7. Champmargou appointed Lieutenant-General.
December 5. M. Jacob Blanquet de la Haye, Governor and
Lieutenant-General for the King in Ile Dauphine and the
East Indies, commissioned.
1670. March 30. Squadron of de la Haye, despatched to protect
French commerce in the East Indies, sails from Rochelle.
November 23. De la Haye's fleet arrives at Fort Dauphin.
1671. February 6. M. de Mondevergue embarks for France in the
Marie.
April 9. Dubois leaves Fort Dauphin in the Navarre.
May 1. Dubois reaches Bourbon.
June 17-22. Admiral de la Haye leaves Bourbon.
June 23. Le Vacher, surnamed La Case, Fort Major, dies at
Fort Dauphin.
June 24. Admiral de la Haye reaches Fort Dauphin.
July 17. Sieur de la Bretesche appointed in his stead.
July 19. Sieur de la Bretesche marries eldest daughter of La
Case.
July 27. Lieutenant Thomassin marries widow of La Case.
August 11. Admiral de la Haye leaves Fort Dauphin for Surat.
1672. September 4. Dubois embarks in the Barbault at St. Paul,
Bourbon.
September 8. Dubois reaches Fort Dauphin.
September 19. Dubois leaves Fort Dauphin in the Barbault.
1673. January 20. Dubois reaches La Rochelle.

To face p. xvii.
35
Tom. 6, Pl. 16.
Pag. 120.
Donne Grave par Marlinet
MASCARIN.
(Mascarinus duboisi).

Α 1
INTRODUCTION
T the commencement of the seventeenth century, and,
indeed, throughout the lifetime of Louis le Juste,
France appears to have been the only Power among the
great nations of Europe which did not possess an or-
ganised commerce with the East Indies; and Richelieu
died before his far-seeing views on the maritime and
colonial expansion of France could be carried into effect.
The great Cardinal's projects were, however, soon com-
menced under his successor, and almost the first act of the
boy King, Louis XIV., when but five years of age, was the
signing, in 1643, under Mazarin's direction (by Fouquet's
advice), of letters patent, granting a concession of Mada-
gascar to the Société de l'Orient. It is not impossible.
that the marvellous tales related by the adventurers who
first guided the expeditionary vessels of the Company to
the waters of the Indian Ocean, made a lasting impression
on the mind of the youthful sovereign; and such early
interest in the great African island would certainly have
been intensified by the publication of Estienne de Fla-
court's History,¹ which appeared, almost simultaneously
with the death of Mazarin, in 1661.
By this time the wealth and importance of the Dutch
East India Company had reached enormous proportions,
and, at Colbert's instigation, Louis soon became alive
to the great advantages which such a monopoly of Indian
trade conferred on his neighbours; but hitherto the civil
¹ Dedicated to Fouquet.
b
xviii
Introduction
war of the Fronde had prevented Oriental enterprise,
whilst France possessed no exterior trade with any countries.
beyond Senegal and Congo on the western coasts of
Africa. The young monarch, when he became of age,
was by no means such a mere 'machine à signer' in the
hands of his ministers, Colbert and Louvois, as many
students have been led to believe by MM. Pierre Clément¹
and Camille Rousset; on the contrary, the results of late
researches made in the 'volumes verts' of the Bibliothèque
Nationale, in the archives at Lorient, and in the records of
the Ministry of Marine, by that expert publicist, M. Louis
Pauliat, lead us to conclude that Louis XIV. himself was
personally and actively engaged in the conception and
initiation of the first French East India Company.2
By incontestable documentary evidence, M. Pauliat
shows us the unusual methods employed by Louis le
Grand in promoting his ambitious scheme of creating
an Oriental France; although Colbert's promptings seem
apparent behind his royal master's project for starting
the new Company. First of all, the services of the
well-known academician, François Charpentier, were
enlisted to prepare a pamphlet 3 setting forth all the
advantages and profits to be acquired by a French Com-
pany in the East Indies.
This pamphlet having been duly published broadcast
under royal patronage, and become widely known, the next
step was to obtain the countenance of the leading merchants;
and for this purpose public meetings were called, at which,
besides the trading community of Paris, many people of
1 Histoire de la Vie et de l'Administration de Colbert, 1846.
-2 Louis XIV. et la Compagnie des Indes Orientales de 1664, par Louis
Pauliat, Paris, 1886.
3 Discours d'un fidèle sujet du Roi touchant l'Etablissement d'une Com-
pagnie française. Paris, 1664-1665. The German edition appeared under
the pseudonym of Wagenseil. This discourse was followed by another entitled
Relation de l'Etablissement de la Compagnie françoise pour le Commerce des
Indes Orientales, par Charpentier, Académicien. Paris, 1665.
Introduction
xix
grande qualité were assembled together. At the third of
these meetings, held in May 1664, a protocol of forty
articles was agreed to, constituting the Company; and
it was suggested that certain delegates should submit
this charter to his Majesty, who had in reality, during
all these preliminary arrangements, been actually pulling
the wires himself. His Majesty, it may be remembered,
was at this time just twenty-five and a half years of age,
and entered into the whole business with the greatest zest.
The various methods made use of to promote the raising
of finances for the Company by syndics are carefully
traced by M. Pauliat in his interesting book, which tells
us of the manifold intrigues by which the unwary traders
were regularly entrapped by the designing monarch. The
final scene, when the election of the directors was carried
on under the King's personal presidency in an ante-
chamber of the Louvre, and when his Majesty, the chair-
man, coolly walked off with the voting urns to make his
own scrutiny in his private rooms, conveys an admirable.
example of the wily manoeuvres by which the King ob-
tained the personal direction and dictatorship of the
French East India Company.
No sooner had he thus gained possession of the funds
subscribed than he set to work to realise his scheme for
the colonisation of Madagascar; on which he had previously
determined, in order to secure a base for the naval opera-
tions by which he proposed to obtain for France her
predominance in the Indian Ocean, and to establish a
Gallia Orientalis in the East Indies.
Fort Dauphin was assigned as the seat of government,
and thither were despatched MM. de Beausse and Montau-
bon, with directions to take possession of the establishments.
of the defunct Société de l'Orient. This mission left Brest
for Madagascar in 1665, and arrived only to find the whole
country of Anosy-the province surrounding Fort Dauphin
XX
Introduction
-hostile to the French settlers, the result of Father Etienne's
untimely zeal for the forcible conversion of the natives—a
fault which the Lazarist priest had expiated by his tragic
fate. Meantime in France colonists were recruited, to en-
courage whom medals and coins were struck bearing the
insignia of the Colonia Madagascarica. In the following
year, 1666, another expedition on a far grander scale set
sail from La Rochelle, under the command of the Marquis
de Montdevergue, created Viceroy of the Indies and
Governor of Isle Dauphine, as Madagascar was now
named,¹ with all the glorious pomp and circumstance
attending an adventurous cruise whose fortune and suc-
cess had been preassured. But it is obvious that Louis
XIV. had quite omitted from his calculations the possibility
of a reverse. The fates proved unkind, or rather the winds
were contrary. The meteorology of the Atlantic Ocean,
an important factor in the conditions, had not been taken
into account; the warnings of old sea-captains had
been scoffed at, and months passed in waiting for in-
telligence of the squadron. As it happened, the fleet of
Montdevergue had been forced to put into Pernambuco
by stress of weather, it had been obliged to remain there
a long time refitting, and, in fact, the French ships did
not reach the shores of Madagascar for at least a year
after leaving France. Worst of all, during the long voyage
all the supplies of provision were consumed, so that the
first batch of unfortunate colonists landed in a state of
destitution at Fort Dauphin, where the former settlers and
garrison were themselves expecting relief from the stores
1 'Pour reconnoistre envers Dieu la grâce qu'il verse tous les jours si abon-
damment sur nostre famille royale, et particulièrement d'avoir bény nostre
mariage de la naissance d'un Dauphin, qui dans son enfance nous donne desjà
de si belles espérances de seconder en son temps la piété et la vertu de nos
ayeuls. Nous voulons que ladite isle de Madagascar soit doresnavant appellée
l'Isle Dauphine, et soit marquée et reconnue sous ce nom dans tous les actes
publics qui se feront dans nostre Conseil Souverain de ladite isle et généralement
partout ailleurs où on en fera mention, -Vide Pauliat, op. cit., p. 172,
Introduction
xxi
of food to be brought from France. The failure of this
venture, therefore, was complete, and amongst the records.
is to be found a confiteor of Colbert, which indicates the
chagrin felt by courtiers and citizens in Paris.
A letter, written to Montdevergue by the King, expresses
the royal irritation; whilst an accompanying letter from
Colbert to the unfortunate marquis exhibits the famous
minister in a most favourable light. Meantime, the share-
holders refusing to part with more money from their de-
plenished purses, Louis was forced to abandon his project
with reluctance; and a squadron was despatched under
Admiral de la Haye, who was deputed to supersede
Montdevergue, to take over the colony for the crown,
and then to push on to the great Indies and do his best to
oust the Dutch flag from those coasts, although war was
not to be declared with Holland until April 1672.
This brief outline of the circumstances under which the
French first established a colony in the south of Mada-
gascar will serve to indicate the conditions under which
the Sieur Dubois embarked on board the Saint Paul (one
of the Company's ships, despatched in 1669 to convey the
King's messenger, Captain de Preaux Mercy, with letters
of reprimand to M. de Montdevergue, giving him the
option of returning or of reforming his administration under
the new Viceroy sent to supersede him) seemingly to find
official employment at Fort Dauphin through the recom-
mendations of his patron, Councillor Loyseau. Nothing
is known about Dubois beyond what he has himself told
us; and although, in his dedication, he informs his patron
that he possesses materials for more books of travel, the
reception which his work met with from the public does not
seem to have encouraged him to publish another volume.¹
1 Curiously enough, there is an anonymous work, dealing with the affairs
of the French colony in Madagascar between 1662 and 1666, the author of
which returned to France in the Saint Paul. This work was not published
until 1722 by M. Carpeau du Saussay; and it is not impossible that the
xxii
Introduction
But it is not in connection with Madagascar that the
exceptional interest of the Sieur Dubois' little book is to
be found. Of that great island, indeed, he saw little enough
during the months when he lay prostrated and paralysed
by the effects of malarial fever: whilst the historical facts
are given with greater authority by Rennefort and other
officials of De la Haye's expedition. It is rather in
his account of the remarkable fauna of the Isle Mascarenne,
whither he was transported in order to regain his health,
that the real value to science of his testimony is obtained
by naturalists, desirous of investigating the geographical
distribution of animals in this quarter of the world.
The island, which has successively borne the names of
Sta. Appollinia, Mascarenhas, Mascareigne or Mascarenne,
Bourbon, Bonaparte, and now of Réunion, is the largest,
and by far the loftiest, of the so-called Mascarene group¹
in the Indian Ocean, about four hundred miles east of
Madagascar, discovered at the beginning of the sixteenth
century by the Portuguese. Each of the islands had its
own peculiar fauna, largely consisting of species not found
elsewhere, when the Dutch, who followed the Portuguese,
first landed on Mauritius (the name these voyagers gave
to this island), ninety miles north-east of Mascarenhas
towards the end of the century. The explorers found the
island stocked with large tortoises and strange birds,
amongst which, notably conspicuous, some large fowls
stalked, or rather waddled slowly about, which the Dutch-
men called Walghvogels, or 'nauseous birds.' A few years
' materials' spoken of by the Sieur Dubois were utilised to manufacture this
book-Voyage de Madagascar, connue aussi sous le nom de l'Isle de St. Laurent,
par M. de DE V. . . ., Commissaire Proviĉial de l'Artillerie de France.
1 In Island Life, the author, Mr. Russel Wallace, uses the term Mascarene
Islands 'in an extended sense, to include all the islands near Madagascar
which resemble it in the animal and vegetable productions.' This must not
convey an impression that the word 'Mascarene' is here used as an abbre-
viated synonym of 'Madagascarene' Islands. (Vide Island Life, Part II.,
chap. xix., 'The Madagascar Group,' p. 399.)
Introduction
xxiii
}
later (about 1601-2) other Dutch ships visited the same
island, and these birds were called by some of the new-
comers Dodaarsen, and by others Dronten.¹
Drawings of these appeared in Europe soon afterwards,
and the quaint birds became popularly known as 'Dodos,'
a term-apparently used by the Portuguese pilots who
navigated the Dutch vessels-meaning simpletons. Lin-
næus, long afterwards, classified the bird of Mauritius,
by his time extinct, under the name of Didus ineptus.
In the neighbouring islands, Bourbon to the south-
west and Rodriguez to the east, other allied birds were
discovered; but when the European adventurers intro-
duced cats, rats, goats, and hogs, all the islands were soon
overrun by the voracious invaders, against which the help-
less indigenous species were wholly incapable of defence;
and thus it came to pass that within something like a
hundred years of this unnatural invasion, the whole race of
Didine birds throughout the islands had ceased to exist.2
No Englishmen seem to have appeared in this neigh-
bourhood until the beginning of the seventeenth century,
when, in 1613, Captain Castleton's ship, the Pearl, visited
1 Vide Art. 'Dodo' in A Dictionary of Birds, by Alfred Newton,
p. 155 et seq.-' De Bry gives two admirably quaint prints of the doings
of the Hollanders, and in one of them the Walchvogel appears, being
the earliest published representation of its unwieldy form, with a footnote
stating that the voyagers brought an example alive to Holland.'-Cf. Hakluyt
Soc. Edition of François Leguat's Voyage, vol. ii. Pl. p. 71.
Professor Newton discusses the etymology of these names, and quotes
Professor Schlegel, who shows Dodaars to be the homely name of the
Dabchick, Podicipes minor, whilst Dr. Jentink has suggested to Professor
Newton that Dronte, the name naturalised in France, may be derived from
the obsolete Dutch verb dronten, to be swollen.
2 The causes which led to the extirpation of this ponderous pigeon are dis-
cussed by Professor Newton in the article 'Extermination,' (Vide Dictionary
of Birds, p. 216), where he writes: 'Clumsy, flightless, and defenceless, it
soon succumbed, not so much to the human invaders of its realm as to the
domestic beasts-especially hogs-which accompanied them, and there
gaining their liberty, unchecked by much of the wholesome discipline of
nature, ran riot, to the utter destruction of no inconsiderable portion of the
Mauritian fauna.'
xxiv
Introduction
an island, generally supposed to be Mascareigne, to which
he gave the name of England's Forest; and in the
account of his voyage written by J. Tatton we read:-
'There is store of Land-fowl both small and great, plenty of
Doves, great Parrots, and such like; and a great fowl of the
bigness of a Turkie, very fat, and so short-winged that they
cannot flie, beeing white, and in a manner lame; and so are
all other fowles, as having not been troubled nor feared with
shot. Our men did beate them down with sticks and stones.
Ten men may take fowle enough to serve forty men a day.' 1
Six years afterwards a famous Dutchman, Willem
Ysbrantsz. Bontekoe van Hoorn, made an adventurous
voyage to the East Indies. His well-known journal became
most popular, and went through many editions, some of
which are exceedingly rare. He landed his sick crew on
the island of Maskarinas in 1619, and his journal states:-
'We found there also a quantity of geese, pigeons, grey
parrots, and other sorts of birds; numbers of tortoises, of which
there were sometimes twenty-five under the shade of a tree:
We took of all these animals as many as we wanted, for they
did not run away. There were also some dodos who small wings
had, but could not fly; [they] were so fat that [they] hardly go
could, because as they walked, dragged her the bottom along the
ground. But that which was most pleasant was that when we
1 'The first day we descried land; it bore south-west from us: by its height,
shape and position, wee knew 'twas that our Captaines called England's
Forrest next day we attained it. The name was, Anno 1613, imposed by
Captaine Castleton, Commander of the Pearle (a ship I meane): some say
the errant Portugall first saw it, and by Seignior Mascarenas from his owne
name was denominated; yet other-some go further and call it Pulo-puar, an
Indian name, but by whom or when, darkly writ in the mistique Character of
Oblivion.'-Some Yeares Travels into Africa and Asia the Great, etc. By
Tho. Herbert, Esqre. Lib. 3, p. 351. London, 1638.
2 Strickland quotes from an edition, published at Amsterdam by Gillis
Joosten Zaagman circa 1670, which contains a quaint figure of the Dodaers.
A facsimile of this engraving is here given, photographed from the copy
of this version in possession of Professor Newton, p. 7.
3 In the original, this paragraph reads:-'Daer waren oock eenige Dod-
eersen | die kleyne vleugels hadden | maer konden niet vliegen | waren so vet
datse qualijck gaen konden | want als sy liepen | sleepte haer de neers by
na langs de Aerde.' These words have been literally translated, as above, by
Mr. J. H. Hessels, of Cambridge.
Introduction
WAL ARTILLE
25 JUL 97

XXV

Daer waren oock eenige Dod-eersen/] dat meeft te verwonderen was de Pape-
die klepne vleugels hadden/maer konden gapenen ander gevogelte / als wy daer
niet vliegen/ waren ſo vet datſe qualijck een of hadden/ en dat wat meulden/ dat
gaen konden / want als fy liepen/ fleepte het kreet / soo quamen alle de andere die
Hæer de neers by na langs de Nerde:maer | daer ontrent wären/ daer nae toe / of sp
haer
The Title-page reads:-JOURNAEL | Van de Acht-jarige, Avontuerlijcke
Reyse van | WILLEM YSBRANTSZ. | BONTEKOE van HOORN |
Gedaen nae | OOST-INDIEN ; | Uyt Texel gevaren den 18. December, 1618.
en t'huys gekomen den 16. November, 1625. | Verhalende het op Springen
van't Schip, en hoe hy van sijn volck gebergt | wierdt, voorts het ongemack,
honger, dorst en andere perÿckelen die hem neffens zijn | Volck over-
gekomen zijn, nevens veele gedenckwaerdige Geschiedenifsen. | t'AMSTER-
DAM BP GILLIS JOOSTEN ZAAGMAN, in de Nieuwe-straet | Ordinaris
Drucker van de Journalen ter Zee, ende Landt-Reysen.
xxvi
Introduction
had a parrot or other bird and teased it to make it cry out, all
the others which heard it assembled around to defend it and
let themselves be taken. We returned on board with a quantity
of these birds, everyone highly pleased at this incident.'
We learn, however, that before Bontekoe's crew left
the island the unfortunate birds had grown more shy.
The third testimony of the existence of Brevipennate
Didine birds in Bourbon quoted by Strickland is that
of M. Carré, who accompanied Caron in Admiral de la
Haye's squadron, which called at the island en route to
Surat in 1671;1 and the fourth witness is Dubois,
whose narrative is given in the present work. M.
Bellanger de Lespinay who was on board the Sultanne,
in the same fleet under de la Haye, likewise describes
the Didine species which was known as the Solitaire
in Bourbon; 2 and it was doubtless from Du Quesne's
compilation of the foregoing accounts brought home by
Carré, Dubois, and de Lespinay, that François Leguat
identified the Didine bird of Rodriguez as similar to the
Solitaire of Bourbon.
Professor Newton 3 has remarked that two eye-witnesses
speak to the plumage of the Bourbon Dodo being white.
1 'I here saw a kind of bird which I have not found elsewhere; it is that
which the inhabitants call the "Solitary Bird," for, in fact, it loves solitude,
and only frequents the most secluded places. One never sees two or more of
them together, they are always alone. It is not unlike a Turkey, were it not
that its legs are longer. The beauty of its plumage is delightful to behold.
It is a changeable colour which verges upon yellow. The flesh is exquisite;
it forms one of the best dishes in this country, and might form a dainty at
our tables. We wished to keep two of these birds to send to France and
present them to His Majesty, but as soon as they were on board ship they
died of melancholy, having refused to eat or drink.'-Voyage des Indes
Orientales, par M. Carré, 1699, vol. i. pp. 12, 13.
2 'There is here another kind of bird which is excellent and fat, which is
found in the mountains quite alone; they catch it by hand; they call it
Solitaire.'-Mémoires de L. A. Bellanger de Lespinay (1670-1675), p. 42.
3 On a picture supposed to represent the Didine Bird of the Island of
Bourbon (Réunion). By Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc. Plate
Ixii. Read February 14th 1867.—Transactions of the Zoological Society, vi.
P. 373.
Introduction
xxvii
with some admixture of yellow, and in general shape
resembling the true Dodo of Mauritius. He exhibited
some thirty years ago, to the Zoological Society, a curious
old painting (which has been in the possession of Mr.
Dare's family for some generations) bearing the initials
P. W. The mark of Pierre Withoos, a water-colour artist
who died at Amsterdam in 1693. It represents a flooded
meadow, with aquatic birds, amidst which stands a white
Dodo. Professor Newton thinks this drawing-evidently
from life-may have been taken from the same bird
which was figured in Zaagman's edition of Bontekoe,
probably a Dodo brought from the Island of Bourbon,
and kept alive in Amsterdam. By the kindness of Mr.
Dare, a reproduction of a lithograph copy of the bird as
drawn by Withoos, which appeared coloured in the
Transactions of the Zoological Society, is here given.
Dubois, as Strickland says, not only confirms the
accounts given by Tatton, Bontekoe, and Carré, of a
brevipennate bird in Bourbon, but gives us a clear proof
that a second species of the same group of birds inhabited
that island. Speaking of the land-birds (Vide post, p. 77)
of the island, he enumerates: 1. Solitaires. . . . 2. Oyseaux
bleus.
Strickland would have been disposed to refer this
Oyseau bleu to the genus Porphyrio, were we not told
that they were the size of the Solitaire, i.e. of a large
goose, that the feet resembled those of a hen, and that
they never fly. Moreover, Bory St. Vincent in his list.
of the birds of Bourbon (Voyage aux quatre Iles de la Mer
d'Afrique, vol. i.) makes no mention of any species of
Porphyrio.'
'It is clear,' he adds, 'that a second brevipennate species,
the Oyseau bleu of Sieur Dubois, was also a native of
Bourbon, though from its speed in running it probably
escaped the notice of the earlier voyagers.'
xxviii
Introduction
Another witness as to the existence of the Oyseaux
bleus in Bourbon at a later date is M. de Villers, who
was Governor of Bourbon from June 1701 to August
1709. His observations were published by M. La Roque
in 1716. M. de Villers explored the elevated tract,
known as la plaine des Caffres, where he saw a great
number of these Oiseaux bleus; who there nest, he says,
in the grass and aquatic ferns.¹
Professor Newton has no doubt in his own mind that
the Oyseau bleu was a Porphyrio, but whether specifically
identical with that of Madagascar none can say.2
Mr. Dellon, Docteur en Médecine, author of the Relation
de l'Inquisition de Goa, who was at Bourbon in 1668, when
serving on La Force, mentions the existence of a bird in
that island named Flamand, i.e. Flamingo.³ He says:-
The only one needing the use of a gun is called flamand;
it is as big as a turkey, its neck and its legs are four or five feet
in length, and the difficulty of catching it makes it more rare
than the others.'
4
Whilst the last evidence of the Dodo's existence in
Mauritius shows its survival in that island till 1681, the
allied Solitaire of Bourbon is supposed to have escaped
extermination till a considerably later period. At least,
if we can believe the information gathered by M. Auguste
Billiard in 1819, it would seem that M. de La Bourdonnais
sent to one of the directors of the French East India
Company a specimen of the Dronte or Solitaire, as a rare
curiosity-whether alive or dead is not stated. On this
evidence Strickland remarks: 'Now M. de La Bour-
donnais was Governor of the Isles of France and Bourbon
from 1735 to 1746, so that these singular birds must
have survived till the former, and may have continued
1 Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse. Par M. La Roque. Paris, 1715, p. 204.
2 Vide Remarks on Oiseaux Bleus, p. 77, in Notes at end of vol.
3 Nouvelle Relation d'un Voyage fait aux Indes Orientales. Par Mr.
Dellon. Amsterdam, 1699, p. 15. 4 Voyage aux Colonies Orientales, p. 261.

To face p. xxviii.
Page 143.
Tom. 6, Pl. 31.
215
PERRUCHE A COLLIER DE L'ISLE DE BOURBON.
(Palæornis eques).
Introduction
xxix
till the latter date at least.' But Mahé de La Bourdonnais
made his first voyage, as a boy, to these seas in 1709.
In 1713 he made a second voyage to the East Indies.
in 1716-17 he made a voyage to the North Seas, and in
1718 a fourth voyage to the Levant. In 1719 he
voyaged again as a second lieutenant in the service of
the French company to the East Indies; and in 1723,
when first lieutenant, he performed a daring voyage in
an open boat from the Isle of Bourbon to the Isle of
France. In 1724 he was second captain in the Company's
service, and employed in the Indian Ocean. It is pos-
sible, therefore, that the specimen of Solitaire was
obtained during La Bourdonnais' earlier voyages, some
time before he became Governor of the Mascarene Islands.
Of this white Bourbon Dodo it does not appear that
a single relic has yet been handled by any naturalist.¹
It is to be hoped, however, that ere long, when a sys-
tematic search has been instituted for its remains, some
fragments of this extinct species may reward the diligence
and patience of the explorers.2 All the writers who have
described Isle Bourbon during the seventeenth century
concur in their admiration of the other land birds, which
Of
1 'But the Dodo is not the only member of its Family that has vanished.
The little island which has successively borne the name of Mascaregnas,
England's Forest, Bourbon [Ile Bonaparte], and Réunion, and lies to the
southward of Mauritius, had also an allied bird, now dead and gone.
this not a relic has been handled by any naturalist. The latest description
of it by Dubois is meagre in the extreme; and though two figures-one by
Bontekoe (circa 1670) and another by Pierre Witthoos (ob. 1693) have been
thought to represent it (Trans. Zool. Soc. vi. p. 373, pl. 62) their identifica-
tion is but conjectural. Yet the existence of the bird is indubitable.
Vide Dictionary of Birds, by Alfred Newton, pp. 216, 217, Article
'Extermination.'
2 'Some years ago bones were found by a Creole at Possession and taken
to the Curé, who blessed them and had them buried in the cemetery before
they could be properly examined. It was thought that they might belong to
an Oiseau de Nazareth (i.e. a Didine Bird), but the Curé either cannot or
will not point out where they were buried. None of our mares have been
searched, but it is only reasonable to suppose that remains would be found in
them.'-C, W. Bennett, British Consul at Réunion, June 10, 1896.
XXX
Introduction
Dubois enumerates at some length in detail. Bellanger
de Lespinay tells us: 'There is besides such a large
quantity of birds that it is surprising and difficult to
believe, for they do not fly away; they kill them by
blows of a stick. These sorts of birds are parrots, of
which there are three or four kinds or species; turtles,
huppes, pigeons, etc.' Like the Solitaire and the Oiseau
bleu, the largest species of these parrots and the huppes
or Callendres have likewise become extinct. Professor
Newton writes:-
'Réunion, also, once had other birds now lost, and so had
Rodriguez. In the former, a somewhat abnormal Starling,
Fregilupus, existed until some forty years ago,¹ and its skin and
skeleton are among the treasures of three or four museums.2
Perhaps also there were other Ralline birds, but the evidence
on this head is inconclusive.'
One of the handsomest of the extinct parrots which
were so numerous and tame in the days of Herbert and
Dubois was that one which is figured by Daubenton in
his Planches Enluminées (No. 215, Perruche de l'île de
Bourbon-here reproduced), and described by Buffon³ as
'La Perruche à double collier, Psittaca Borbonica torquata
(Histoire Naturelle. Rédigé par Sonnini. 3rd Vol. 63,
¹ Professor Alphonse Milne-Edwards and M. Oustalet, in their recent notice
on certain extinct birds, mention that Levaillant heard from an inhabitant of
Bourbon that this species was found in great numbers at Bourbon, where it
caused damage to the coffee-trees. Four living specimens were taken to
Mauritius in 1835 and a single individual was shot at Savane (in Mauritius)
as late as 1837. These authorities consider the 'Huppes ou Callendres'
mentioned by Dubois to be evidently 'des Fregilupus.' The famous speci-
men described by Guéneau de Montbeillard as Huppe noire et blanche du
Cap de Bonne-Espérance and figured by Daubenton, Tableau des Planches
Enluminées, 1783, p. 43, is still in the Museum at Paris, and is again figured
in the magnificent Volume Commémoratif published in 1894.
Vide post,
Appendix.
2 Vide Appendix C.
3 Brisson's original description was in 1760 (Ornithologie, iv. p. 328). He
called the bird Psittaca Borbonica torquata. "La Perruche à double collier"
was Buffon's name for it in 1779 (Hist. Nat. des Ois., vi. p. 143); and subse-
quently Sonnini merged the two names in his edition of Buffon.' (MS. note
by Professor Newton.)

To face p. xxx.
321
Tom, 4 Pl. 48.
Pag. 366 F. 2.
361 F. 1.
1. BRUANT, DU BRESIL. 2, BRUANT DE L'ISLE DE BOURBON.
Foudia bruante (P. L. S. Müller).
Introduction
xxxi
pp. 172, 173; pl. ccxlix.). It is now classified as Palæornis
eques.1
Another species which has likewise disappeared is the
parrot long known as Coracopsis mascarinus, but named by
Mr. W. A. Forbes (Ibis, 1879, p. 304) Mascarinus duboisi,
in memory of our author Dubois, who described the
present bird.2
This Mascarin was existing in Bourbon
when the Vicomte de Querhoënt visited the island, in
La Victoire, during 1773; whilst Mauduyt 3 mentions
having seen several living Mascarins at Paris in 1784.
Probably the last surviving single specimen was that
figured by Hahn (Ornithol. Atlas, pl. 39) from one living
in the Menagerie of the King of Bavaria as recently as
1834.4 This species is satisfactorily identified with the
Parroquets described by Dubois, 'ayant le plumage de
couleur de petit gris, un chaperon noir sur la teste, le bec
fort gros et couleur de feu.'
Yet another of the original Avifauna of Bourbon has
been destroyed by the effects of colonisation in recent
days. This is Le Bruant Mordoré of Sonnini, well
figured in the Planches Enluminées, No. 32, Fig. 2, by
Daubenton, under the name of Le Bruant de l'Ile de
Bourbon, and formerly styled simply the Mordoré by
Guénau de Montbeillard. It is now classified as Foudia
bruante (P. L. S. Müller).
Several other birds mentioned by Dubois can be
tolerably well identified, and thus the testimony afforded
by this voyager is of considerable value in determin-
ing the native habitat of several species of the peculiar
2 Vide Appendix D.
1 Vide Appendix C.
3
³ Remarques faites par M. le Vicomte de Querhoënt, à bord du vaisseau
du roi la Victoire en 1773 et 1774.
4 Réunion had also, within the memory of men yet living, two peculiar
genera, a parrot, Mascarinus and Fregilupus, perhaps allied to Falculia of
Madagascar, and still more nearly to Necropsar of Rodriguez.'- Vide Article
'Geographical Distribution,' by Professor Newton, in A Dictionary of Birds,
P. 354.
xxxii
Introduction
avifauna of the Mascarene islands. A complete list of
the birds of Réunion, so far as known, drawn up by Sir
Edward Newton, is appended, but no one knows what the
Pigeons are.
Next to the birds of Mauritius, Mascareigne, and Rod-
riguez, the attention of the old Portuguese and Dutch
voyagers was chiefly fixed on the gigantic tortoises which
they found, literally in crowds, on the shores of all these
islands, valuable to the scurvy-stricken crews.
(
Sir Thomas Herbert, in his curious book of travels, tells
us of Mauritius: 'Moreover, this Ile affoords us Goats,
Hogs, Beeves, and land Tortoises: so great, as suffer two
men with ease to sit upon them; so strong, as they can
carry them yea (in Portugall reports,) fifteene men have
altogether stood on one of them.'1
The tortoises found in Bourbon were of equal dimen-
sions to those found in Mauritius by the Dutch, which
have been so picturesquely figured by De Bry, and
to those described by François Leguat in Rodriguez.
The testimony of Dubois is valuable on this point.
especially, because now that the various races of the
great Chelonians which formerly swarmed throughout
the islands in the Indian Ocean are wellnigh extinct,
it is difficult to ascertain with precision the exact dis-
tribution of the several genera and species.
Although the actual indigenous tortoise is supposed
to be totally extinct 2 in Mauritius, evidence has been
1 Of course Sir Thomas Herbert did not visit Mauritius until long after the
Portuguese and Dutch had introduced the 'Goats, Hogs, and Beeves' he
mentions. He goes on to add with regard to the gigantic tortoises :
Sailors affect to eat them, but are better meat for Hogs, in my opinion.
They make pretty sport, but are odious food; and so are their Rats, Bats, and
monkeys, most of which usefull and unusefull creatures were first brought
hither (men say) by the Portugall to refresh them in their returne from India,
but at this day (1627-28) dare neither anchor there (fearing the English and
Dutch) nor owne their firstlings.' (Op. cit., lib. iii. p. 349.)
2 Till lately it was supposed that the indigenous races of giant tortoises
throughout the Mascarene islands were entirely extinct. Dr. Günther, in his

To face p. xxxii.
Page 463.
Tom. 6, Pl. 119
697
LA HUPPE, DU CAP DE BONNE ESPERANCE
(Fregilupus varius)
Marlin
Introduction
xxxiii
found sufficient to classify the species of the remains
exhumed from the Mare aux Songes in that island.
Of the Rodriguez tortoise, a fine great living example
still survives in the barracks of Port Louis.¹ It proves to
be the Testudo Vosmaeri (Fitzinger), corresponding with
the famous stuffed specimen in the Museum of Paris, origin-
ally in the cabinet of the Bibliothèque Sainte Généviève.
M. Théodore Sauzier,2 indeed, tells us that several
other examples of Mascarene Tortoises (Testudo Sumeirei)
may still be found, domesticated, on several plantations
in Mauritius, Réunion, and in the Île Sainte Marie; but
it would seem that these so-called Testudines Sumeirei
are in reality descendants of the Testudo Vosmaeri from
Rodriguez. Two huge tortoises, sent to England by
Mr. Charles Telfair in 1829 and 1830, died in the
Zoological Gardens, but their identification does not seem
to have been established.
Since Dr. Günther wrote his well-known monograph
monograph, published in 1877, writes of the Réunion Tortue de terre: 'It
seems to have been exterminated even before the period of extinction of the
Mauritius and Rodriguez species.' (Vide Günther, op. cit., Introd. p. 3.)
1 The Chevalier Marion du Fresne (who afterwards was massacred in New
Zealand) has the credit of having imported the tortoise from Rodriguez in
1766. It is highly probable that he brought several at this time, as we know
a companion to this example was forwarded to the Zoological Gardens in
1831, and in all probability Pingré, or perhaps Commerson, had forwarded
another to the Genévofain Museum between 1766 and 1776.
2 Nous avons vu, il y a plus d'un demi-siècle, et depuis dans différentes
localités des îles Maurice et Bourbon, nombre de ces grosses tortues domes-
tiquées. Elles ne provenaient pas, au moins pour la plupart, des Aldabra,
avec lesquelles les communications étaient très rares, surtout en ce qui concerne
Bourbon. Elles étaient depuis de longues années, plus d'un demi-siècle,
dans les mêmes lieux où elles se trouvaient. Celles de Maurice, chez M.
Daruty, aux Pamplemousses et au Grand Port; et sur la propriété de M.
Desjardins, à Flacq; les autres à la Réunion, sur une propriété à Sainte
Philippe, le district le plus éloigné de la capitale et le dernier concédé et
cultivé vers 1830; et sur les propriétés de M. Boiscourt et Vergoz à Sainte
Marie, pour ne pas en citer d'autres. Autant que nous servent nos souvenirs
d'enfance, qui sont précis, toutes ces tortues avaient l'apparence de la Testudo
Sumeirei, c'est-à-dire que leurs carapaces avaient une forme plus unie et plus
arrondie que celles des races des Aldabra, et même que les carapaces retirées
de la Mare aux Songes.' (Th. Sauzier, op. cit., pp. 13, 14.)
C
xxxiv
Introduction
twenty years ago, fresh facts have come to his notice.
Thus his then information led him to infer that Testudo
Daudinii of the Indian Ocean islands was totally extinct,
whereas the Hon. Mr. Walter Rothschild possesses at
least three examples of this species: and quite lately,
in May 1895, an unusually huge specimen has been
obtained from one of the Egmont islands¹—to the north
of Rodriguez—which has been, we believe, by this time
added to the Tring collection.
In order that the readers of the present English edition
of the Sieur Dubois' voyages may form an idea of what
the tortoises seen by that traveller in the seventeenth
century on the island of Bourbon looked like, a group
of these gigantic reptiles, from islands within the same
geographical area, has been purposely photographed for
their owner, the Hon. Walter Rothschild, by whose
generosity the highly instructive illustration forming the
frontispiece has been provided, representing six Chelonians
from the Aldabra and Seychelles Islands, amongst which
a small intruding outsider has crept from the mainland of
the African continent.
Key to Frontispiece
GIGANTIC TORTOISES AT TRING PARK These tortoises were

2
I
4
5
Nos. 1, 2, 3, Testudo daudinii; 4, 5, T. elephan-
tina; 6. T. inepta.
photographed, writes
Mr. Rothschild, 'some
on a large grass-plot
and the others in the
Park at Tring. On this
[composite] photograph
of the giant land-tor-
toises are two females
and one male, Testudo daudinii (Duméril et Biberon),
1
¹ A description of this tortoise was presented to the Académie des Sciences
by M. Milne-Edwards, on 9th September 1895 (vide Comptes Rendus, tome
cxxxi.). The length of carapace of this individual is four feet seven inches, in
a straight line. Weight of the animal
hundredweight of a quarter of a ton.
240 kilos.
529 lbs.—say within a
Introduction
XXXV
one male and one female of Testudo elephantina, and
one female of Testudo inepta (?). The three Testudo
daudinii are wild caught specimens from Aldabra Island,
and are very lively, trying to run away at the least dis-
turbance. The two Testudo elephantina and the supposed
Testudo inepta are semi-domesticated specimens from the
Seychelles, are much more sluggish, and do not notice
outside movements very much. They, however, can travel
fast enough when they think they are not observed.
Enough has now been said of the extinct fauna of the
island of Réunion to induce more solid interest to be
taken in the perusal of an English version of Dubois'
simple story. No embellishment has been attempted by
the translator, whilst the editing has been confined to this
introduction with a few explanatory notes at the end,
and extracts from the more scientific papers of the best
authorities on the subjects dealt with, which are not easy
to be referred to by the ordinary reader who has not
access to a library of scientific journals. To those who
would learn what the modern island of Réunion is like,
the editor can recommend a small book just published by
Messrs. Longmans, entitled, Crags and Craters; Rambles
in the French Island of Réunion, as a practical and
suggestive sequel to the Voyage of D. B.

MAD
COLOM

GRAVEYARD, EAST MADAGASCAR,
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ΕΤΗΙΟ ΡΙΕ Ν
ISLE D'AUPHINE,
Communement Nommée par les Europeens
MADAGASCAR, et SLAURENS
et Par les Habitans du Pays
MADECASE:
Dressée Sur les Memoires
du S de FLACOURT, et de François Cauche
et Sur Diverses autres Relations
des François, Anglois, Portugais, et Hollandois
Par le S.SANSON le Fils Geogr. ord™du Roy.
A PARIS.
Chez l'Autheur-
Avec Privilege pour Vingt Ans.
70
Y.
77
78
79
४०
75
1667j.
82
23
24
25

THE WHITE DODO, BY PIERRE WITHOOS, CIRCA 1670.
1
THE VOYAGES MADE BY
THE SIEUR D. B.
ENGLISH EDITION
LES

VOYAGES
FAITS
PAR LE SIEVR D.B.
aux Ifles Dauphine ou
Madagaſcar, & Bourbon,
ou Mafcarenne, és années
1669. 70. 71. & 72.
Dans laquelle il eft curieufement
traité du Cap Vert, de la Ville de
Surate, des Ifles de Sainte Helene,
ou de l'Afcention.
Enſemble les mœurs, Religions, Forces,
Gouvernemens & Coûtumes des Habi-
tans defdites Ifles, avec l'Hiftoire natu-
relle du Païs.
A
PARIS,
Chez CLAUDE BARBIN, au Palais, fur le
ſecond Perron de la Sainte Chapelle.
M. DC. LXXIV.
Avec Permiffion.
Title of Original French Edition.
Note the misprint ou de l'Ascention,'
--------
THE

VOYAGES
MADE
BY THE SIEVR D.B.
to the Ifles Dauphine or
Madagaſcar, & Bourbon,
or Maſcarenne, in the years
1669. 70. 71. & 72.
In the which 'tis curiously treated
of the Cape Verd, the Town of
Surat, & the Ifles of Saint Helena,
and of Afcention.
Together with the manners, Religions, Forces,
Governments & Customs of the Inhabi-
tants of the ſaid Ifles, with the Natural
Hiftory of the Country.
AT PARIS,
At CLAUDE BARBIN's, at the Palace, on the
fecond Flight of the Sainte Chapelle.
M. DC. LXXIV.
With Permiffion.
·

1
M
TO MONSIEVR
LOYSEAV
COVNSELLOR
OF THE KING
IN HIS COVNCILS

ONSIEVR,
Having found in your Person all that's necessary
for an illustrious Protector of this small Work, I venture
specially to present it to you. I do not undertake here to
make a Panegyrick of the rare Virtues & good Qualities
which you possess ; & if I wish'd to expand myself on this
subject my Letter would excel in size my Book; but the
Publick has sufficient Knowledge of them by the Advantage
it has deriv'd from them: & besides your Piety & your
Modesty prescribe for me Limits which I care not to pass.
I do not pretend either, MONSIEVR, to make you a
Present worthy of your Merit, in offering you this Narra-
tive; I pretend rather to acquit myself of a Debt which you
have created against me; for beyond the infinite Obliga-
tions which I owe to you, 'tis you alone, MONSIEVR, to
whom I further owe that of my having been in the Oriental
Countries; 'tis therefore very right that I should render
you an account of my Voyage. If the Narrative please you,
I have Materials for giving others to the Publick, & I hope,
MONSIE VR, that you will honour it with your Protec-
A
2
Epistle Dedicatory
tion, under the Shelter of which I fear little from the
Censure of Criticks; & tho' the Discourse may not be well
polished or fluent, its Ingenuousness will perhaps not dis-
please you, & should you deign to devote some Hours to
looking at it, I believe you will there find Things which
may divert you. Should this come to pass I shall have
much Joy, since my strongest Ambition's confin'd to pleasing
you, & causing you to know that I am, with all the Respect
& Acknowledgment possible,
MONSIEVR,
Your most humble, most obedient
most obliged Servitor,
DVBOIS.

CH

TO THE READER.
Although I had not any design of having this
Narrative of my Voyage printed, & only made it for
my Satisfaction, nevertheless, having shewn it to some
few of my Friends they have found in it some Things
sufficiently curious, & which they had not hitherto seen.
in the Narratives which have been given from these
Quarters; & they have counsell'd me to make them
known to the Public. I have follow'd their Advice, &
the Reader will judge if I have done well or not.
I avow,
in good Faith, that my Style's not flowery or eloquent,
& those who only look for fine Writing need not read
this Narrative; but on the other hand there will be found
the pure Truth & the good Faith which ought to be
regarded exactly in these sorts of Works. I have been
advis'd to append to this Narrative a Map of the Isles of
Madagascar & of Mascarenne; but as I know that the
Geographers of France & of Holland have given many
of them at various Times, I have desir'd to see the most
considerable; & after having examin'd them with some
Exactitude, I have not found any which approach'd more
the Truth than that of the Sievr Sanson, of which the fol-
lowing is the Title:-Isle Dauphine, communement nommée
bar les Européens, Madagascar, & Saint Laurens, &c.
Par le Sieur Sanson le fils, Geographe du Roy, A Paris
chez P. Mariette, rue Saint Iacques, 1667. Altho' this
Map may be the most exact of all those which I have
seen, nevertheless I make mention of some places in my
4
To the Reader
Narrative which are not in this Map. Herewith the
most considerable. I have spoken at pages 36 & 40 of
Cape Saint Augustin. This place is well known by
navigators, & nevertheless I do not find it in any map.
As I have not been there, it would be unwise for me
to give the proper position; but I certainly know that
'tis upon the west Coast of Madagascar, & in the
province of la Hayfouchy, or la Héfonti. At pages 49
& 50, where I have said something of the Province of
the Machicorres, I have remark'd that 'tis distant by more
than 150 Leagues by Land from Fort Dauphin, & more-
over, 'tis necessary to remark that there are two Provinces
in Madagascar which have this same Name, tho' they are
at some distance one from the other. The first, &
which is in the South Part of the Isle, is quite near Fort
Dauphin. The other is at a much greater distance & is
upon the West Coast of Madagascar. 'Tis nam'd in-
differently the Province of the Machicorres, or of la
Hayfouchy; 'Tis of this last that I intend to speak. With
regard to the river des Mats & of the old & new
Macellage, one of which I have spoken of on pages 35
& 36, as these places have not yet been well explor'd
there's no need to be astonish'd if they are not in the
Maps. I have remark'd also, page 82, that the principal
settlements of the Isle of Bourbon were Sainte Susanne,
Saint Denis, Saint Paul & Saint Gilles. Of these four
settlements, Sainte Susanne & Saint Denis are not in
the Map of Sieur Sanson, or in any other. Saint Denis
is distant from Saint Paul 7 French leagues by land
& four by sea, sailing towards the East & adjoining
the Cape Saint Bernard. Sainte Susanne is at five leagues
from Saint Denis, both by sea & by land, sailing also
towards the East. The sieur Sanson names the Province
which the French inhabit in Madagascar, after some
others, Carcanossi; nevertheless in all the time which I
}

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Chart of west coast of MADAGASCAR, BY DUPRÉ EBERARD, 1667,
Showing Rivière des Mâts or Rre. demaragande (Betsiboka R.) ;
from Grandidier's Atlas.

To the Reader
5
have been in that Isle, I have always heard it named
Anossi, whether by the native Inhabitants of the Country,
or by the French.
With regard to the villages of the Chiefs of Madagascar,
as Dian Ponin, Ramousset, la Hayfouchy, &c., the names
of these villages often last only during the life of the
Seigneurs or Chiefs who possess them; for after their
death they either change their names, or rather they are
ruin'd, when someone of these chiefs possesses himself of
the country of his neighbours, & he then puts all to fire
& blood, a proceeding which very often takes place.
'Tis on this account that one ought not to take much
trouble to search on the Map & shou'd content one's self
with seeing the Plan of the country & the names of the
Provinces, Rivers, &c., which do not change.
INTERIOR OF GATEWAY, FORT DAUPHIN.

SOUTH-EAST COAST OF MADAGASCAR.

JOURNAL
MADE
AND
RELATION
OF THE VOYAGES
BY THE Sr. D. B.
to the Islands Dauphine or Madagas-
car & Bourbon or Mascarenne, &c.
FTER having awaited for a long time orders
from the King for the departure of the Ship,
S. Paul, belonging to the Gentlemen of the
Royall Company of the East Indies, which is
of 300 tons burden, & commanded by the Sr. Cornuel; at
length the anchor was weigh'd on Saturday, 13th April
1669, & leaving Port Louis, we put to sea with a toler-
ably fair wind, after having saluted the Fort of the place
with 5 rounds of cannon. And doubling the Isle of
Groüay, at two leagues from Port Louis, we fir'd 3 guns
to salute Our Lady, who is honour'd in this Isle, in a
Chapel dedicated to her honour. The same evening we
lost sight of France.
terre, named
who having
conquered the
On Thursday, 18th, about seven o'clock in the morning,
being between the Capes of Finisterre & St. Vincent, Cape Finis-
the usual haunt of the Turkish Corsairs, we perceiv'd two this by Caesar,
Ships, which came, before the wind & under all sail, Spains &ved
down upon us; which oblig'd us to put ourselves in readi- terminated his
ness to defend ourselves in case we shou'd be attack'd. there, saying
These ships, sailing much faster than ours, arriv'd within world.
at this cape,
conquests
end of the
8
[1669
Relation
Isle of Fer.
The torrid
Zone.
cannon shot from us about 10 o'clock in the morning, &
came one on either side of us; at the same time they
hoisted the Dutch flag, notwithstanding which we recog-
niz'd that these Ships belong'd to Turks, & that there
was a great number of men on board. We also hoisted
the French flag, at the sight of which the Turks lower'd
their sails, not wishing to prove by encounter the forces of
the French, which they fear more than any other.
During all the Holy Week, Divine Service was cele-
brated on board our ship by the Missionaries who were on
their way to the Kingdom of Siam to preach the Holy
Gospel.
On Thursday the 25th, we discover'd the Isle of Porto
Santo, & shortly afterwards that of Madeira, which are of
the number of those which are call'd Canaries: we were a
long time doubling this last because of contrary winds.
The first day of May we sail'd with a fair wind, &
doubl'd the Island of Palma, then that of Ferro, where
God has made manifest his Providence, in succouring the
necessity of his people by marvellous means.
This Isle cannot pride itself on its fertility, as it rains
here but rarely; but this want of water is recompens'd for
by a Tree, prodigious in size; it has very large leaves, &
its branches are of a vast extent. A thick cloud always
environs this tree, & expending itself on its leaves, distils
water sufficiently to satisfy the thirst of the inhabitants &
cattle of this island.
On Thursday, the second of May, we passed the Tropick
of Cancer, & leaving the temperate Zone, we found our-
selves to be beneath that which the Ancients have believed
to be uninhabitable, on account of the excessive heat of
the sun, which never ceases, & which they call for this
reason the torrid or burning Zone.
The Star of On Friday, the third, we discover'd the Star of the
South or the Southern Cross, yet at the same time we
the South.
1669]
9
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
cou'd see the two Polar stars, altho' we were at more than
20 degrees of latitude; we had seen them a very long time.
Saturday, the fourth, we discover'd the shores of Barbary Negro land.
in Africa & doubled Cape Blanc, opposite to which we
took a quantity of good fish, having hove to for this
purpose.
The Monday following, the sixth of the said month, we Senegal.
pass'd a land called Senegal. This country extends to
the mainland of Cape Verd; the natives are very black,
powerfully built, & robust; they have a King who is
said to be rich in Men, Horses, Elephants, Countries, &
Estates. There are settlements of the French at Senegal
belonging to the Gentlemen of the Company of the West
Indies, who trade at this place, whence they obtain
Golddust, Ambergris, Musk, Ivory, Skins, Parrots, &
Monkeys. There's here a river of very great extent, by
means of which, with boats & skiffs, they are able to
enter far into the country for trade. This river is full of
Sea Horses & Sea Cows.
Game abounds in this country; & here are found
Stags, Does, Gazelles, Goats, Wild Boars, Hares, Rabbits,
red Partridges, Guinea fowls, & an infinite variety of
other Game.
Here are Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Tigers, & other
dangerous beasts.
The next day, Tuesday, seventh, we came to anchor at Cape Verd.
Cape Verd, in a bay of more than six leagues circumfer-
ence, around which are a quantity of villages, where live
a good number of the aboriginals of this country, for the
sake of the sea-fishing by which they generally live. We
cast anchor opposite to a village nam'd Rufisque.
We found in this bay a number of these blacks, who
were fishing in their canoes; directly they saw us they
promptly fled to land, fearing lest we should take them.
I was astonish'd to see the daring of these people, to
Rufisque
village.
10
[1669
Relation
Canoes.
Cape Ver-
diens.
risk themselves at sea in these canoes, which they make
of a tree that they dig out & round off at the ends,
the most of which have not more than seven or eight
feet in length, & one foot & a half to two feet in width.
Thus I leave you to judge of the sea-worthiness of
these canoes, in which five or six men put themselves
to fish, & make them carry sail like a ship. Besides that,
they load these canoes with fish, which often causes
them to capsize; but those who are within get off with
the loss of their fish, for all these fishers, being very good
swimmers, right their canoes whilst swimming by their
shoulders, & then climb in again as before. We all
admir'd these little boats, with their sails, which behav'd
so staunchly at sea.
A short time after we were anchor'd we saw a canoe
approaching which took its way to our Ship, & having
come up close, we saw some of the Cape Verdiens, who,
before coming on board our Ship, consider'd it well, &
having recogniz'd one of our Pilots who had already been
in this place, they were reassur'd, & climb'd on board;
where, on entry, they saluted us with a Bonguyour nos
guyans, meaning to say Bon jour nos gens. Numbers of
these blacks speak a little Dieppois, because the Dieppe
folk often navigate in this neighbourhood. After wishing us
'Good morning,' they asked for the Captain. They were
shown him. They saluted him & presented him with a
great calabash full of Palm Wine, of which he who pre-
sented it drank first, then placed it between the hands of
the Captain. They next ask'd for Eau-de-Vie. 'Twas
given them, & some bread & some salt meat, which they
ate very quickly & ask'd for more, even four times, which
was given them. I had never seen such eaters, the four
men which there were ate more than thirty Frenchmen
wou'd have done. After that they had satisfy'd their
gluttony, they wish'd to return, & as they had their heads
1669]
I I
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
heated with Eau-de-Vie they jump'd recklessly into their
canoe & overturn'd it & tumbled into the sea. But
without astonishment they swam back to it, re-enter'd
therein, & went off.
quierre is
nor of the
The next day, the 8th, we lower'd our boat, to go on
shore to seek for wood & water. We were at least 20
persons who landed from this boat. On landing from
which we found the Alquierre with his Court, compos'd The Al-
of fifteen or twenty men armed with bows, arrows, & the Gover-
sagayes. We were with this Company at the Alquierre's village.
village, where I thought I was entering a labyrinth
because of the number of turns & twists which we made
before entering into his cottage, the path being en-
closed with hurdles which shut it in in the form of walls.
Having entered into this cottage I remarked its con- Cottages.
struction, which was only of reeds or canes strongly
press'd & interlac'd together, the whole made round like.
a Dome, measuring fifteen or sixteen feet across &
from seven to eight high, neatly proportion'd. 'Tis
thus they construct the buildings of this place. The
Alquierre did the honours of his house, making them
bring us clothes & mats, which he had plac'd on the
ground for us to sit upon: then they brought some Palm
Wine. Having drank of it we spoke of business; he
ask'd us if we came to trade, wishing that in this case we
should pay him his dues; but we repli'd to him that we
should pass on, only needing a little water & some
wood, & for that they would give him a bottle of Eau-
de-Vie & a little iron: but the Alquierre insisting on
having more, one of our people told him that wood &
water were things that God gave, & cost him nothing, &
that 'twas not just to sell them. On this proposition, the
horse of the Alquierre, which was fasten'd close to the
hut, neigh'd & paw'd with its feet, upon which the Inter-
preter or Tongue-Captain of the Alquierre, interpreting
I 2
[1669
Relation
Habili-
ments.
The Cape
Verdiens
greatly
esteem
Brandy.
The Gaz-
elle is as
large as a
Kid &
made like a
Deer.
the neighing of the horse, told him that the horse wish'd
to say that the French had reason, & so the dispute
ceased. I remarked that the habiliments & the ornaments
of these Cape Verdiens were only of blue cloth or stuff,
with which they cover'd part of their bodies; they have
some bracelets of brass on their wrists, & they carry a
number of small tickets, which they said were written by
their Marabou; they encase them in a small morsel of
red leather, of square form, the size of an inch; they
attach them to their hair, to the neck, to the arms &
legs; & believe that they are, according to the characters,
one a prevention against harm, another against thunder,
another against arms, another against dangerous beasts,
& another to be loved by women, &c. They name this
little packet Gris-gris; those who have most of them are
the most adorn'd in this fashion. This Alquierre had a
good number of them. After we had been entertain❜d by
these Cape Verdiens we left them & return'd on board
our ship, in order to send some people to get the wood &
water. As soon as we arriv'd, they sent back our large
boat with a crew, who having landed on shore & wishing
to take the wood & water, found the Cape Verdien
officers, who wish'd to prevent them, demanding to be
paid their dues first, one calling himself Water-Captain
& another Wood-Captain. These were next of rank in
the place to the Alquierre. 'Twas arrang'd that they
should each one be given a bottle of Brandy, which cou'd
be taken to them by the first boat, which was done.
The next day, 9 May, I embarked in the first boat
which went on shore, in company with other persons,
with the intention of going out Hunting; we were in the
woods, & shot some red Partridges, Guinea-fowl, Turtle-
doves, & many other birds; we saw some Gazelles, Wild
Boars, Hares, & Rabbits, which we could not shoot.
Our Sport being finish'd, we returned to the village of
1669]
13
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
of this
Portuguese
is meant of
breed or
tawny, as
as white.
Rufisque to obtain dinner; we went to the house of a The wives
Portuguese named the Seignor Dom Joan, who regal'd us
with Rice, Palm Wine, meat & fish. He had several are black.
wives, by whom he had mulatto children. He pray'd two ByMulattos
Missionaries, who were with us, to baptize his children, a mix'd
which they promis'd to do the next day. They warned
him that, being a Christian, he ought to content himself much black
with one wife, & that he ought not to have several like
the natives of the country; that whomsoever he might
choose he ought to marry in the face of the Church, in
order not to live in sin; he promised to do so. I was
astonish'd to see that this man was devout, having always
a large Rosary in his hands, & several Images of Our
Saviour, of the Virgin, & of the Saints, around his bed.
The same with his wives or concubines, who carry'd also
large Rosaries round their necks. For all that, this man
could not be ignorant that he offended God in having so
many wives.
After dinner I return'd to the Hunt with one of the
other persons of the ship. Having each taken a small
Negro boy to guide us, we separated one from the other
in the woods with our guides; & after having shot some
birds, I try'd to run after some Gazelles, & penetrated
more than two leagues within the woods, of which my
small negro, who spoke a little Portuguese, warn'd me,
telling me that 'twas not safe to venture beyond on
account of the dangerous beasts, which oblig'd me to
return. Immediately we saw a young Lion, which, having
perceiv'd us, fled. And pursuing my way, I met near
the village of Rufisque many men, arm'd with bows,
arrows, javelins & axes, who conducted a number of
Camels & Asses, laden with salt fish which they collected
at the villages situated on the shores of the sea. They
made way for me, & saluted me in their language. At a
few paces from there I met him with whom I had gone out
14
[1669
Relation
1
Palm
Wine.
There have
been for-
hunting, & we repos'd ourselves near a spring of water,
where there were two girls of the country, very comely
both in features & figure, who, tho' black, came to us
& asked for bread. I gave what I had, & in order to
reward us, they asked us if we wish'd to lie with them, at
which we were asham'd, & we betook ourselves instantly
to the Sea coast where was our boat, which took us back
on board.
There are in these woods Elephants, Lions, Tigers,
Leopards & other dangerous beasts, & plenty of game
of all kinds. These woods are fill'd with Parrots, Apes
& Monkeys. We brought back a quantity of small Parrots
which we bought from the negroes.
There are also numbers of Palm Trees, from which the
Natives draw off the Palm Wine. They make holes at
the top of the Tree, from whence the liquor distils. They
fasten their calabashes, into which the wine falls, when
they come to collect it from time to time. This Palm
Wine is good when 'tis newly drawn from the Palm Tree;
& it has the taste of good sweet Cider.
The next day, 10th, the Missionaries having gone on
merly many shore, celebrated there the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Portuguese
inhabitants & baptis'd the children of the said Dom Joan, the
at Cape
Verd, but Portuguese, & several other children of other Portuguese
at present who live at the said Cape Verd. The aboriginals of the
remain but country are tall, well made & robust in body & very
Women of black. There are women tolerably well made, & many
Cape Verd.
have features as regular as those of Europe.
there
few.
The dress & attire of these women is a petticoat
with which they cover themselves from their waist to
their feet; the remainder of their body is nude. They
wear wristlets of gold, of silver, of brass, & tin on their
arms, & have collars of coral, cornelian & grains of gold;
they wear also earrings like their necklaces. These
women are very shameless, & esteem it an honour to
#
1669]
15
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
have to do with a white man, indeed their parents solicit
them for the purpose: thus it happened to some of our
folk who were solicited by the Fathers themselves for the
girls of this country.
The men have as many wives as they wish, if they have
the means of supporting them, & buy them of their
parents, who sell them according to their beauty &
quality.
I was not able to find out, during the short time that Religion of
the Cape
I was in this place, what Religion these Cape Verdiens Verdiens.
profess; whether or not they hold to Mahomedanism, tho'
most of them have no difficulty in drinking Wine &
eating the flesh of Pig.
They have their Doctors whom they style Marabous.
These are the Marabous who give them their Gris-gris
of which I have spoken; they believe them to be great
sorcerers, & undertake nothing of consequence without
consulting these Marabous, who to give a response to
what is demanded consult, or feign to consult, the Demon
to give a reply.
Many persons worthy of belief, who have liv'd long
time at the said Cape Verd, have told & assur'd me
that the Devil often beats these poor Cape Verdiens; they
have sworn to me to have seen some to whom they had
heard given the blows by which they found themselves
nearly murder'd, indeed to have seen them jump in the
air more than the height of a pike, then tumble like a
stone. I have not seen these things, but I have been
inform'd of them by people of the country, who told me
that 'twas true, & that to appease the Demon they had
huts which they dedicated to him, into which they carry'd
from time to time presents, & of that which they might
eat. Many persons ridicul'd these things; but if it is
permitted to judge according to one's fancy one might
believe whatever one wish'd,
16
[1669
Relation
Funerals.
Manners,
etc.
When any one of them dies who has the means, they
proceed to bewail the dead & ask him wherefore he has
quitted them, & if he needs anything for himself, &
address to him an infinity of other similar discourses.
After which they kill some oxen or cows of the dead man
in proportion to the numbers he had of them & to his
rank, to satisfy the hunger of his mourners, who make
good cheer at the expense of the cattle of the dead. All
sorts of persons are welcome to go to mourn; they give
food to all of them.
They decorate the dead with their most beautiful gar-
ments, & make a small hut, in which they place them,
with their arms, & bring them eatables for a long time.
after their death.
All the Cape Verdiens are lazy, at least those who are
on the Sea coast; they do not cultivate the earth, except-
ing some millet which they plant; & only attend to the
quantity of fish which they catch for eating; they dry
some which they sell to obtain other provisions; when
the Sea is rough they are oblig'd to fast, not being able to
go to fish.
They are very filthy in their eating, & great thieves &
liars. Those who wish to trade in anything of the place
which is found there, whether Gold, Ambergris, Musk, or
other merchandise, ought to make himself well acquainted
with these things, otherwise they are in great danger of
being cheated by these Cape Verdiens, who cheat as much
as they can.
The Dutch trade in this place, & have some settlements
& a Fortress at one league from this Bay, named The
Island of the Dutch.
'Tis very hot in this country, which is situated in 15
degrees North of the Equinoctial line.
All the countries of Cape Verd are of great extent; 'tis
the mainland. There are many Kings who, they say, are
1669] of the Island Dauphine, &c.
17
very powerful & absolute in their Kingdoms; they are
generally at war.
There are many Islands round about, nam'd the Islands
of Cape Verd, which are inhabit'd by the Portuguese.
I write what I have seen & known of this country.
Those who have made a longer sojourn there can better
speak & write of it.
Monday, 13th May, we weigh'd anchor from Rufisque
& put to Sea with a fair breeze, which quickly took us
out of sight of Land.
The Sunday following, 19th of the said month, we ex- Squallsand
Tempests.
perienc'd what were only squalls, which occur about the
Line, from which we were distant about 7 degrees; these
kind of squalls are often composed of thunders, winds &
furious rains. 'Tis in these moments that 'tis necessary to
lower the sails, for fear of losing the masts & suffering the
rude assaults which the Sea agitated by the winds gives
to a Vessel. These sort of storms or tempests are generally
follow'd by calm. This is what happen'd to us 24 hours
later.
Monday, 27th of the said month of May, they made a
Procession in the ship, because of the Rogations.
the Line.
The Thursday following, 30th of the current month, Passage of
Ascension day, they celebrated Divine Service as usual 1;
& about noon we pass'd the Equinoctial Line or the
Equator.
'Twas a great joy to us to pass it so happily, since one
often spends one or two months without being able to
pass it, because of great calms which ordinarily occur
under the Line. Those who are taken by these calms in
this neighbourhood suffer greatly, as much from the great
heats as from the thunderstorms which are very frequent
there. This corrupts all things, & causes great sick-
nesses, from which one barely escapes when attack'd, &
these are generally high fevers.
B
18
[1669
Relation
After the Line is pass'd, the seamen are accustom'd to
bathe those who have not hitherto pass'd it, & they call
this Baptism, & as there were few in our Vessel who had
pass'd it, they perform'd this Ceremony thus.
They commence generally with the Ship when it has
not before pass'd. The Captain or Commandant is
oblig'd to give something to the Crew; but our Vessel
was exempt from this, having formerly pass'd the Line on
two occasions. We chose an old Gunner, who had pass'd
the Line, to perform the Ceremony. They put on him an
old Night gown & fasten'd several bottles about him, after
having beard'd him like a Mask; then they made him sit
down & put before him a seat on which was plac'd a Book
of Marine Charts & a naked Cutlass, the Book being
open at the place of the Chart where the Line is mark’d.
The most notable persons of the Vessel, who had never
pass'd the Line, were the first who, one after the other,
saluted the Provost, for it was thus they called this bearded
man. Bending their knees to the ground, & with their
heads bare, he made them put their hands on the book
& swear that whenever they should repass under the
Line with persons who had not passed it they wou'd make
them do the like. Afterwards he threw a drop of water
on their heads with a silver cup, & pass'd the cutlass
over their necks. We were fifteen or twenty persons
treated thus gently; each gave according to his will where-
with to regale the Crew.
The others were not treated so gently; for after having
made the same oath & given what they wish'd, the
Provost passed the cutlass over their necks, when his crew
duck'd them from head to foot in a tub full of salt water.
And after they had got out, there were some Sailors who,
having large buckets full of water, dash'd them over their
bodies. It was thus they performed this Bathing. The
same thing is practis'd in other bad passages, when they
1669]
19
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
•
are pass'd, in order to well mark the place; but those who
have pass'd the Line are exempt from all other Bathings.
Saturday, 8th June, Eve of the Pentecost. We suffer'd
severe damage to our Vessel, there being three beams.
& several knees broken & shatter'd; this was nearly
causing our Vessel to leak & sink to the bottom; but
God gave us time to remedy it by moderate weather.
Thursday, 20th June, Day of the Holy Sacrament.
They made Processions in the ship, carrying the Holy
Sacrament; they erected an altar, they chanted Hymns,
they fir'd many guns & muskets, & then celebrated the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. After dinner they chanted
Vespers & afterwards preach'd a Sermon.
On the Eve of the Feast of St. John, they fir'd several
cannon & musket shots, & threw a lighted tar barrel into
the sea, which we kept in sight for more than three leagues.
On Wednesday, 26th June, we quitted the Torrid Zone,
to pass into one more Temperate, passing the Tropick of
Capricorn, where, when the Sun has arrived, 'tis the
shortest day of the year which occurs in France, & 'tis
call'd the Winter Solstice: but in the Season where we
were 'twas our Winter Solstice, because the sun was not
distant from the Tropick of Cancer more than 6 or 7
minutes; & as we advanc'd always to the South we were
glad to have wherewith to cover ourselves.
sail is the
Tuesday, 9 July, the wind, being strong & contrary to The Fore-
our course, & increasing from hour to hour, oblig'd the lower sail
Pilots to furl the sails excepting the Foresail, which we masts.
left to keep the Ship hove to, head to wind.
The next day, 10, they were oblig'd to abandon the
tiller & to put the Ship before the wind, that is to say,
let her go, at the will of the Winds & the Sea. We
were on all sides more than six or seven hundred leagues
from land, & 'tis at such moments that one has the Image
of death before one's eyes.
of the Fore-
20
[1669
Relation
The tempest lasted more than 60 hours, during which it
was resolv'd to make extraordinary Prayers to ask God
that which was necessary for us, & immediately we
experienc'd the effects of the goodness of Our Saviour,
for the wind ceas'd, the waves were still'd, & the calm
was so great that the Ship could only turn.
On Saturday, 13th, it was resolv'd to expose the Holy
Sacrament during three days from the first Mass to the
last, which was done, & from that very evening the wind
became most favourable, & our Ship, with wind abaft,
sail'd better than she had done since Cape Verd. Every-
one was astonished at it. The Catholics thank'd God
for it, & made their devotions; & the Calvinists were
astonish'd at it. We made with this wind more than 700
leagues, without which we had been nearly lost.
Thursday 25, and Friday 26 July, the wind always abaft
& with the same strength, we met with the tempests which
are generally encounter'd about the Cape of Good Hope.
We were in these regions during the Winter season; thus
in this same year we had had two Winters, one in France,
& the other in the Ethiopian Sea. This Cape is call'd
the Promontory of Good Hope, because the Europeans
going to the Indies, when they have doubl'd this Cape,
say that now there's good hope for them, & the same in
returning, when they perceive they have pass'd it. It was
not without reason that the Ancients call'd it the Pro-
montory or Cape of Storms, because storms are here
met with at all seasons, & the Ships are often wreck'd
here, the Sea having been greatly toss'd by the strong
winds & the strong & opposite tides which meet in this
place, & particularly near the land of the Cape, where the
Sea, mingl'd with sand, often washes over the Ships &
makes them sink. Our ship was not so treated, being
distant by more than 60 leagues from land.
At this point, which advances into the Sea towards
1669]
2 I
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
the South, there's another Promontory, nam'd the Cape
Agulhas. We doubl'd these Capes, having all the time.
the wind astern, so strong that we cou'd only carry our
Foresail, & indeed it took us by, at more than 60 leagues
distance, as I have said.
sickness, the
call Scur-
vey the
Garets.
The Scurvy, or land sickness, having attack'd many of Scorbutic
our crew the second day of August, one of them dy'd, Dieppois
having receiv'd all the sacraments. They enwrapp'd him
in his Blanket; then he was carry'd on to the Deck, where
they put some cannon shot at his feet, & sang the
Service of the Dead for the repose of his soul; after which
he was thrown in the Sea. They fired a gun when throw-
ing him in. 'Tis the Ceremony which is perform'd when
Soldiers or Sailors die at Sea; when Officers die they
make more Ceremony. The next day another one dy'd,
they did the same as before & to others who subsequently
dy'd.
This Land Sickness or Scurvy is a disease which often
occurs at Sea, & particularly in the Voyages of great
length; they call it Land sickness because Land is the
sole & only remedy to cure the disease. 'Tis occasion'd
by the bad food which they take at sea: it appears by ex-
crescences of flesh which come on the gums, & which rots
them, makes the mouth & the cheeks of the sick to swell,
renders their breath very stinking, & taints their teeth so
much that they become loosened & unable to masticate.
This disease also appears by pains which take place in
the stomach, in the joints of the arms & legs, & particu-
larly in the knuckles, & there come everywhere small
marks, blue, red, and black, as small as the bites of fleas.
Next appears inflammation, which attacks the arms, thighs,
& legs, with large purple marks similar to bruises; it often
causes the legs to contract so much that the heels are drawn
up as far as the buttocks; 'tis on this account the Dieppois
call the disease the Garets; it renders the limbs impotent
22
[1669
Relation
& often causes suffering of great pains; when the disease is
most inveterate, the sick die as soon as they perceive the
air of the land.
The Surgeons can prevent it by good remedies, for
some time at least, so that the disease do's not increase
much. It communicates itself by drink; & 'tis dangerous
to drink after & in the same vessel as those who have this
sickness. Those who undertake long voyages at Sea,
where this sickness is much to be fear'd, can take precau-
tion against it by making provision of good Orvietan &
Theriac, for use, as also of Lemon juice, to wash the
mouth with, because of the excrescence of the flesh of
which I have spoken: that cleanses the mouth well &
dissipates any dead flesh which there may be. 'Tis good
often to rince the mouth well, that one may not have this
sickness, & particularly with Eau-de-Vie. There dy'd
two more of the men from this sickness before we got near
Mascarenne.
The 28th August following, whilst chanting the Office
of the Dead for two other men dead of this sickness, to
whom the air of the land had hasten'd death, we dis-
cover'd the Island of Bourbon or Mascarene, from which.
we were more than 20 leagues; this Land being very high
tis seen from afar. 'Twas at sunset; which oblig'd us to
shorten sail for fear of running a-shoar by night.
In the passage which we had made from France to Mas-
carene, we had seen a number of Whales and Grampuses.
& taken some Porpoises,¹ Sharks or Tuberons, Bonitos,
Dorados, & other fish. We had seen also under the Torrid
Zone, between the Tropicks of Cancer & Capricorn, quan-
The Porpoise is the Sea Hog. The Shark is the Sea Dog, 'tis a very
dangerous fish, which devours & mangles with his teeth all which he
catches. There are some of them which have nine rows of teeth. That is
wherefore 'tis so very dangerous to bathe in the open sea, where they are often
found. It bears its young ones all form'd as a terrestrial beast do's; there are
small fish as large as Mackerel, which never leave these Sharks, & always go
1669]
23
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
1
tities of Flying-Fish; we met them often; we took some
several times, which whilst flying tumbl'd into our Ship.
These Fish are of the size of a Herring; they have four
wings or fins, with which they manage to fly thus like a
Bird, when they are follow'd by large Fish; they can fly
200 paces, as long as their wings are wet, but as soon as
they are dry they fall back into the sea & gather new force.
This fish is very good eating. Many persons have diffi-
culty to persuade themselves that these are Flying-Fish.
The next morning, 29, we discover'd the island Maurice,
which is at 30 leagues from that of Bourbon; we saw the
two islands at the same time. This island Maurice is
inhabited by the Dutch.
We chanted the Te Deum and thank'd God for His
grace which allow'd us to arrive at this land, in the
pressing need in which we were, when not having in our
Ship more than twenty persons who were not attack'd by
Scurvy; and water failing us, we were reduc'd to half-a-
pint of water each per diem. Besides that our ship having
large leaks, made a quantity of salt water which necessi-
tated continual pumping.
Bourbon or
The last day of August we approach'd the Island of The Isle
Mascarenne & having perceiv'd the flag, we cast anchor of Mascar-
opposite the settlement named St. Denis, where was the enne.
Sieur Regnault, Commandant of the Island. We lower'd
our Boat in the Sea to send a-shoar, put in it a crew as
much for conducting it as to salute the Sieur Regnault,
& to look out for a commodious spot to put the sick on
shore. In the evening our Boat return'd laden with fresh
provisions from this Land.
before them, serving them as guides & pilots. There are other fish which
attach themselves by their heads to the skin of these sharks, they call them
Suckers; but 'tis the veritable Remora, of which many say that this fish by
itself alone stops a Vessel at Sea; but nevertheless I have often taken one by
my line, which was fasten'd to our Ship, & did not hinder it from going.
These fish are of different sizes, viz. from that of the finger to that of the arm.
24
[1669
Relation
The next day Monsieur de Preaux Mercy, Captain in
the Royal Navy, & Envoy of his Majesty, to carry his
orders in the Oriental Countries, embark'd in our little
Boat with several other persons & went a-shoar, on reaching
which he gave to the said Sieur Regnault the Orders of the
King and of the Company which he had for him.
They also mann'd our large Boat to carry the sick to
land, they embark'd forty of them at different times. Two
of them dy'd on reaching land; & the next day two
others, who were unable to suffer the subtle air of this
Island.
We stay'd fifteen days in the Roads of St. Denis, &
during this time our sick regain'd their health; those who
were well, of which number I was, had the pleasure of
making good cheer with the fresh provisions of this Land,
and of going out hunting; Game is in such quantity in
hand in the this Island that it needs not fusil, powder, or lead to kill
Island of
Bourbon. it; but only a stick; & one man alone in one hour can
kill more of it than twenty others could eat in two days.
I shall speak more of this Island hereafter.
Birds are
taken by the
tite can
The fifteenth of the current month, we weigh'd anchor
from St. Denis, & came to anchor at seven leagues from
there, at the Settlement named St. Paul, in order to there
take Sea-Turtle and salt it. This place of St. Paul is where
the Turtle comes a-shoar, because of the sandy Bay.
We stay'd 8 days more in this place, & during this
time our sick folk were able to regain their strength.
One hun- After having stay'd 24 days in the Island of Bourbon,
dred men of
good appe-
& our sick having recover'd their health, we weigh'd
satisfy their anchor, laden with fresh provisions of this Land; to wit,
hunger in
one repast Pigs, Goats and Fowls, Pigeons & other game; Onions,
Limes, Cabbages, Lettuces, & Purslane; with many
Land Tortoises, & 24 great Sea Turtles alive, besides
thirty which we had salted.
on one Sea
Turtle
alone.
The wind having been favourable since our departure
1669]
25
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
vince of the
is on the
of the Island
from the Island of Bourbon, until we were in sight of the
Isle St. Laurens, Madagascar, or the Isle Dauphine, we
had reach'd land opposite the Province of the Matatannes, The Pro-
where we found the wind contrary, which prevented us Matatannes
arriving at Fort Dauphin so soon as we should have done. East Coast
At last the wind becoming fair, it happen'd that we of Mada-
arriv'd there, Wednesday, 2nd October, 1669. We castgascar.
anchor in the Bay Dauphine, fir'd 16 guns to salute Mon-
sieur de Mondevergue, then Viceroy, or Governor of the
Island & Fort Dauphin; & the Vessels then in the Bay
return'd our salute.
Immediately they lower'd our Boat, in which Monsieur
de Preaux embark'd, who was to carry the orders of the
King, & of the Company, to Monsieur de Mondevergues.
They fir'd 5 rounds of cannon to salute Monsieur de
Preaux.
Some days after arrival I went on shore & saluted Mon-
sieur de Mondevergues, who did me the honour to receive
me kindly, in consideration of Monsieur de Preaux, who
had spoken of me to him; he offer'd to me the Command
of forty French Soldiers, destin'd to proceed to settle at
a place named Andravois, situated near the Province of
Anosse; I thank'd him humbly, & left him this time
without concluding anything.
The Pro-
vince of
Anosse is
inhabited by
Next I went to salute Monsieur de Champmargou, the French.
Lieutenant-General for the King in the Government of
the Island, & other Oriental Countries, under the rule of
his Majesty. I did the same to Monsieur Despinay,
Procureur-General for the King in the said Island, & I
found in his house the Sieur de Preaux, who told me that
he had spoken about me to Monsieur de Champmargou;
& that if I wish'd to live with him in quality of Secretary
& Intendant of his House, the opportunity offer'd itself.
I accepted this position, having heard speak of the upright-
ness of the Sieur of Champmargou.
26
[1669
Relation
These
Colics are
very com-
mon at
I shall say hereafter something of the Island of Mada-
gascar; but before doing so I will insert here some light
Remarks on events happening in this island during the stay
that I made from the 2nd October 1669 until my return
Madagas- to the Island of Mascarenne, or of Bourbon, where I was
are mortal for the recovery of my health, being depriv'd in the isle of
violent, a Madagascar of the use of all my limbs, without power to
number of do anything of myself with any part of my body, being
car, they
& very
persons are
paralys'd
rendered only able to speak. This paralysis came to me from a
raging colic which tormented me three whole months.
by them.
*
*
*
*
*
*

OLD CASEMATED BATTERY AT FORT DAUPHIN.

AN ANTANDROY.

REMARKS on various things which happen'd in
the Island of Madagascar, from the 7th
October 1669, until the month of April 1671.
The seventh October, Monsieur de Champmargou
was appointed Lieutenant-General for the King to the
Government of the Island Dauphine, & other Oriental
countries under the rule of his Majesty, according to the
Commission sent by the King. He took oath between
the hands of Monsieur de Mondevergues, then Governor
or Viceroy, & this at the head of the troops & French
inhabitants then in the Island.
speak Chief,
gneur. A
Sovereign,
has terri-
men. There
are very
gascar.
The 15th of the month, one nam'd Raberry was executed Dian is so to
a native of the island, accus'd and convicted of having or Sei-
induc'd one nam'd Dian Ponin Chief of the island to have Chief is a
assassinated another Chief, who had just plac'd himself in that he
under the protection of the French, & brought them tory &
presents; & for having pillag'd the presents & generally
all that the Chief and his people had. This assassination many of
these Chiefs
having been committed, the children of the assassinated in Mada-
Chief had come to demand Justice from the French, who
sent to this Dian Ponin to know the truth of it, & to
cause him to make restitution. Dian Ponin justify'd
himself to those who had been sent, & plac'd in their
hands Raberry, guilty of having committed the above. He
was brought to Fort Dauphin, & was condemn'd by the
Sovereign Council of the Island as much for the above.
crime as for having assassinated some Frenchmen, &
others mention'd in the indictment drawn up against
him, whom he had spear'd to death.
28
[1669
Relation
They brought Raberry out from the prison where he
was, & read to him the Sentence, then he was conducted
to the Church (having been baptiz'd in his infancy) where
they made him confess; on leaving the Church they con-
ducted him to the place of his execution, where during &
after having chanted the Salve Regina, he turn'd his head
towards his adversaries who were behind him to execute
him, and said to them with an assur'd tone, 'Your
Sagayes are they well pointed & sharpen'd?' they reply'd to
him that they were about to prove it. To which he reply'd
that they were great cowards to prove them on a man who
had neither arms nor legs free, & that did he have them
free he would fight twenty like them having equal arms.
He said, moreover, I have nephews who will avenge my
death, now Strike! He said these things with a tone as
assur'd as if he were free; &, he having thus finish'd, one
of them to whom he had just spoken gave him a stab with
a Sagaye from behind, which passing under his right
shoulder issu'd by the right pap, the others then gave him
several other stabs with their Sagayes & cut his throat.
this Island This Raberry was well made in person, tho' black, and
was reputed one of the bravest of his Nation, but he was
they see it very treacherous; he could not have been more than
able & pre- twenty-five years old.
The
Natives of
show no
fear of
death when
is inevit-
sent.
The 22nd December following, a small Vessel arriv'd
at Fort Dauphin about thirty Tons, nam'd the Saumague,
which came from the Indies. It was laden with Persian
Wine, Salt, Silk Stuffs, & Cloths, the whole for Fort
Dauphin. This small Vessel had been in the four quarters.
of the world. It had been built in Portugal, which is in
Europe, brought to Brazil, which is in America, where
Monsieur de Mondevergues pass'd in going to Madagascar,
& there he purchas'd this small Vessel. 'Twas brought
from Brazil to the Cape of Good Hope, which is in Africa;
from the Cape of Good Hope to Madagascar, which is also
1670]
29
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
African; from Madagascar sent into the Great Indies in
Asia, where it was a long time navigating the Coasts;
sent back to Madagascar, laden with merchandise; from
Madagascar sent back into France; it pass'd by the Cape
of Good Hope & arriv'd at Rochelle in safety.
Thus one can judge if these long sea voyages are so
perilous as many imagine, since one Vessel of 30 Tons
has accomplish'd so much; a small Boat, provided it be
strong, can make all these Voyages, taking care of the
proper seasons.
The first February 1670 there arriv'd from India at 1670.
Fort Dauphin, a Hooker nam'd the Petit Saint Jean,
laden with Indian merchandise, with Persian Wine &
Rice. The 13th of the month, Monsieur de Mondevergues
having caused to assemble the chief notables at the time
in the said Island, & the Troops of Infantry, in presence
of whom he read some Letters from the King address'd to
him, by which His Majesty left to him the choice to con-
tinue his Government, or to return to France; in virtue of
which Letters he determin'd to continue in his Govern-
ment of the Isle Dauphine & its dependencies. There-
upon Monsieur Despinay, Procureur-General in the Island
harangu'd most eloquently the said Sieur de Monde-
vergues. The Harangue finish'd, the troops discharg'd
their muskets, & the cannons of the Fort & those of the
Vessels in the roadstead fir'd their salutes.
On the 24th of the month the Hooker the Saint Jacques This
arriv'd from the Indies at Fort Dauphin, laden like the
Saint Jean.
Vessel was
commanded
by the Sieur
Chanlatte,
The 3rd March following, the Hooker Saint Denis Captain.
departed for France laden with hides and victuals.
This
Vessel was
commanded
de la
The 18th of the month, Monsieur de Mondevergues by the Sicur
having caus'd the Hooker Petit Saint Jean to be equipp'd Moisse.
for the Indies; he made ready to go out of the Bay
Dauphine, where having been until four hours after noon
30
[1670
Relation
This ship
was com-
manded by
the Sieur de
with very calm weather, the Captain of the Hooker em-
bark'd in his Boat to go to his vessel to loosen sail, but
before he reach'd it, there arose a wind from the South so
strong that he thought he wou'd perish before reaching his
Ship. On getting to it, & the wind increasing from one
moment to another, caus'd his ship to drive & broke its
cables; they fir'd several guns to obtain succour. The
Boat of the Ship Saint Paul was there & carry'd to it a
large anchor, & a cable. Those who were in this Boat
thought to have perish'd; but as the wind continu'd to
increase, the Hooker drove & broke all its cables or
anchors; a little after having anchor'd, & as a part of the
Cargo of the Hooker was of anchors & cables, they held
well on till the 20th of the month, when having both
moor'd & lost all their cables & anchors, the Ship was cast
on the Coast in the Bay. The 20th, at 10 o'clock in the
evening, every one ran to give assistance by land, not
being able to give it by sea. They sav'd everybody who
was in the Vessel excepting a Sailor who was drown'd.
All the Cargo was lost, and two hours after the Ship
had struck, the sea so broke her up that not a splinter
remain'd at the place. The Cargo consisted of 38 pieces
of Iron, Ordnance, Anchors, Cables, & Sails, the whole
intended for the Indies.
The
day of the month of March, the Ship La
Mariée arriv'd from the Indies at Fort Dauphin, laden
Bois Pean, with Cloves, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Stuffs, Cotton
Cloth, Chintzes, & other Indian merchandise, the whole.
consign'd to France; the said Ship of from six to seven
hundred tons burden.
Captain.
This ship
was com-
The of the month, the Ship La Force arriv'd from
manded by the Indies at Fort Dauphin, laden like the preceding, of
Marchand, five hundred tons burden or thereabouts.
the Sieur
Captain.
The April following, Monsieur de Mondevergues
having made his preparations for his return to France, he
1670]
31
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
embark'd in the Ship La Mariée. At his embarkation, the
Troops being under Arms saluted him with their musketry.
The Saumague also depart'd the same day, accompany-
ing this Vessel. The Ship La Force not having been able
to fit out as soon as the Mariée, left the following day to
go to France.
The
June the Ship La Mariée, in which was Mon-
sieur de Mondevergues, put back to the said Fort Dauphin,
not having been able to double the Cape of Good Hope;
nevertheless the Vessels, La Force & La Saumague, of
which I have spoken, doubl'd it.
The 15th August following, the Vessel the Saint Paul,
after being in the Bay Dauphine for six months, not
having been able to leave for the Indies, mostly on
account of the contrary Seasons, at last left with the
Hookers, the Saint Jacques & the St. Luc.
There are two seasons for going from Madagascar to
the Indies & to Surat. In the first by leaving Madagascar
in the month of August without delay (particularly from
the 15th until the 20th) one reaches Surat in six weeks, &
goes to Mozambique on the East Coast of Africa: the
second season is in the month of October, when, without
delay, one can go to the Coasts of Malabar; one is four
months making the passage.
There are some of these Malabars along this coast, who
with numbers of Dhows will attack the Vessels which
they see, of whatever nation they may be; & when they
can take a Vessel there's no quarter for those who are
therein; otherwise, for the most part, they cut the nerves
of their hams, & then keep them to serve as slaves to
watch their beasts; they cut the sinews of their legs, in
order that they cannot run away & save themselves. The
Vessels of Europe do not fear these Malabar Pirates,
because they are fine Vessels well arm'd. They have
several times attack'd our French Vessels, who have given
32
[1670
Relation
them such a warm reception, that they have not dar'd to
attack others,
The 23rd December 1670, there appear'd a Vessel
opposite the Bay Dauphine, which moor'd there at ten
o'clock in the morning; this Ship nam'd the Julles, a
king's ship, arm'd man of war of 500 tons burden or there-
abouts, arm'd with 36 pieces of cannon, both bronze &
iron, commanded by Monsieur de Luché, Captain. As
soon as this Ship was anchor'd, there were sighted four
other Ships which anchor'd as well the same day. The
first, nam'd the Navarre, in which was the Sieur de la
Haye, Admiral of this Fleet. This Ship, bearing the flag
of the Admiral, was of 1100 tons burden, arm'd with 56
pieces of cannon, of which the greatest part was of brass.
They had double Officers in this Ship, the first Captain
was Monsieur de Turelle, Chief of Squadron, the second
Captain, Monsieur Languillet. The Ship, Flamand,
anchor'd next, of six to seven hundred tons burden,
arm'd with 45 pieces of cannon, both brass & iron, com-
manded by the Sieur Dumayne, Captain.
The Ship St. Jean of Bayonne, or the Bayonnois, anchor'd
next; 'twas of 500 tons burden or thereabouts, arm'd with
34 pieces of cannon, Brass & Iron, commanded by Monsieur
Desmarets, Captain; & the Ship or small Frigate, named
the Diligente, of 100 tons burden, arm'd with 2 pieces of
cannon, commanded by the Sieur Dudros, Captain.
Four Vessels of this Fleet had remain'd behind, either
from bad weather, or because they had been oblig'd to
refit, at Lisbon, their rudders having been unshipp'd, they
arriv'd at Fort Dauphin, one after another, from the 3rd
November 1670 until 3rd March 1671, when the last arriv'd.
The principal of these Ships, nam'd the Triomphe, of from
eight to nine hundred tons burden, arm'd with 50 pieces of
cannon, Brass & Iron, commanded by the Sieur Forans.
The three other Vessels were three Flutes, each of four
1670]
33
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
to five hundred tons, one nam'd the Europe, commanded
by the Sieur du Pré; the other nam'd the Indienne, com-
manded by the Sieur de la Clide; & the third nam'd La
Sultanne, whose Captain, nam'd Beaulieu, had dy'd during
the passage.
All these Vessels were King's Ships, arm'd for war. On
the arrival of the five first Ships nam'd above, the Vessel
La Mariée, being in the Bay Dauphine, bore the Admiral's
flag for Monsieur de Mondevergues, & the Navarre having
also the Admiral's flag for Monsieur de la Haye. 'Twas
astonishing to see two French Admirals in the same
place.
The 24th November, Monsieur de la Haye landed on
shore, accompany'd by the Officers of the Fleet, & those
of his House; he found all the Infantry under arms for
his reception. They went into the house of Monsieur
de Mondevergues, then still Viceroy or Governor of the
Island, in presence of whom, & of Monsieur de Champ-
margou, Lieutenant-General, of Monsieur Despinay, Pro-
cureur-General, & of many Officers and Notable Persons,
Monsieur de la Haye open'd the packets of the King &
caus'd his commissions to be read out.
The 25th of the month, the Vessel La Mariée lower'd
its Admiral's flag. The same day dy'd the Sieur d'Autigny,
Captain of Infantry; he was interr'd according to the
ordinary Ceremony for Captains.
Thursday, 4 December, preparations having been made.
for the reception of Monsieur de la Haye, in quality of
Admiral, Governor & Lieutenant-General for the King
throughout the whole extent of the Oriental Seas &
Countries under his rule; the thing was thus performed.
The Troops of Infantry, both those of the Island & of
the Fleet of the Sieur Admiral, being under arms, &
the French residents in the island, & very many Natives.
who had been bidden there, being present, Monsieur the
C
34
[1670
Relation
Admiral came out from his Lodging accompany'd by
the Gentlemen of the Mission, by Monsieur de Grateloup,
Quartermaster, by Monsieur de Raturierre, Aide-de-Camp
of Monsieur de Champmargou, Lieutenant-General, by
the Sieur la Casse, by many Officers both Naval & others,
& by all the Officers, Guards, & the Household of Mon-
sieur the Admiral; they went as far as the gate of the
Fort, where there was erected a sort of throne; each then
took his place according to his rank. Silence was pro-
claim'd, & the Secretary of the Council read aloud the
Commissions of the King given in favour of Monsieur de
la Haye; by which it appear'd that His Majesty, wishing
to keep the Oriental Countries & their people, who were
or would be under his dominion, had found that he
could not make a better choice than that of the person of
Monsieur de la Haye, for the said post, His Majesty
giving him power to command in all things, to rule, govern,
make & ordain all whatsoever the said Sieur de la Haye
should judge proper, for the welfare and advantage of His
Majesty; besides power to exercise Sovereign Justice in
the said obedient Countries, as well over the Ecclesiastics
as over all other persons in general.
Thereupon the Officers took the oath of fidelity to
his Majesty, & of obedience to Monsieur de la Haye.
After which was proclaim'd an Amnesty given by the
King in honour of the arrival of Monsieur de la
Haye in the Oriental Countries, by which the crimes
of those who were then in the Island, even of the Natives,
were remitted with general pardon & absolution for the
past.
There was also publish'd an Ordinance of the King,
by which his Majesty order'd all his subjects being in the
service of Foreigners, to enter into his service or of the
Gentlemen of the Royal Company of the East Indies. His
Majesty offering to give them the same wages, rights,
1670]
35
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
profits & honours as they had among Foreigners, & this
on pain of death.
Of all these said documents the said Sieur Procureur-
General required the registry, as well as the promulgation
of the said Ordinances: then he made a fine and eloquent
Harangue to Monsieur the Admiral; which being finish'd,
the Admiral descended from the Throne, & at the head
of all the Officers & people of the island, he said that the
intention of the King was that Monsieur de Champmargou
should be acknowledg'd as Governor & Lieutenant of the
Island, & that each one was to obey him in that quality.
He also said that it had been the intention of the King to
appoint the Sieur la Casse in charge as Major of the
Island, & that each one was to respect him in that
office.
They afterwards went to the Church to thank God, &
Messieurs the Ecclesiastics, with the Cross, receiv'd at the
door Monsieur the Admiral; they chanted the Te Deum,
which being finish'd, the Admiral went out of the Church,
& the troops fir'd their salutes & the same was done by
the cannon of the Fort & by the Ships in the Roadstead.
This being done, two barrels of Wine were given by Mon-
sieur the Admiral to the Soldiers. Afterwards they saw
the Mitave danc'd by many Blacks, who had for a reward Mitave, ges-
two barrels of Wine to drink. The same day Monsieur postures of
the Admiral took possession of the Island in the name of when they
the King.
tures and
the Blacks
fight each
other.
Tuesday, 16th December, at two hours after sunrise, the
long Boat anchor'd in the Bay Dauphine, commanded
by one named Gigault, Pilot, returning from looking for the
River of Masts, which was said to be in the Island, where River of
it had been sent by Monsieur de Mondevergues. They
call this river the River of Masts, because there are there
fine woods proper for masting Vessels: & we were assur'd
that 'tis where the Arabs obtain the greater portion of
Masts.
36
[1670
Relation
Arabs in
Madagas-
car.
their large spars, & that even they come from the Indies.
to obtain them.
Gigault reported that whilst searching for the River of
Masts, they had stopp'd at one place of the Island nam'd
the Old Macellage, in which anciently the Arabs dwelt; that
he had there remark'd many Mosques, Tombs, Cisterns &
Houses, the whole built of stone. That from these they
pass'd to the New Macellage, also in the same Island, where
the Arabs dwelt, that they have a King whose Court is
fairly magnificent, & that he had a good number of
Soldiers as his guard; that they said they had dwelt in
the Island 200 years, and that they made notable traffic,
having seen there numbers of small Vessels, that it nearly
came to pass that they had been massacr'd by these Arabs,
having been mistaken for Portuguese, with whom they wag'd
eternal war; & that having been recogniz'd as French by
these Arabs, who knew that there had been Frenchmen
resident in the Island more than 30 years, they were well
receiv'd by them, & that they desir'd to make friends with
them. That these Arabs have a fine City, Towns &
Villages, where there were Mosques & superb Tombs,
Cisterns & Houses, the whole built of stone. That these
people are white like the Europeans & that they are
dress'd like Turks. That returning from the said River of
Masts, they met the Hooker S. Luc, commanded by the
Sieur Louvel, who had left for the Indies in the month of
August last, who had told them that having lost, off Cape
St. Augustin, the Ships, S. Paul & S. Jacques, with which
he had departed, he had not been able to make much way
because of the bad weather, & that he had been oblig'd to
go to Mozambique, where he learnt on his arrival that the
Arabs and Moors had landed at this place, that they had
massacr'd many Portuguese who had not had time to take
refuge in the fortress, they had burnt & destroy'd the
Churches & Houses, & that at this time there arriv'd five
1670] of the Island Dauphine, &c.
37
Portuguese Ships, which, being well furnish'd with people,
oblig'd the Arabs & Moors to retire, nevertheless without
loss; & that the principal Portuguese Ship, named the
Capitan, Admiral of this fleet, had apparently been lost,
either from bad weather, or because of the dearth of
provisions, there being 1300 men in the Ship, which had
neither water nor victuals. That the Portuguese prepar'd
to build a fortress in such a place that no one should be
able to put foot on their Territory without their permission.
That he had pass'd a French Vessel, the 15th September
last, bearing the flag at the main.
The 16th December, the Sieur de Luché dy'd, Captain
of the King, Commandant of the Ship Julles.
The next day, 17th, he was interr'd, four Ensigns carry'd
his body, & four Captains of the King carry'd the pall,
numbers of officers follow'd, & then the Troops of Infantry
march'd, following the order practis'd at the funeral
ceremonies of Officers. During all the Service the
cannons of the Ships fired incessantly, & the Soldiers fir'd
several volleys near the Ditch.
The 30th December following, Monsieur the Admiral
left Fort Dauphin, accompany'd by several Officers, &
about three hundred men of Infantry & Sailors, taking his
way towards the Plain of Manambarre, six to seven leagues
distant from Fort Dauphin.
against
Some time before this departure, Monsieur the Admiral, War
having held Council with Monsieur de Champmargou & Ramousset.
several other persons to consider the best means of holding
the Province of Anosse belonging to the French in security,
found that Ramousset, who had become Chief in this Land,
had given reason for doubting his fidelity, in that he had
always been unwilling to come to the Fort to render his
duty and homage, tho' he had been summon'd many times,
both by Monsieur de Mondevergues, Monsieur de Champ-
margou, & Monsieur the Admiral, & that he had always.
38
[1671
Relation
refus'd & contented himself by sending some of his People.
Moreover, that he had an understanding with Ramillange,
the declar'd enemy of the French, to whom he had given
one of his daughters as wife. As also Ramousset, having
plenty of fire-arms & of ammunition, things which ought
not to be for his use more than for other Blacks, having
been summon'd to remit them into the hands of the
French, from whom he had obtain'd them by purchase,
he had made answer that he would never surrender the
arms but with his life. On this information Monsieur the
Admiral and the Council concluded to make war on
Ramousset, who had it in his power greatly to incom-
mode the French; 'tis why Monsieur the Admiral set
out, as I have said, with the design of going to Ramous-
set's, Who had fixed his dwelling near the plain of Manam-
barre.
The first of January following, 1671, Messieurs de
Grateloup & Champmargou departed also from the Fort
to join Monsieur the Admiral.
The Frigate, Diligente, left with a long Boat & three
Shallops, all fill'd with Officers & Sailors, going to the
appointed rendez-vous, from whence to go on to Ramous-
set's residence.
Orders had also been issu'd to several French Settlers
of the Island to present themselves at the rendez-vous &
to bring there their Blacks, which they did, being all
assembl'd, there were more than seven hundred French,
& at least six hundred Blacks, to make war upon their
Enemies, who were not more than one hundred men.
They were with Ramousset, who, having been advis'd of
it, had fortified himself as well as he could in his Village,
& boldly awaited the attack which was prepar'd against
him, which having been deliver'd, he defended himself
vigorously with his hundred men; they kill'd many
Soldiers with shots from Arquebuzes, & wounded some
1671]
39
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
Officers, until seeing themselves forc'd, & the Sieurs de
Champmargou, la Casse, & others entering into the Village
with the Troops, they retir'd without loss, in spite of all
the precautions which had been taken to prevent them
from so doing.
This action was creditable enough on the part of the
Blacks, in daring to face more than 1300 men, as many
French as Blacks; & with not more than one hundred
men to bravely await the assault, to kill both French &
Blacks & only to retire on seeing themselves overpower'd,
without sustaining material loss.
This is the most severe action that the Negroes of
Madagascar have made since the French settl'd in the
Island. Indeed Ramousset & his People had been
brought up among the French & had knowledge of Arms;
this is why they had no fears as the other Blacks had
always had, when they had an affair with the French, on
account of their whiteness & their fire-arms, by which
when they saw their folk kill'd without seeing the missiles
coming, fear wou'd take them, of such kind that they
believ'd they would all be kill'd in the same way, without
being able to defend themselves: & by their flight they
had always left the victory to their Enemies : & if they
have sometimes beaten parties of French, & if they have
massacr'd some of them, it has been by surprise & never
in open War.
'Tis not the case, however, that we have not had some
Chiefs & other Frenchmen in the island who have shew'd
by their actions much courage & boldness, as Monsieur
de Champmargou has done. He has always been very suc-
cessful in his enterprises, has dearly paid for it in his
person, and had much success, both in protecting the
Country, and in avoiding the ambushes which they laid in
order to assassinate him, having always found opportunity
of punishing those who have wish'd to do him harm, &
40
[1671
Relation
ง
commonly the Blacks believe that he is immortal, because
of the risks which he has run without being kill'd; also
they fear him much, & his presence alone is of more
value than five hundred men.
One of the most glorious actions in my opinion which
he has done in the Island is as follows:
It had been a long time since any news had been
receiv'd in the Island from France. The French, impatient
at this, sought means to enable them to quit: & tho'
there were few of them, the largest part of them abandon'd
Fort Dauphin, & proceeded under the guidance of Sieur
la Casse, with the design of going to Cape Saint Augustin,
in the said Island, to try & find some English or Dutch
Ships, which are wont to trade at this place, to obtain
passage to Europe or elsewhere. Monsieur de Champmar-
gou stay'd at Fort Dauphin, accompany'd by fourteen men
only, from whence he would not go out, both on account
of the Holy Sacrament, which he was anxious to guard,
not having any Priests, as also on account of the interests
of his Master. The Blacks, seeing the weakness of the
French, assembl'd many times in great numbers & attacked
the Fort, intending to kill them & take the Fort, but they
were always repuls'd vigorously by the fourteen men, of
whom Monsieur de Champmargou was the Chief, who
maintain'd themselves in spite of the multitude of these
Blacks, preserving the Holy Sacrament & the Fort, until
some Ships came from France, by which they were rein-
forc'd by men & supplies.
I return to our people, who having forc'd the village of
Ramousset, took possession of what they found there, &
gave over the whole to a Black to govern, to whom this
Village had belong'd, & left them a French Garrison.
There was plenty of time to pursue Ramousset; but
pursuit was inexpedient. It would have been necessary
to place Garrisons in places & settlements where there
1671]
41
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
party of
attack by
night &
pillage.
would always be danger that this Ramousset or his allies
might attack and make a Souvou. After the Garrisons Souvou is a
had been posted by Monsieur the Admiral, he return'd with Blacks who
the Officers and the rest of the Troops to Fort Dauphin.
This Ramousset had been with Monsieur Champmargou
& had serv'd as one of the porters of his palanquin, which
is the method of carrying the Chiefs in this country.
Since leaving him he had rais'd himself by his address,
& become redoubtable by his bravery, among the other
Blacks. He had always serv'd the French well in the
wars & expeditions whenever they employ'd him.
Shortly after these things many Blacks assembl'd them-
selves under the leadership of Rafesle, a native of the
Island, who had been Head-man of a village under the
Sieur de la Casse. Under pretence of assisting Ramousset,
they made a number of Souvous against the French Settlers,
whom they saw undefended by any Garrison, going by
night into their settlements, which they pillag'd, & carry'd
off what there was, & driving away the cattle. They went,
among others, to a place named Marfoutou, belonging to
Sieur Mesnard, an old Inhabitant of the Island. They
burnt the Village, took all that was in it without leaving a
fowl, carry'd off five or six hundred great horned cattle,
Oxen & Cows, & quantities of Sheep, Goats & Pigs. The
loss was estimated at 10,000 livres.
Ramousset & Rafesle kill'd two Frenchmen in these
reprisals. Having found them unprepar'd, they murdered
them in the country. The French did what they could to
take Rafesle, but that was impossible.
After the return of Monsieur the Admiral and his
Troops to Fort Dauphin, between their return & until the
month of April 1671, there dy'd 300 men of sickness, both
Officers, Soldiers & Sailors; few persons escap'd the
malady. Monsieur the Admiral, and the Sieurs de la
Raturierre & de Champmargou, thought they would die.
42
[1671
Relation
Surat
pillaged.
'Tis what resolv'd Monsieur the Admiral to go to the Isle
of Bourbon, both to re-establish his health as well as that
of the convalescent & sick.
The of the said month of January, the Vessel,
Phenix, belonging to Messieurs of the Royal Company of
the East Indies, arriv'd at Fort Dauphin. This Vessel
would have been lost at sea if she had not found the Flute
named the Indienne, commanded by the Sieur Laclide, of
whom I've spoken; who, having boarded this vessel &
seen the necessity of the Crew which mann'd it, because
the greatest part of the Crew was dead, the remainder
sick, he left there thirty men of his Vessel, with orders
that the said Ship Phenix should come to anchor at Fort
Dauphin, which was promis'd by Monsieur the Bishop of
Heliopolis, who was in this Vessel with many other Mis-
sionaries, who were going to the Kingdom of Siam, & into
China & Cochin China, in their Missions.
Following there arriv'd the Hooker, the Saint Luc, of
which I've spoken, not having been able to make her
voyage from the Indies. She confirm'd the news which
I've written above, brought by Gigault, Pilot.
The February, the Hooker, Saint Jacques, arriv'd
from the Indies at the Fort, laden with victuals for the
return to France of the Vessel Mariée, by which vessel
Monsieur de Champmargou & myself receiv'd letters which
the Missionaries, who had pass'd in the Saint Paul to the
Indies, had written to us, of which I have written before:
they advis'd us that they had had trouble in finding a few
of the goods which they sent us, because the Town of
Surat had recently been pillag'd by one named Savagy, of
whom I shall recount what these Missionaries inform'd us
concerning him.
Savagy is a Sovereign Prince, who has his principality
in the States of the Great Mogul, & who replac'd him in
it. He is not further than ten days from Surat, a Town
1671] of the Island Dauphine, &c.
43
belonging to the Mogul. 'Tis the first town of Asia, & one
of the largest commercial Towns of the world. 'Tis a
little larger than Orleans, & as much or more populous
than Paris, in proportion to its greatness. There are all
sorts of Nations here, who profess their Religion freely.
This town is strong enough, being well surrounded with.
good walls & fortifications; there's a good & strong
Citadel, in which there's a Governor & strong Garrison.
Nevertheless this Town has been several times plundered by
the said Savagy, for whom the pillaging is render'd very
easy, for the Inhabitants, on hearing it said that Savagy is
coming to see them, betake themselves to flight, & abandon
the Town, carrying with them what they can; and it is
impossible to find people more cowardly than these Indians.
there, since at the very name of Savagy they tremble, &
by their flight leave the Town a prey to him. This Savagy
has not more than from ten to twelve thousand men, so
that, if the Soldiers & Inhabitants of Surat had a little
courage, the defeat of Savagy & his Troops would be easy
for them.
been several
Savagy has acquir'd inestimable booty in the plunder- Surat has
ings which he has made of this Town, where are some very times
pillag'd by
rich Merchants, & particularly some Baignans, who are the Savagy.
richest Merchants of the world. I shall say something
afterwards of the Religion of these Baignans. In the last
sack that Savagy made in this Town, there was found
in one house alone of a Banian twenty-two pounds of
large, fine pearls, besides other jewellery & costly mer-
chandise.
The Company of France has its Hotel & Office in the
said town, which they call the Lodge of the French, but
Savagy does not touch anything belonging to Frenchmen,
having peace with them, & being their friend. There
were, nevertheless, some of his Troops who wish'd to
enter into the Lodge, & demanded a sum of money. They
44
[1671
Relation
reply'd that the French did not give up anything except
by the mouth of the cannons placed in position at the
entrance of the Lodge. They contented themselves with
this answer, seeing that they had not to deal with the
Subjects of the Mogul.
Savagy is always in the field, & has captur'd a quantity
of places & Castles belonging to the Mogul, which he
holds & fortifies. He is unable to keep possession of
Surat, not having taken the Citadel.
The cause wherefore Savagy makes war in the States
of the Mogul is that, being very valiant & brave person-
ally, & Sovereign Prince, the Great Mogul conceiv'd
hatred & jealousy against him, & took counsel to unseat
him under some specious pretext; & to this end he
order'd him to come into his Court, which Savagy did.
When he arriv'd he receiv'd a quantity of caresses from
the Mogul, who told him that, knowing his experience &
his valour, he could not find a person in his States so
capable as him for being Generalissimo of his Armies; &
that to effect this he had resolv'd to entrust this charge
into his hands, & that he would cause them to expedite
the Commissions, in order to take the Field when he had
need. Savagy accepted it in appearance; and seeing that
this snare was tender'd to him with the design of destroy-
ing him on the first occasion, he resolv'd to play it out to
the end. He thank'd the Mogul for the gracious honour
which he accorded him, & told him that, since it had
pleas'd him thus to honour him, he pray'd for permission
from him to make a tour in his Principality to put in
order his affairs & those of his Subjects, from whom he
might levy from fifteen to sixteen thousand men whom he
would bring with him to his service, and that on his return
he would take the Commissions of his Majesty, which the
Mogul grant'd him.
Savagy return'd into his country, levy'd his people &
f
1671]
45
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
employ'd them, not for the Mogul, but against him, as I've
said above.
can put
more than
600,000
men on foot.
And 'tis a remarkable thing, that a Seigneur as great The Mogul
as the Mogul, and who places Armies of more than
300,000 on foot when he wishes, lets war be made in his
States, & cannot bring to the front more than ten or
twelve thousand men. This well shows that these Indians
are wretched Soldiers, since a handful of men a little
inur'd to war & led by a brave Chief, resists & mocks at
the Forces of the Mogul.
The Gentlemen of the East Indian Company have
Agencies establish'd in the territory of Savagy.
The
February, Monsieur de Mondevergues em-
bark'd in the Ship Mariée to return to France, & the next
day made sail.
The of the said month, the Hooker Saint Luc,
having been sent to Itaperre, distant two leagues from the
Fort, laden with Knees, Baulks, & other timber for the
Repairs of the Vessels, being in the Bay, was surpris'd by
a wind from the South so strong & violent that it cast the
Hooker on the Coast, where she was lost. The Crew
which was in her sav'd themselves.
During this month they sagay'd, or put to death by the
Sagaye, many Blacks, some for having kill'd a Frenchman
whom they found asleep, & the others for robbery.
This is all of the most remarkable events that I've seen
happen in the Island during the stay which I made there,
to wit, from the month of October 1669 until the month
of March 1671, when I embark'd in the Vessel the Navarre
Admiral to proceed to the Island of Bourbon, to try in
some degree to recover my health, having remain'd incap-
able of using my limbs.
I've left above some dates in blank, not having been
able to remark the days precisely, these things having
happen'd during my illness.
46
[1671
Relation
1
Baignans
or Banjans.
Metem-
psychosis.
I have spoken above of the town of Surat, & said that
there are several sorts of Nations which there profess their
Religions freely. I have said that there's among them
one kind whom they call Baignans, who are the richest
merchants of the world. These Baignans believe in the
Metempsychosis, or the passing of Souls from one body to
another, believing that, according to the good or the evil
which they have done, their Souls pass into the bodies of
animals either more noble or more vile: 'tis wherefore
they never eat or kill any animal, nor of that which comes
from them, on the contrary they are merciful to all
animals indifferently, of whatever species they may be, for
many of which they have Hospitals, either dogs, cats, &
other animals, even for flies, fleas, bugs, & other little
beasts, which they maintain at the expense of some poor
beggars who expose themselves voluntarily to be bitten
by these animals and nourish them, provided they pay
them.
When any one of them dies, the most part leave con-
siderable sums for this object, & gifts to the Governor of
Surat to prevent the hunting & slaughter of animals & to
prevent any one catching any fish in the sea or elsewhere,
the whole during a certain time. The Governor grants
them this for their money, & prevents hunting & fishing
as much as he can. They can beat & maltreat these
Baignans without apprehension that they will revenge
themselves.
They have some temples which they name Pagodas,
where there are figures of animals, & have their Doctors,
whom they name Bremans or Bramennes, for whom they
have a great veneration.
They believe in one God alone, & three Persons in him;
but I do not know how they understand it.
'Tis many ages since the wives of these Baignans
exercis'd much wickedness on their husbands; & when
1671]
47
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
they were tir'd of them they had them assassinat'd or
poison'd. Accordingly a Prince of that time provid'd an
Edict, by which he prohibit'd these Baignans from marry-
ing more than once in their lifetime, & that after the death
of the husband the wife should be oblig'd to burn herself
alive with the dead body of her husband, a thing which
has always been executed by the Baignans since that
time, & at present passes for Religion among them.
Thus the Fathers of children marry them during their
most tender youth, & when they are of sufficient age
bring them together & they consummate the marriage.
When the wife dies first, the husband remains a widower
all his life; & if the husband dies first, the wife is oblig'd
to do that which I have just report'd.
Baignans
to burn
I've said that the wives were oblig'd to burn themselves Wives of
alive with the dead body of their husbands, because they are oblig' d
are forc'd to do so, but at present the Prince, having had themselves.
his attention drawn to this, leaves them the choice of
doing it if they wish: & as it is a great infamy among
them not to do so, & that those who do not burn them-
selves pass as being infamous, there are but very few who
exempt themselves from it.
The Husbands being dead, the wives are solicited by
their parents & friends to burn themselves, as I've said;
& when they consent to it, they are oblig'd to go to
request permission from the Governor of the place, who
gives it them for a certain sum of money which is furnish'd
him when they have obtain'd this permission they are
unable any more to retract. This is why their parents &
friends seize them, praise their courage, their fidelity &
their virtue. Then the mother and all go with her, to the
sound of instruments, with great ceremony where the dead
body of her husband, which is on a pile of wood in an
enclos'd locality, & expressly made of combustible matter.
She enters boldly into a passage made for her, which they
48
[1671
Relation
Having enter'd in,
embracing the body
shut after, so that she cannot get out.
she herself sets a light to the pile, &,
of her husband, burns herself with him, during which the
spectators make a great noise both with voice & instru-
ments, in order that they should not hear the cries of her
who burns herself; & others throw oils or essences into
the fire in order that it may burn well. The virtue of
these wives after that is largely extoll'd by these Baignans.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

VILLAGE NEAR FORT DAUPHIN.

CITADEL & RAMPARTS, FORT DAUPHIN.

ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR.
Since many persons have desir'd to hear an Account of Isle of Ma-
the Observations which have been made concerning the
dagascar.
Island of Madagascar & the peculiarities of it, both of the
aborigines of the Island & of their manners. I proceed to
insert here some that I wrote by the way.
This island is nam'd by the Natives Malagache, & in
French, Madagascar. The Portuguese call it the Isle
Saint Laurens, because they discover'd it on the day of
the Festival of Saint Laurence: it is nam'd at present by
the French the Isle Dauphine, & the principal settlement
where they live is the Fort Dauphin.
Fort Dauphin is situated at 25 degrees of latitude.
South of the Equinoctial line.
This Island is the largest Island of the world of which.
there is any knowledge at present, it has more than 800
leagues of circumference.
The air of the land is not very healthy for Europeans.
The soil is pretty good for cultivation.
There's a quantity of Oxen & other cattle.
The Island is divided in Provinces, in each of which
there is one or more Chiefs, that is to say Sovereigns;
they are altogether absolute over their People. There are
some of these Chiefs who are much more powerful than
others, both in Subjects and riches; their riches generally
consist of Cattle.
I find it convenient to report here a journey which the
Sieur Desbrosses, a settler of the Island, made to the
residence of one nam'd la Hayfouchy, Chief of the Province
D
50
[1671
Relation
:
is at least
& rich as la
Hayfouchy.
of the Machicorres, to exemplify the mode of life of those
Chiefs who possess power.
The Sieur Desbrosses left Fort Dauphin in the month of
August 1671, accompany'd by sixty Blacks of his settle-
ment, & took his way towards the Province of the Machi-
corres, to the village of la Hayfouchy, both with the design
of assuring the continuation of the friendship of the
French, he having receiv'd orders from MM. de Monde-
vergues & de Champmargou; & for trading for horned
cattle, of which the Chief, la Hayfouchy, had a large num-
ber. He arriv'd in his territory as he was setting forth
on the march with an Army, to go to war against one
Baytsileau nam'd Baytsileau, the Chief of another Province neighbour-
as powerful ing on that of la Hayfouchy, who having been warn'd of
the arrival of the Sieur Desbrosses, retrac'd his steps with
his army & return'd to his home, where he found the Sieur
Desbrosses, to whom he show'd great kindness, & receiv'd
him well; he show'd him his army compos'd of more than
1200 men, whom he paraded in order before Desbrosses,
& made them perform the Mitave. After which, having
Blacks per-
form the
assur'd la Hayfouchy of the friendship of the French, he
Mitave,
made reply that he did not fear any person as long as the
French were his friends, & that also, on his side, he would
serve them with all that was in his possession. Desbrosses
stay'd some time at la Hayfouchy's residence, from whom
he purchas'd two hundred horned beasts, Oxen & Cows,
of which he had more than six score thousand, without
This l'Hay- counting other animals, such as sheep, goats & pigs. This
fouchy
breeds Pigs number of cattle is large to belong to a single man. At
When the
they make
the same
gestures &
postures as
when they
fight.
& eats
custom of
people of this
country.
them, con- length Desbrosses, wishing to return home, inform'd la
trary to the
Hayfouchy of this, who pray'd Desbrosses to assure
Messrs. de Mondevergues & de Champmargou of the
friendship which he had for the French, & that he had
nothing which was not at their service. He gave to Sieur
Desbrosses many Oxen as a present, which he meant as
!

WOMAN OF ANTAISAKA TRIBE.
1671]
51
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
much for the Company & Monsieur Mondevergues as for
the Sieur Desbrosses. He sent also fifty fine chosen Oxen
to Monsieur de Champmargou, & gave some Blacks to
bring these animals to the French headquarters.
From Fort Dauphin to la Hayfouchy's home 'tis more
than one hundred & fifty leagues by land. He had for a
long time Frenchmen with him; & he often sent some of
his people as an embassy to the French at Fort Dauphin,
with presents.
All the Natives of the said Island are not very black in
body; numbers of them are tawny-colour'd & mulattoes;
they are very well made.
ments.
The men go naked, except that their privy parts are Habili-
hidden by a morsel of cloth or stuff, in breadth one
quarter, & of one ell & a half to two ells in length, which
they gird around the loins, passing between their legs to
cover their nakedness; they also cover themselves with
robes of silk, or of cotton, or of cloth, each according to
his condition or means. They adorn themselves with
coloured Beads & glass Trinkets, with which they make
fillets, which they put on their neck, arms & legs; those
who are rich, carry collars of Coral, Samesam, Cornelians
& gold beads; they put in their ears bits of wood, as
large as the thumb, & very short; at the end of these
pieces there are small plates of gold very neatly work'd;
they carry also on their arms Mannelers of gold & silver,
of brass or tin. They go with the head naked & have their
hair plaited in little knots in neat order. All these things
become them very well.
The women are cloth'd with a species of chemise of cloth
or other stuff, a little open behind, without sleeves. This
covers their throat to their waist, & scarfs of silk or cotton,
which they put round their waist, covering them from thence
to their feet in form of petticoats. The remainder of their
ornament & head dress is the same as that of the men.
52
[1671
Relation
Manners. All these people are sufficiently civil & courteous, not
having the brutality of other black nations. They are
clever & elegant. 'Tis dangerous to offend them too
much, & when they wish to betray any one 'tis when they
bestow their warmest caresses.
Formerly these Blacks were the best people of the
world; & when they saw a white man they held him in
admiration & in respect, kneeling to the ground when he
pass'd by them, & if he wish'd to enter their Huts, they
would lay down on the side of the door, & make a white
man pass over their body, saying that the earth was not
worthy to carry a white man, believing that he had some-
thing of the Divine nature: but at present they have
chang'd in humour, having no more respect for a white
man than for a Black. And this was caus'd by the too
great liberty which they gave them, and by the bad
examples which the Europeans have had, who glory in
the sin of Luxury in this country, & who often debauch
their wives, & when they preach to them of chastity they
mock, and say that the Whites are not better than them-
selves.
Although I speak in general of Europeans who have
been or are in this country, I nevertheless except those
who are well behav'd, & who by their virtue have caus'd
no scandal.
These Blacks are very Hospitable, & do not hide their
eatables & drinkables from the unexpected comers, who
arriving in some locality, wherever it may be, commence
to eat & drink what they find, without compliment, & are
well receiv'd by all, if they are not enemies. If they did
the same in Europe there would be no need of Hostelries
Buildings. for the passing travellers. Their buildings are not superb,
they make small Huts of wood & leaves, in which a dozen
persons would be troubl'd to find room; here they make
their cooking, & sleep there on small mats, which they
嘶
​1

YOUNG GIRLS OF ANTANOSY.
1671]
53
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
weave very neatly with grass & leaves of reeds & other
leaves. This serves them for bed & sheets for sleeping,
& tablecloths, napkins, & carpets.
The Chiefs house themselves a little better; some of
them have Houses of timber.
Their furniture does not incommode them in their Huts,
& their cooking utensils are of earth, stone, & wood.
As to their Religion, they believe in one God, whom Religion.
they call Zanharre, Master of all things. They hold some-
thing of Judaism & Mahometanism: but it is impossible.
to speak accurately of their beliefs & superstitions, which
are different in each Province of the Island. There are,
nevertheless, some general ones which I shall remark on
hereafter.
The men have as many wives as they wish, if they have wives.
the means of maintaining them, & buy them from their
parents. Those who have most means have the most
wives; 'tis a mark of greatness among them to have many
of them. Those who have many of them have always one
whom they name the Mistress wife, who is more honour'd
& respected than the others. They are very envious of
one another's wives, and often do what they can to
debauch them. 'Tis this which causes great wars & dis-
sensions between them.
'Tis permissible for men to quit their wives when they
wish, & for wives to quit their husbands, by giving back
to them that with which they have been purchas'd; they
live together as long as they find themselves happy, if
not, they quit themselves and take others.
When the wives bear children, they tell their husbands
if they have had an intrigue with any other men, then
they name them, & how it came to pass. At length
they tell all, believing that if they do not tell, they will die
in travail of the child: & when she dies of it, some one of
the other wives says that this one has lied to her husband,
54
[1671
Relation
Wicked su-
perstition.
Circum-
cision.
Chiefs of
the Island.
& has not voluntarily told the truth, that therefore she is
dead.
The husbands, knowing those who have had to do with
their wives, send immediately to them to summon them
to pay the fine which is generally paid in the Island for
that. This fine is the half of that which a wife has cost
her husband; and when they refuse to pay those whose
wives they have embrac'd, having enough force, they go
to war against those who are obliged to pay, and carry
off all which they can capture, either Slaves or cattle.
Those who have an affair with wives of others, & who
have not the means of paying the fines, are oblig'd to
serve their husbands as slaves.
When the wives lie in on certain days of the week
which they believe unfortunate, & particularly the Sunday,
they destroy their infants, throwing them into the water,
or exposing them in the woods. They believe that if they
let live these children born on these days, that they will
become very wicked, do much evil, & kill their father &
mother. This wicked superstition destroys many of the
children, without which this Island alone could not sus-
tain its Inhabitants.
They circumcise their infants, and to this effect make
great & royal ceremonies. This Circumcision is held when
the Chief of the Province has the means, & if there are
many of these children to circumcise, and ordinarily every
three years. They build a sort of Hall for this operation,
under which they make their ceremonies; when the Chief
has cut the foreskin of the infant, their nearest relation
swallows it in a cup of drink. This circumcision made,
they slaughter beasts, with which they make good cheer
in general & rejoicing, singing and dancing to the sound
of their tambours & instruments.
The Chiefs seldom live at peace together; & when they
can set one upon the other, do not lose the occasion, &

ANTAISAKA WARRIORS WITH SAGAYES.
1671]
55
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
are generally at war, of which the cause arises about the
wives. And besides this, they keep up the hatred of several
races, one against another, until they shall avenge them-
selves the Fathers impress their hatreds in the spirit of
their children, & excite them to avenge them, if they find
occasion.
They are very cruel in their Victory, & put all they Wars.
can take of their enemies to fire and sword, without spar-
ing anything, not even the infants at the cradle. If they
are ask'd wherefore they slaughter these infants, who are
not in a state to hurt them, they reply, that if they should
leave them to live, these children would recall to mind the
treatment done to their fathers, & being great, would be
able to make War on them or on their children, or treat
them in the same way in which their fathers had been
treated.
Nevertheless there are to be found some more humane
than others, who take the women & the children, of whom
they make Slaves.
They also fight much between themselves, so that a
good number of them spend their lives on the field of
battle.
Their arms are Sagayes¹; there are some who carry ten
or twelve. There's one of them which they call Mistress
sagaye, which is larger & stronger than the others, which
they keep for the last, with which they fight hand to hand,
when they have hurl'd their other sagayes, which they dart
one at another so vigorously, that they can slay and pierce
from point to point at more than sixty paces.
Those who do not carry so many sagayes have a buckler
& a big sagaye to fight hand to hand.
1 Sagayes are shafts of wood, well straightened and polish'd, of the thick-
ness of the finger, more or less, according to the strength desired; they are
three or four feet in length, & are shod at the end with a flat iron shoe as
long as a finger. It serves as a ferrule to keep the rod straight, & at the
other end is a blade made like that of a demi-pike.
56
[1671
Relation
Funerals.
They make a quantity of small wars of surprises which
they call Souvous, going by night on the domains of their
Enemies, to kill, pillage, & carry off what they can.
There are often some vagabonds who assemble them-
selves together & make these Souvous.
After having spoken of War, I proceed to speak of
death, which generally accompanies War.
When there dies one of the Chiefs or others who may
be rich, their wives, their relations, friends, & neighbours,
come to bewail the dead, & ask him wherefore he has left
them, what displeasure has obliged him to quit the world,
if he lack'd riches, cattle & food: and if he is a man they
ask him if he had not enough wives and what 'twas he
wanted. If it is a woman, if she was not content with her
husband, & if she had not what she desired from him, &
an infinity of other similar wails which they make over
the dead man or woman; and not being able to obtain a
reason, they leave some women with the dead person who
recommence their cries as above, & make a quantity of
postures and grimaces to the dead to oblige them to
speak they caress them & bewail, then sing their prowess,
and at length laugh immoderately; and their laughter
being finish'd they recommence weeping more than ever.
These things last some days, during which they kill many
horned cattle with which they make good cheer at the
expense of the dead. There are players of instruments &
beaters of tambours, with which they make a good noise.
There are often met also Jugglers, Comedians, Singing
men & Singing women, who, making many postures &
grimaces, sing the praises of the Defunct persons.
All these things being done, they deck the dead persons
with whatever they have most rich, and carry them into
their tombs, which they call Emounouques. These are
Cottages built of solid timber for the sepulture of the
dead. The Chiefs have their Emounouques apart where are

'EMOUNOUQUES' & 'TRANGUES DE BELICHE.'
1671]
57
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
their Ancestors: it is for them, their family, & their Suc-
cessors. Those of the least quality have them separately
& the Slaves apart.
The most part of these Blacks name these Emounouques,
Trangues de Beliche, that is to say, Houses of the Devil.
These Emounouques are well garnish'd with the riches
of these Blacks, either with mannelers of gold or silver,
coral, cornelians, lambas, & other things. There are not
any Blacks who dare to plunder anything there, because if
they are found out they would be punish'd with death;
besides in addition that they fear the dead & believe that
the devil is in these Emounouques, who would make them.
die if they enter'd to steal these. In war all things are
plunder'd, but never are these Emounouques pillag'd,
because of the apprehension which the Blacks have, & none
is sufficiently daring to enter therein, unless to aid in
putting some one in.
They serve up food for the dead during some period of
time, and serve everything raw, & that which is necessary
for cooking it, telling them that they can cook it accord-
ing to their fancy, and they hang around the Emounouques
the heads of the beasts which they kill in memory of the
Defunct persons.
When they have plac'd a dead body they bring a young
ox or cow before it, then dance & perform the Mitave
round it, after which the Chief of the troop murmurs cer-
tain words in the ear of the beast, then cuts its throat, &
immolates it to the Manes of the Defunct. They hang
its head at the Emounouque, & cut a morsel of this beast
which they present & leave to the dead, then eat the
remainder.
It must be a Chief, or one of the race of Chiefs, who is
empower'd to cut the throat of these animals. These
Chiefs are named Rohandryes, & they are appointed as
Sacrificators among these people; they always offer the
58
[1671
Relation
Religion.
first portion which they cut from the beasts which they
sacrifice to the Devil, as the Evil-one, in order to appease
him, & the second to God.
All these Blacks believe that they will rise again &
come back to the world, to lead the same life there; 'tis
this which causes them whilst living to bury & hide
whatever they have of greatest value, whether gold, silver,
ambergris, coral, cornelians, glass trinkets, beads & other
merchandises, believing they will find again these things
when they shall be again risen from the dead; they say
that if they have nothing they will be slaves.
Unless they did these things, the French would not find
any trade with them, because they have more than suffi-
cient of merchandise which they have purchas'd ever since
the time that the French settl'd in the Island & that the
Portuguese, English and Dutch have traded here.
A number of these Natives occupy themselves with
predicting things to come, and with knowing those things
which have pass'd. They form a number of characters on
the sand, & draw their conclusions from thence. They
call this Mesquiller.
'Tis a very true thing that there are many of these
Blacks who devote themselves to the ministry of the
demon, also they are oft beaten by him. These things
are known by the French who have stay'd several years in
the Island, not by hearsay only, for there are a few who
have seen it.
These Sorcerers, or Magicians, are fear'd & respected
by the other Blacks, to whom they give the characters
which they call Ollys, to guard them against many things,
but they are deceiv'd.
In fact all the Blacks are subject to be beaten &
maltreated by the devil. Those who are baptis'd are
beyond this danger: but there are many who, although
they may be domicil'd with the French, & who see that
1671]
59
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
those who are baptis'd are out of this danger, do not wish
at all to be instructed or to be baptis'd, or to pray to God:
if they are ask'd the reason of this, they reply that the
God, whom they call Zanharre, causes them to die, & that
the Devil, whom they call Beliche, only beats them. Such
is one of their reasons wherefore they do not desire to be
baptis'd; and another reason is because of their manner
of living in the pleasures of the flesh permitted among
them, from which they would be prevented were they
baptis'd.
They often pray to the Demon, and if they are ask'd
wherefore they do so, in place of praying to God, they
reply that God is good & only does them good in their
life, & therefore they need not pray to him; but that the
devil is wicked & does them much harm, & beats them;
which is wherefore they pray to him & offer him presents
in order to appease him. All this sufficiently justifies what
I've said that the devil greatly abuses these poor people.
When it thunders they all go outside & make great
cries, noise, & great hubbubs. They have small boxes
which they open when the thunder-clap roars, then they
shut them & fasten them well, believing they have caught
the thunder therein.
When they wish to undertake anything of consequence,
& when they desire to ally themselves together to make
an expedition, they swear fidelity, &, as an indispensable
mark of their union & of the good faith which they will
keep towards one another, they eat some liver of beef. If
these Blacks are accus'd of having committed any wicked
action, of which there is no disproof, they make oath thus.
They generally bring a fuzil or a sword, or a sagaye: Oath.
they put their feet upon it, & swear that they have not
done that of which they are accus'd; & in case 'twas so,
they wish to be kill'd with the arms which are under their
feet. They make them do the same thing when they wish.
60
[1671
Relation
Crocodiles.
•
to make them promise that they will be faithful & that
they will do nothing contrary to that which they desire of
them: they do not swear very false.
The French content themselves with this oath: but
between themselves, besides these sorts of swearing, the
natives also swear by the Crocodile, which they name Voa,
with which the Rivers and Lakes of this Island are full;
saying that they wish to be eaten by them, if they have
done that of which they are accus'd; this done, they are
oblig'd to pass through a river, which they do. It also
happens often that in passing through the water, they are
taken & eaten by these Crocodiles¹ or Voa. The spec-
tators of this fine proof of truth say that such an one has
done the thing of which he was accus'd, 'tis wherefore he
has been eaten. Besides these Blacks have difficulty in
swearing if they lie, and especially on the said Voa.
These Crocodiles do a great deal of mischief. I have
been assur'd that there are Provinces in the Island where
these animals are greatly apprehended, going even into the
Huts to take the children.
I have often seen them in the water, which remaining
immovable, resemble large logs of wood floating.
When these animals see oxen, cows, calves, sheep, or
other animals which come to drink, they sink themselves
below the surface, then take the beasts by the nose with
their teeth, & clinging with their tails to the bottom of the
water, which hold like anchors, draw the beasts to the
bottom, drown them, and eat them.
These Crocodiles have not any tongue, & it is said that
they have no taste; meantime they are more apt to
devour dogs than other animals. And whoever wishes to
have the diversion of seeing it, has only to bring a dog to
the brink of a river where there are crocodiles, & make the
1 These Crocodiles are call'd at Madagascar by the French Jacarets, in
the islands of America they call them Cayemans.

CROCODILE OF MADAGASCAR,
1671]
61
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
dog bark or howl, incontinently he sees these crocodiles
in search.
I have never seen or heard say of any Frenchman
having been attack'd by these Crocodiles, excepting one,
but he suffer'd no harm. The Blacks are often attack'd
& eaten by them, when they are oblig'd to pass through
the waters; they say that these animals do not love the
white men.
I have bath'd myself many times in the rivers without
any accident happening to me. Indeed, one day I was
bathing in company with other Frenchmen in the river of
Fansherre, a place belonging to M. de Champmargou; we
were a long time in the water. When we were getting
out, I perceiv'd some small Ducks which were in the river.
I immediately went to the Fort of Fansherre to fetch a
fuzil to fire at these Ducks, which having done, & the rain
catching me at the bank of the river, I put myself for
shelter under a tree, during which time a Black who serv'd
us, being on the other side of the river to that where I
was, call'd to some one to pass him a canoe, in order to
pass from the other side; & as no one came, he began to
swim to cross, & being at four paces from the bank where
I was, a crocodile threw himself on this Black, but having
by good fortune taken its spring too high, it pass'd over
the head of this Black, whom it struck nevertheless with
its feet or claws, & inflicted several wounds in him. This
black was not at all frighten'd, & quickly sprang on shore,
without which he was lost. We had just bath'd at the
same spot where this Black was attack'd.
These Blacks are very timorous, and fancy a number of
chimeras. They say that there is a phantom in the
Island which has only half the body of a man; that this
phantom always goes hopping, & makes large tracks, &
that he catches quantities of Blacks, whom he kills &
causes to die.
62
[1671
Relation
Cameleon.
Diversions.
They have, besides, fear of certain beasts which they
say are in the Island. One of these approaching in size
& fashion to a Donkey, & others of the size & make of a
Calf. They say these beasts devour men. Nevertheless
I have not had any cognisance of any person having been
devour'd by these beasts during the time that I was in the
Island.
It has been told me that in many provinces of the
Island, and particularly near that of Galamboulle, there
are some birds of the size of a large Turkey-cock, which
have the head made like a cat, & the rest of the body like
a griffon; these birds hide themselves in the thick woods,
& when any one passes under the tree where they are
they let themselves fall so heavily on the head of the
passengers that they stun them, & in the moment they
pierce their head with their talons, then they eat them.
There are Serpents in the Island which are not greatly
venomous; there are also Scorpions, Spiders, & Trembles
for all sorts of venomous beasts.
There are also Lizards & Cameleons which have no
venom.
The Cameleon is a very curious animal. Firstly, because
they assure one that it lives on air, not eating anything;
and, secondly, its changing its colours, following the
colour upon which it is plac'd. I have often made proof
of it; have plac'd them on different colours, which being
there they chang'd immediately in colour, and took that
on which they were plac'd. This animal is made like a
Lizard, excepting that it has the head larger & the back
point'd. I've seen them of many sizes, to wit, from the
size of a finger to the size of the arm.
I have omitted to speak of the ordinary recreations of
the Natives of this Island, which they perform at night,
particularly when there's Moonlight, during which time
they make good cheer if they have the wherewithal, which
1671]
63
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
they call the Gauffre-perform the Mitave, singing and
dancing, playing on their instruments, exercising them-
selves by Moonlight, & play at various games.
They
There's a sort of Comedians, Singers, & Jugglers, who
roam about the country; they are nam'd Secatses. I am
assur'd that these Secatses are all hermaphrodites, which
may be so; but I've not had the curiosity to visit them,
tho' I have seen them many times. They have masculine
visage, wear no beard, and are dress'd like women.
are adroit, & do many tricks of suppleness, play farces or
comedies in their fashion, and play also several instru-
ments of their country. They roam always by the coast
& elsewhere; they are welcome, and treated kindly by all
the Island, where they have no enemies.
The Natives of the Island cultivate the land & plant
rice, peas, & beans of several kinds, & quantity of good
roots; they reap from all that abundantly. I do not give
any particular description of these plantings, not more
than of other things, of which many persons who have
been in the Island have been able to write.
There are many sorts of good fruits in the Islands, as Fruits.
Bananas & Adam's Figs, Pineapples, Cocos, Citrons, sweet
& bitter, Lemons, Oranges, sweet & bitter, small Oranges,
which they name Vangasecs, which are better than the
Oranges of China & of Portugal; 'tis the best fruit to my
taste which there's in the Island. There are, besides, in
the woods other fruits good enough; there are some which
they call Vontaques. This fruit grows of the size of two
fists, round as a ball, having the skin green, which covers
a very hard shell, in which is the fruit, which is soft as
Medlars, & approaching their taste, not at all so good.
This fruit is very refreshing; they use it for playing at
ball; & when they are hot & thirsty at the end of the
game, they can eat their ball.
There's another sort, which are nam'd Lamottes, which
64
[1671
Relation
Honey.
Cattle.
are shap'd like plums, & like them in taste; and many
other kinds.
There's a quantity of Honey Bees in the said Island.
Honey also abounds there; it serves them for making
wine of Honey, which is like the Hydromel which is
made in France; 'tis the ordinary drink of the country.
There are several localities where Honey is not so common
as in others; in default of it they plant quantities of sugar
canes,from which they press the juice, which serves for drink.
There's a large number of cattle in the said Island, &
particularly of oxen and cows, which all have a hump
between the two shoulders. There are some of these
humps which weigh more than sixty pounds, 'tis only of
fat, which they melt, & the fat serves for butter to do what
one wishes with it. These beasts are well made, & have
the legs very slender. There are some which have not
horns, & others which have them only attach'd by the
skin they call them Bourys; these Bourys, not having
horns to defend themselves with, bite like dogs.
The flesh of these beasts is as well tasted as those of
Europe: in all the Oriental countries there's not as good
meat as in the Island of Madagascar.
The Cows are different to those in Europe; for they
have no milk but when they have Calves, thus they make
very little butter in the said Island.
I insert here something of an expedition made by
Monsieur de Champmargou in the year 1668 to the
residence of one nam'd Rahessaf, Chief of a Province
neighbouring to that of Hayfouchy of which I have
spoken, from what I have said of Hayfouchy one can
judge of the quantity of beasts which there's in the
Island.
In the year 1668, the French Residents in the Island
being short of provisions & cattle, they sought means to
remedy this; so 'twas resolv'd that war should be made

MALAGASY OXEN.
1671]
65
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
against Rahessaf, enemy of the French, & who was most
redoubtable in the country, he having previously defeat'd
a Party of French. 'Twas for this reason that Monsieur
de Champmargou left the province of Anosy, accompany'd
by 145 French & by five to six thousand Blacks; they
went on to the Territory of Rahessaf, who awaited the
French with an army of eleven to twelve thousand men ;
they met & were sometime encamp'd one near the other
without doing anything, until the Sieur de Champmargou
seeing that a large part of the Blacks in his Army were
demoraliz'd & sought to flee, he resolv'd to give fight.
He advis'd the Blacks of it & told them that they were to
prepare themselves to fight on that day. To which they
reply'd that they did not wish to fight that day, because
that their Olly had told them that if they fought that
same day they would all be kill'd. The Sieur de Champ-
margou reply'd to them that his Olly, which is God, was
stronger than the Devil their Olly, & that he had told him
that he would have the Victory, on which account he
would give Battle to Rahessaf with the French alone, not
caring about the Blacks who had cowardice & did not
wish to fight. Having said which, he drew up his French-
men in order & part of the Blacks who would follow them,
the others being a little retir'd for flight-if the French
suffer'd defeat. The said Sieur advanc'd against Rahessaf,
defeated him & his army. He lost there only one French-
man, who, being mounted on a horse, pursu'd the Fugi-
tives, & caught up one whom he wish'd to kill with a
musket shot but missed his aim; the Black did not miss,
but struck him hard with a sagaye, which he threw at
him, with which the Frenchman was pierc'd through &
through the body; with several other Blacks of the French
party who were kill'd. The Blacks who held back, ready
to flee, if the French had suffered defeat, were the first to
pursue the people of Rahessaf when they took to flight, &
E
1
66
[1671
Relation
Silk and
cotton.
Birds.
made great slaughter of them. There were taken in this
Foray forty thousand large horned cattle, Oxen & Cows,
which were not all those of Rahessaf. Many of these
beasts dy'd on the way, the rest were divid'd between the
Blacks and the French.
By this number of beasts one can judge of the quantity
there is in this island, since by one man alone there were
taken 40,000 in one single foray.
They also breed Sheep & Goats, the Sheep are finer &
larger than those of Europe, they have not wool, & have
the hair of their coat short like calves: they have a very
large tail. There are some of these tails which weigh
more than 12 to 15 pounds, these Sheep are not such good
eating as those of France.
The Goats are also better made than those of Europe,
& are very good, they are equal to the Sheep of France.
They bring up quantities of poultry.
'Tis only the Blacks who are near the French who
breed pigs: the others do not keep them, because they do
not eat them at all.
With all these things, the Natives of the Island could
live comfortably, if 'twere not for the wars and pillages,
which they generally make one against another. This
prevents the cultivation of the land.
There's a quantity of silkworms in this Island, the
Blacks collect the silk to make the scarfs & girdles with
which they cover their nakedness. There grow also
cotton trees, from which they take the cotton to make
their lambas.
There's much Game in the Island, & particularly river-
birds. There are some which they name Rassangles.
They are as large as Geese, they have their plumage
white, & of a golden bluish-black, & have a large crest on
the head.
Others named Flamands, whose body is large like the
1671] of the Island Dauphine,
67
&c.
Rassangles, they have the neck & legs very long, so that
when they walk they are higher than a man.
There are river-Ducks of three sorts. The first are like
those of Europe. The second smaller, named Serilles,
they have the beak black & the feathers of the body like
woodcocks. The third are shaped very nearly like the
teals which one sees in Europe. They name them Alives.
There are a good many other water-fowls, which I do not
name, contenting myself by naming the principal ones.
With regard to the land-birds, we will commence
with the Pintades, they are made like Partridges, &
are as large as hens. They have their plumage grey
brown, all marked with small greyer spots, the head,
part blue & red, with a crest.
These birds are very
beautiful & extremely good eating. There are also in the
Isle of Pheasants, Wood-hens, Partridges of two kinds, to
wit, Partridges all grey, a little smaller than the Partridges
of Europe, the other Partridges are not larger than Quails,
& have the same plumage as the grey Partridges of
Europe. Wood-pigeons of several sorts: to wit, grey
Pigeons & Turtles, shaped like those of Europe, Ramiers,
or Pigeons all green like the Parrots, they are very
beautiful, & Ramiers, or black Pigeons, & grey Parrots.
Such is the best Game which there is in the said Island,
at least which has come to my knowledge; the remainder
would take too long to describe.
They find in the woods Maroon or Wild Pigs, shaped
like wild Boars; but they are not very good.
There are also Hedgehogs & Porcupines, & many sorts,
sizes & species of Monkeys; they all have the muzzle
pointed.
There are many mines of iron in the Island. Many Mines.
persons have told me, & hold for certain that there are
gold mines in the Island; nevertheless, I have not seen
any for certain.
68
[1671
Relation
Crystal.
Precious
stones.
Sterility.
There are Provinces in the Island where there are
mountains, of which the largest part is of Stones, where
they find all sorts of crystal, which is very beautiful.
1
They find also a quantity of precious Stones, they are
not of great value, not having great lustre or hardness.
I have seen nevertheless the Aquamarines, Topazes &
Amethysts of considerable beauty.
They find as well some Ambergris, black Amber, &
some very beautiful shells, to wit, Bellelles, Helmet-Shells,
Pearl Oysters, & a quantity of other sorts.
There often occurs great sterility in the Island, not in
general, but in cantons & Provinces, caused by a pro-
digious multitude of Grasshoppers, which they name in
this Island Vallalles; they go through cantons, & occupy
sometimes eight or ten leagues of country, more or less
according to the quantity which there is of them. They
are often one or two feet thick on the ground, there being
besides so great a number in the air, that one cannot see
one's way. One cannot better represent the multitude of
these Grasshoppers than by comparison with the Winter
time, when it snows thickly in Europe, they are more
dense in the air than one sees the snow; they eat all the
herbage where they are deposited, & do not leave any
verdure on the land, which they leave as if the fire had
passed there, then they go from it to do the same else-
where.
When they pass in the season when the rice is yet
tender under foot, 'tis not possible to hope, wherever these
animals stop. Beyond the destruction of the rice & other
Plantations, the cattle suffer much, not finding pasturage,
until the grass grows again. Wherever these Grass-
hoppers alight, they lay their eggs, which the Sun hatches,
from which great numbers of little Grasshoppers are
formed; where they pass they infect the air & cause
great sickness. I have seen them three times at Fort
1671]
69
of the Island Dauphine, &c.
Dauphin in the fifteen months that I stay'd there. The
Natives of the Island collect these Grasshoppers, & make
provision of them for eating.
When I had left the Island for the second time that Inhabitants.
I had passed there, & when I embark'd to take passage
for France, there might have been still 250 Frenchmen,
as well Officers, Soldiers, Workmen, & Settlers, of which
there may have been 80, or thereabouts, who had their
Habitations in the Province of Anosy, belonging to the
French; these Settlers are for the most part marry'd to
the Native women of the Island. The over great heat of
these women often advances the death of their hus-
bands; & 'tis very dangerous to Europeans to give way
to voluptuousness with the women of this Island, because
of their great heat.
The girls & women of this country are very shameless.
The girls do not hold it a dishonour to have had connec-
tion with men before their marriage; on the contrary,
before they unite themselves together, they prove them to
see if they will suit one another.
I return to the French Settlers in Madagascar. They
are comfortable in their Residences; they have plenty of
cattle, such as Oxen, Cows, Goats, & Pigs; they bring up
quantities of Fowls, as well as Turkeys, Ducks, Hens, &
Pigeons, like those of Europe. The breed of these
Turkeys, Ducks, & Pigeons, has been brought to Mada-
gascar by Monsieur de Mondevergues. They have formed
many plantations, where they reap quantities of Rice, Peas,
Beans, & Roots.
They have gardens where there are all sorts of fruits of
this country, of which I have made mention before. The
herbs & vegetables grow there as well, & are as good as
in France, as are the white and drumhead cabbages, Milan
cabbage, green cabbage, cabbage & cos lettuce, white &
sweet chicory, wild chicory, purslain, parsley, onion, &
70
[1671
Relation
4
leek, white & red beetroots, carrots, chervil, salsify, turnips,
radishes, French peas, haricots, &c.
The Settlers have a quantity of Blacks on their settle-
ments, to each of which there's a village of these Blacks,
to whom the Settlers are as Seigneurs. These Blacks
cultivate the land for them, & rear the cattle. They are
oblig'd to make the plantations & works necessary for
the French, who are, as I have said, the Seigneurs on their
land. There's always in each Village & Settlement a
Black, who is master of the Village, named Hondsau. He
has charge of all things, to enforce the carrying out of the
works, & he commands the other Blacks.
The Rice is planted in the Province of Anosse in the
Lakes, or Bogs, where there's always water; they call
these bogs Horacs. Every year, when they wish to
plant the rice, they drive a good number of oxen into
these Horacs, which are forced to walk & trample, stirring
the earth or muck, then they sow the rice without any
other labour. They call it making Mahosse. All the
other Plantings are done in dry soil; 'tis only in this Pro-
vince where the Rice is planted in this fashion.
The French go to trade with the Blacks, who take
Samesam, Cornelian, Beads, & Mannelers of Copper or
Tin. They bring back Oxen, Cows, Sheep, Goats, Honey,
Fowls, Rice, Gold & Silver in Mannelers, Ambergris,
& other merchandise, on all of which things they make
good gain.
The Company of the East Indies has desir'd to make
establishments in this Island. Many Colonies have been
brought over there with this object, which have never suc-
ceeded. Meantime one can derive much profit & utility
from the Island, in what I've already said. There are many
iron mines. One could easily make here Iron-Works,
veniently from which one could derive a good quantity to carry to
forges for
the Great Indies, because the iron is very good merchan-
One can
build con-
iron at

1671] of the Island Dauphine, &c.
car. For
71
dise, which sells there very well. This iron would supple- Madagas-
ment a good part of the silver which one is oblig'd to there are
bring from Europe to get the merchandise from India, rivers &
but 'twill be necessary not to give knowledge to
Blacks how the iron is prepar'd.
enough
streams
the proper for
that &
wood in
Such is my advice of what can be done in this Island of quantity.
most utility to Commerce.
APPROACH TO FORT DAUPHIN.

VOYAGE OF MONSIEUR de la Haye, Admiral,
to the Island of Bourbon, or Mascarenne.
Monsieur de la Haye having resolv'd to proceed to
the Island of Bourbon, with the design of re-estab-
lishing his health & that of many persons who had fallen ill
at Madagascar, departed from Fort Dauphin on the ninth
day of April 1671, in the Ship Navarre, accompany'd by the
Ships Flamand, Saint Jean de Bayonne, Indienne, Europe,
& by a Hooker of the Company named the Saint Jacques,
having despatch'd several days previously the Ships Julles
& Diligente, to go to Cape St. Augustin to bring supplies,
& he left at Fort Dauphin the Ships Triomphe, Phenix,
& Sultanne.
The six ships above named, destined to go to the Island
of Bourbon, having left the Bay Dauphine on the 9th
April, sail'd out to sea with a wind favourable enough,
which lasted till the 11th, & coming all at once contrary,
prevented them from quickly reaching the Isle of Bourbon.
'Tis very difficult to go from Madagascar to the Island
of Bourbon, because the winds are always contrary, & one
is oblig'd to gain the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope;
but to return from the Island of Bourbon to Madagascar
is very easy, the winds are always favourable.
1
The first of May following, the Ships arriv'd at the Isle
of Bourbon, & dropped anchor opposite the settlement of
Saint Denis; immediately the Admiral went on shore,
accompany'd by several officers; they were receiv'd by
the Sieur Reginauld, Commandant or Governor of the
Island for the Gentlemen of the Company.

16
JACOBDELAHAYE
VICEROY
DES INDES
INSCRIBED STONE, COMMEMORATIVE OF ADMIRAL DE LA
HAYE'S VISIT TO THE ISLAND OF BOURBON, STILL
PRESERVED AT ST. DENIS.
From M. Maillard's' Notes sur l'île de la Réunion
1
1671] Relation of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
73
The next day they disembark'd the sick, of which I was
one of the number; many dy'd shortly after getting to
land, more for want of fresh provision than anything else.
The sixth of the month Monsieur the Admiral despatch'd
from the said Island the Ships Saint Jean de Bayonne,
Indienne, & the St. Jacques, to proceed to Antongil &
Gallamboulle, Provinces of the Island of Madagascar, to
fetch some rice for the Fleet, which was very short of
provisions, & of which the Soldiers & Sailors had already
been in want.
Monsieur the Admiral stay'd in this Island from the
first of May until the 22nd of June following. During this
time he held receptions, promulgated the Ordinances, & the
Amnesty publish'd in Madagascar, & took possession of
the Island, & of that which was in it, for the King. He
made very express prohibition of hunting, although it
was fill'd with a great quantity of Game.
The 22nd June 1671, Monsieur the Admiral depart'd
from the Island with the rest of his Fleet, & return'd to
Fort Dauphin, having previously establish'd as Governour
or Commandant of the Island one named La Hure.
I was oblig'd to stay in the Island of Bourbon, not
having yet gain'd sufficient strength to be able to under-
take a long voyage at sea, being still depriv'd of the use of
my arms & hands.
'Twas this which oblig'd me to beg Monsieur the
Admiral to give an order to the Captains of French Vessels
which might pass the Island, to give me a passage on
board when I should have recover'd my health, which he
granted me. I also requested permission to go in pursuit
of game in the Island for my subsistence. He did not
permit me this, but he said that I need not put myself to
any trouble on this account, & that he would give orders
about it, for which I thank'd him humbly.
*
*
*
*
*

Woods.
DESCRIPTION of the Island of Bourbon, or
This
Mascarenne.
'his Island is situated in 21 degrees of South latitude
from the Equinoctial line; it contains sixty & four
leagues in circumference, & 15 to 16 in length; it is very
mountainous, & the mountains are very high. There are
nevertheless some fine flat tracts near the sea coast, &
indeed in the mountains, which are fit to be inhabited.
The soil here is very good, & produces abundantly
everything which one plants in it.
All this island is fill'd with very agreeable woods,
through which it is easy to pass. One does not meet
there with many Thorns, Thickets & Bushes, & the perfume
there is sweet, there being trees in blossom all the year.
The greatest part of these woods are as follows :—The
Black-Wood, a sort of Ebony; True Ebony, Red-Wood,
& Wood with veined timber; these woods are very
beautiful to work. Besides, there are also all sorts of
good woods, both for carpentry & for sawing, to make
planks & other things. They find here again the Benjoin,
from which they distil some Benjoin gum of good odour.
These trees of Benjoin are large, stout & straight, & good
for use.
The Palmistes, from which they take the cabbage
or head, which is very good either for eating raw, in soup,
or fried.
Lataigniers. These are another sort of Palmiste. The
leaves of these trees are very large, such that two men can
put themselves under the shade of one of these leaves, &
by this means shelter themselves from rain & bad weather.
They make use of these leaves to cover the huts or houses,
by means of which these houses are soon cover'd.
There's, besides, a sort of wood which they name
1671] Relation of the Island of Bourbon, &c. 75
Affouche, or wild fig-tree. They make fires with this wood,
provided that it be dry, by rubbing one piece of it against
another; thus, by means of this wood, they can fire off a
matchlock.
There are many Springs, Rivers & Lakes, whose water
is very good, very wholesome, & yet purgative. One can
drink of it in quantity without apprehension that 'twill
cause harm, on the contrary, it does good. All these
Rivers & Lakes are fill'd with a quantity of good fish, of
which I do not give a description. I shou'd say, never-
theless, that there are monstrous Eels-I have caught
them with line-which weigh'd more than sixty pounds, &
also some Lubines.
The air of this island is of the best which there is under
Heaven in the knowledge of men. One does not see
there any Inhabitants sick of unhappy maladies; the
most common are slight fevers, but they are rare. Those
who arrive sick in this Island quickly recover their health,
if they have strength to resist for two or three days the
subtle air of this land.
The sick & those who are in health can drink & eat reason-
ably of all that this island produces without apprehension
that it will do harm. Nothing there is hurtful to man.
If it had a port safe for Vessels, & if they cultivated it,
people would derive from it good profit, & they could
make of it one of the best & most abundant Islands of the
world in proportion to its size.
All this island is fill'd with an infinity of Game, of
which I have describ'd part. The birds, of a quantity of
species, are in great number, & so familiar that one catches
them by the hand. Thus one has no need of fuzil,
powder or lead, to go hunting. One goes out sometimes
with a small switch with which one makes such a bag of
birds as one can carry.
There are in the woods some Bulls & Cows of the
76
[1671
Relation
**
breed which has been brought from the Island of Mada-
gascar by the French. They do not kill them yet,
although there may possibly be more than six or seven
thousand, according as one can judge of them, but they
are left to propagate.
There's also a great number of Pigs & Goats in the
woods, & in so great a quantity that it is necessary to
fence in the grounds & settlements because of the destruc-
tion which they make.
At places named Saint Paul & Saint Gilles, there is so
great a number of these Goats that every moment one
meets herds sometimes of three or 400 together.
The flesh of these Pigs & Goats is very delicate; one
eats them in place of beef-besides, it is much better, par-
ticularly the Pig.
The English have stock'd this island with Pigs, & they
brought the breed of them here a long time since. They
lived some time in this Island. The French & the Portu-
guese have, also a long time since, stocked it with Goats.
*
*
*
*
*
*
DESCRIPTION of some Birds of the Island of
Bourbon.
Firstly of the River-birds & their names.
Flamands. These are great birds of the height of a man,
because of their neck & legs which are very long. They
have a body as large as the Geese, & the plumage white
& black at the point of the wings. These birds have red
flesh, they are very good & delicate.
I
Wild Geese, a little smaller than the Geese of Europe,
they have the plumage the same, & the beak & feet red.
They are very good.
River Ducks smaller than those of Europe, having
plumage like Teals. They are good.
1671] of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
77
Bitterns or grands gauziers, large as big Capons, but
very fat & good. They have grey plumage, each feather
tipp'd with white, the neck & beak like a Heron, & the
feet green, made like the feet of Poullets d'Inde. This
bird lives on fish.
Water Hens, which are large as fowls. They are always
black, & have a large white crest on the head. There are
also some white & grey Egrets & Cormorants.
Land Birds & their names.
Solitaires. These birds are thus named because they
always go alone. They are as big as a big Goose, &
have white plumage, black at the extremity of the wings
& of the tail. At the tail there are some feathers resem-
bling those of the Ostrich. They have the neck long, &
the beak formed like that of Woodcocks, but larger;
the legs & feet like those of Turkey-chicks. This bird
betakes itself to running, only flying but very little. It is
one of the best Game of the Island.
Oyseaux bleus, as big as the Solitaires, have the
plumage all blue, the beak & the feet red, formed like the
feet of fowls. They do not fly at all, but they run
extremely fast, so much so that a dog can hardly catch
them running. They are very good.
Pigeons Sauvages, with which every place is filled, one
kind having the plumage slate-coloured, & the others of a
russet red. They are slightly larger than the pigeons of
Europe, & have the beak larger, red at the extremity
near the head, the eyes edged with flame-colour like
pheasants. There's a season when they are so fat that one
can see nothing of their rump. They are capital eating.
Pigeons & Turtle Doves, like those seen in Europe, & as
good.
Small Grey Partridges as big as quails. They catch
them running.
78
[1671
Relation
Snipes. The same as those in Europe.
Wood-Rails.
Hoopoes or Callendres, having a white tuft on the head,
the rest of the plumage white & grey, the beak long, &
the feet like a bird of prey. They are a little smaller than
the young pigeons. 'Tis also good Game when it is fat.
Blackbirds & Thrushes.
Grey Parrots, which are as good as the pigeons.
Such is the best game of the Island.
There are many other sorts of Parrots which are not
eaten, viz. Parrots a little larger than pigeons, having
plumage of a greyish colour, a black hood on the head,
the beak very large, & colour of fire.
Green Parrots, as large as pigeons, having a black collar.
Green Parrots, of the same size, having the head, the
upper part of the wings, & the tail the colour of fire.
Parrots, all green, of the same size.
Parrots of three kinds, as above, which are not larger
than blackbirds.
There are three sorts of birds of prey which are very
harmful to the game of the Island & to the poultry of the
inhabitants.
They are as large as
They find no difficulty
The first are nam'd Papangues.
capons, made, however, like Eagles.
in uncapping people; for in flying, they pass grazing the
head, & with their foot or claws carry off the hat or
cap; & if it is a woman who has any white coloured
head-dress, they fare badly. These birds destroy many
pigs & goats, carrying off the small ones which they can
catch & eating them. These Papangues are as good as a
fowl to cook, but they seldom eat them, having plenty of
other & better game.
The second are named Pieds Jaunes, of the figure &
form of falcons. They do much harm to the poultry of
the inhabitants & to the game of the Island.
1671]
79
of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
The third kind are Merlins, which, although small, still
do not fail to carry off chickens & eat them.
There are, besides, in the Isle a quantity of other birds,
which wou'd take too long to describe, contenting myself
with naming the principal, & particularly the Sparrows,
which here are so thick, & in such quantity, that they do
great damage in the Isle, eating a great part of the seeds
which are planted, without a possibility of destroying them,
because of the too great multitude.
They would make several crops of grain in one year in
the Island, if 'twere not for these sparrows, on account of
which they confine themselves to one crop, taking the
time when these birds go to build their nests in the
mountain.
These Sparrows have plumage like those of Europe,
except that the males, when in love, have the breast, the
head, & upper part of the wings, colour of fire.
All the birds of this Island have each their season at
different times, being six months in the flat country & six
months in the mountains, from whence returning they are
very fat & good to eat.
I except the Birds of the river & the Solitaires, the
Partridges, & the Blue-Birds, which do not change.
Tortoües. All the Island is filled with Land-tortoises,
which is one of the good gifts of the place. They have
the neck long, the head made like the tortoises of Europe,
a large tail, & four feet. They are from two to three feet
in length & one foot & a half broad, or thereabouts, &
more than a foot in thickness. One of these Tortoises
carries a man easily on its back, & 'tis as much as a man
can do to carry one of them. The flesh of this Tortoise is
like that of ox, & their tripe has the same taste. The liver
of these Tortoises is very large; 'tis one of the most delicate
morsels which one can eat; who had any of the same in
France would make good cheer on fast days. There's
80
[1671
Relation
At
enough to feed four persons in one of these livers.
the side of the flanks of these Tortoises there are pannes,
which they take for melting, from which they make oil
which never congeals. This oil is as good for all things
as good butter-'tis the butter of this island. These
pannes yield ordinarily two pots of oil, more or less, if the
season allows of finding these tortoises fat. They are not
always so. This oil is marvellous for rubbing afflicted
limbs. I made use of it in my paralysis & found myself
well in consequence.
Twenty persons of good appetite can satisfy themselves
in one meal from one of these tortoises.
The true Sea-Turtle lands on the Island in many locali-
ties, & particularly in the Bay of St. Paul, which extends
more than two leagues. It lands there all the year. These
Turtles are very large; they are longer than they are
broad; they have four flippers or fins, which serve them
to swim in the sea, & to use as feet when they come
to land. 'Tis as much as three men can do to turn
over one of these Turtles, which, being turned on the back,
can neither move nor go away. The flesh of this Turtle is
very good, & is like veal; the fat is green. This fat, being
cooked, has the same taste & nicety as the marrow of
beef. Their tripe is excellent.
These Turtles come to shore at night to lay their eggs.
'Tis wherefore only the females which land. They make
a great hole in the sand, & there lay their eggs, then
cover them with sand & return to the sea. The heat
of the sun, which beats on the sand, causes these eggs
to be hatch'd, from whence the little Turtles come forth,
which, being hatch'd, go immediately to the sea.
They find in the bodies of these Turtles ofttimes more
than two thousands of eggs, more or less, according as they
are advanced in their laying.
These eggs are as large as the eggs of a fowl. They
1671] of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
81
are quite round, & have the shell white; they are not very
good, because they are too dry. One of these Turtles may
suffice for the dinner of one hundred persons of good
appetite.
The plastron of these Turtles is a very delicate morsel.
They take it off, &, being taken off, there remain at least
thirty pounds of meat & fat. They cook this plastron
before a good fire, &, being nearly cooked, they throw on
it salt & fish, & overlay it with Turtles' eggs. Being
cooked, they take it off the fire, & they can put a dozen
persons around to have of it more than is need'd for a
repast, & to well finish it. This plastron serves for table,
cloth, dishes & plates. These only need some good knives
& a good appetite to eat it.
The land-Tortoises lay their eggs like those of the sea.
They hatch in the same way.
There are some Flitter-Mice in this island of an extra- Bats.
ordinary size, as there are in Madagascar. The blacks call
them Fany; they have a body little differing in size from
that of a cat; the head is made like that of a fox, except
that they have the nose cloven. They have no tail.
The males have their privy parts made, without compari-
son, like those of a man. The females have a teat under
each wing, with which they suckle their young, as, without
comparison, a reasonable creature might do. They carry
their little ones under their wings & fly with them. Their
feet & wings are made like other bats; they hang to the
trees by their feet, & have their heads downwards. They
enwrap themselves with their wings, which are at least
each half an ell long. The skin of these bats is black,
russet, & yellow. 'Tis the most ugly animal that I have
seen in my life. It smells extremely strong of boucassin.
Nevertheless there are plenty of persons who have eaten
of them, & have found them good.
The said Island burns incessantly, the same as Sicily.
F
1
82
[1671
Description
Burnt
country.
Mountain.
Inhabitants.
Settlements
of the Island.
There is a district nam'd the pays brusle which contains
four leagues or thereabouts where the fire has pass'd;
all there is melt'd, & the matter resembles that of a
smelting foundry or slag. They find there all sorts of
figures, compos'd of matter which has guttered down.
This fire always extends a little. This burnt country is
situated to the South-South-East of the Island.
From a mountain, named Red Mountain, situated at the
east point of the island, as far as the settlement nam'd
Saint Denis, all the country is flat, the whole containing
18 leagues or thereabouts in length, & in breadth from
the sea coast as far as the mountain, either one, two, or
three leagues, according to the localities.
All these lands hereabouts in general are good for
settling & for plantations. 'Tis where the settlements of
the French are, who are about one hundred persons, as
many French as blacks, including the women & children,
not that they inhabit all this country, not sufficing for a
hundredth part of it.
There's a settlement at a place named Saint Paul,
which is not included in the territory of which I've spoken
above, where there are only three French people who
there cultivate a settlement for the King. This place of
St. Paul is one of the best places for sport in the Island &
one of the most beautiful.
The Commandant & the inhabitants of the Island lived
there for a long time. There's plenty of room for people
in this place and its environs.
The principal settlements of the Islands are-
Sainte Susanne, where the greatest portion of the inha-
bitants of the Island is.
Saint Denis, distant five leagues from Sainte Susanne.
There are also inhabitants here; 'tis where the Governor
makes his principal residence.
Saint Paul, of which I have spoken; & Saint Gilles.
1671] of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
83
There's room in the Island to settle more than 10,000
persons, as well in these localities & in others most com-
modious.
The inhabitants of the Isle can live here comfortably in
farming their settlements. They plant here that which
follows. The soil, being good, produces bountifully.
Thus they reap abundantly.
Rice, which they plant in the fashion of the Blacks, Food crops.
making a quantity of holes in the earth where they throw
some rice & cover it up with earth. The rice comes as
thickly as the corn of Europe. The crop is made three
months after 'tis planted. 'Tis difficult, because the rice
does not ripen all together; 'tis necessary to pick the ripe
ears by hand.
Large Millet or Indian corn, of which they reap four
crops yearly, if they wish.
Brazil Beans, which bear for seven years without re-
planting. They are as good as the broad beans of Europe.
Antacques are small beans, white, yellow & russet, of
these three kinds, each separately. They last also seven
years without replanting & keep bearing. They are good.
Haricots. Same as in Europe.
Voësmes in quantity, having their pods a foot long in
which are found small beans of the same taste as Haricots.
The pod is also eaten green.
Ambericques, having a long pod in which are small
yellow and green peas, which are very good. There are
also some very good roots, the same as in Madagascar,
to wit-
Ouvy Foutchy or white roots' of several sorts. These
roots ordinarily grow as large as the thigh of a man, &
more or less according to the good soil where they are
planted. They are more than nine months in the ground.
Yams. These roots grow ordinarily as large as two fists
of a man join'd together. They are little different in taste
84 Description of the Island of Bourbon, &c. [1671
to bread, if they are cook'd in an oven or on a brazier.
There is not more than one crop made in the year.
Water Arums or Carayb Cabbage. These roots are as
large as those above. They are good when cook'd in an
oven.
Ouvys mennes or Patates. These roots grow of different
sizes, as long as Horse-Radishes. It grows from the size
of the arm to that of the fingers. They are very good
& have the taste of sweet chestnuts. Several crops are
obtained yearly without replanting.
All these roots are replanted by pieces which are cut
from them or from small roots, except the Patates, which
are planted from the wood & the leaves which they put
forth above the ground.
Some small roots also grow named Oumimes, which are
excellent in soup & to fricassee.
Sugar Canes grow here very good & abundantly; &
they could establish sugar-mills. They use these Canes
to make the drink which they call Cane Wine. This juice
of the Cane is fairly good & much resembles cider.
They make here a quantity of Tobacco which is toler-
ably good.
Indigo grows of itself, but they do not cultivate it at all.
They could as well establish Indigo dye-works, from which
they would derive great profit.
*
*
*
*
*
-*-


39
L'ISLE DE
BOURBON
Anciennement dicte
ISLE DE
MASCAREGNE
27 mm
80
30
trow
Bernard
ht: Amplion
Halton do
+Poffeffion du Roy
Gr. R du Galet
S. PAVL
Francois
Habitation Jes
RG
grands
99
2.2.&
Petit Fang
Sale
Etang de golfe
32
80
29
des
du Marsoin
起
​0.12
Montagne
Roug
PAIS
BRVSLE
30
Roches
Islet
Poinele des
Grands hois
Lieuer Francoises
2345
11

FRUITS OF THE ISLAND
of Mascarenne.
The tree is called Banana Tree The Banana
It dies every year & regener- is
Tree or Fig-
tree of Adam
well named
ness of its
for the great-
leaves, with
one of which
Adam could
This to hide his
cover himself,
bud
Bananas
& Adam's Figs.
or Fig-tree of Adam.
ates itself by its suckers. Thus each Tree only bears once.
It has leaves of an ell & a half to two ells in length,
rounded below, & a foot & a half to two feet broad.
Tree, wishing to put forth its fruit, throws out a large
or red flower at the end of a single branch, to which
belongs all the fruit which it produces. These Bananas
are half a foot long, a little less in girth than the wrist of
a man. About a hundred ordinarily come on one
The Figs are smaller although of the same nature &
This fruit is good & sweet.
nakedness
with, after
having eaten
of the forbid-
den fruit. And
that, besides,
these Bananas
& Figs of
Adam carry the
Redemption,
Symbol of our
having a cross
well mark'd
stalk. on each frag-
form. from it.
ment or slice
which one cuts
Pine Apples, of which I don't make a particular descrip-
tion. I will only say that it grows from the shoot, like
Artichokes, & that the shoot is somewhat similar, except-
ing that the leaves are not the same. Each stalk only
bears one fruit, which is round; its size one foot & a half
in circumference or thereabouts, & more than half a foot
in length. It has the husk or skin red & yellow. The
fruit is of the best which there's in the world, so they
claim at least. It is very soft & sweet. One finds in it
the taste of the Peach, of the Apricot, of the Melon &
other good fruits. I have often eaten it in this Island &
elsewhere. And although I have found this fruit pretty
86
[1671
Description
good, I am not, nevertheless, of the opinion of those who
say that it is the best fruit which there is in the world. A
good Peach can dispute in goodness with the Pine Apple &
carry off the prize to my taste. The fruit is unwholesome
& feverish in all the other places where it grows, but it is
not in the Isle of Bourbon, where it causes no more harm
than every other fruit which grows there.
Cashew. This fruit grows on a tree like an apple tree.
'Tis as large as the apples, & has its kernel beyond or out
of the apple at the tail of it. 'Tis good.
There are besides some sweet & bitter Citrons &
small Oranges nam'd Vangasecs, which are better than
the Oranges from China & from Portugal, as also some
Lemons.
Besides these fruits there are some wild ones which are
good.
The Vine grows there very well; there are from a few
planted to the number of about three to four thousand
feet. I have gather'd from them fine enough grapes.
At each crop which they gather, they plant cuttings to
make the Vines; but, as this is not a good plan, I don't
believe that they can gain much good from it. Cou'd
they import Plants or Seeds from Europe, some good
Vines wou'd grow.
The Wheat grows well in the said Island. It has been
try'd, & has borne very well.
They found, after the departure of Monsieur the Admiral
from the Island, about three bushels of Wheat Corn, come
from the Indies, left by the Sieur Regnaud, former Com-
mandant in the island. This wheat was spoilt and pierc'd
with Weevils, at least two-thirds. They put it in the
ground in the month of July 1671. It remain'd three
months in the ground. It grew very fine, & they reap'd
from it more than sixteen bushels.
Some time after it was sown, the Governor had it cut,
1671]
87
of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
& sown in another season; but his design did not suc-
ceed; for having sown more than fifteen roods with this
wheat, the greatest part dy'd at the foot close to the ear,
the remainder being ear'd & in seed. A blight having
pass'd over spoilt it entirely, without their being able to
save any of it to sow a second time.
I have also seen Rye & Oats grown in this island.
Garden Plants of the Isle of Mascaregne.
There are some Gourds found like the Pumpkins of
France, but they are better than any which grow in
France.
Also Water-Melons. They are as large as the head of a
man, having their skin green, & the pulp red as blood.
They are good & refreshing.
Melons of Europe. Not so good, because they de-
generate.
Cucumbers of Europe.
Indian Cucumber, which grows as high as the thigh of a
man.
Calabashes or Gourds.
Turnips.
Carrots.
Cabbages, Drumhead, Savoy Cabbage, & Sprouts, or
Borecole.
Green Cabbages & all sorts of Cabbages which there are
in France, excepting the Cauliflower, of which the seed
has never been brought to the Island.
The Cabbages do not seed. They are reproduc'd by
off-shoots.
Beet-Roots, red & white.
Radishes or Refforts of France & the Indies.
Spinach.
Lettuces, cabbage, & others.
88
[1671
Description
Honey.
Poultry.
Reptiles.
Coss, or Roman Lettuces.
White Chicory. Sweet & bitter.
Purslane, which grows abundantly without sowing.
Parsley.
Garlic.
Onions or Shalots. It does not seed; 'tis plant'd by
heads or Clove, each of which produces more than a
hundred of them. These Vegetables grow throughout all
the year.
I believe that all the Vegetables which there are in
France will grow well in the Island, if they bring there
good seed.
As also of all sorts of Stone-fruit, Peaches, Apricots,
Prunes, Cherries, & Nuts.
All the plants & fruits above have been brought into
the said Island by the French.
'Tis five years since they brought Honey-Bees into the
Isle, which have so multiply'd, that they now find honey in
the woods when they wish for it.
The Inhabitants of the island breed some Oxen, a
quantity of Pigs & Poultry, both Fowls & Ducks. They
also begin to have Turkeys, of which they have imported
the breed, & all thrive well.
There's not any Reptile or any venomous beast in the
island, only some small Scorpions; but the sting of them
is not venomous. There are also Lizards.
Cats have nothing to do, there are neither Rats nor
Mice for them.
He can
In fact there is nothing unfavourable to man.
eat & drink whatever he wishes; go to bed out of doors,
go out in the rain & bad weather, without any apprehen-
sion of being ill.
Ever since the French have settl'd here, no person has
dy'd of sickness taken in the Island, & Doctors have
nothing to do. Surgeons are necessary because of the
1671] of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
89
wounds to which one is subjected, either by the difficulty
of the roads of the mountains & woods, where one is liable
to fall, or in clearing the Ground & cutting down the
woods, which might fall on the body if one does not take
great care of himself. I have seen one man kill'd & many
wounded by this accident.
They find in the woods Sarsaparilla, Aloes, in quantity.
As also many good Capillaires.
They find also on the banks of the rivers a quantity of
Emery.
*
*
*
*
*
*

COCHON MARRON.
90
[1671
Description
Ordinary Sport of the Island.
I've already said that to obtain Birds, it needs only a
stick to make such a bag as one wishes, excepting the
Geese & Flamands, which require killing by gunshot.
ease.
The Hunting of Pigs & Goats is done with dogs, who
running these animals down, the Hunter takes them from
between the teeth of the dogs, & cuts their throat at his
There are, nevertheless, some of these Pigs, which
have tusks like the wild Boars, & which often kill the
dogs. Even the hunter is in danger, unless he takes great
care of himself. They do not go at all to stalk deer.
Indeed one is as sure of getting what one wishes, as one
wou'd be in taking it in a good Menagerie & Basse-Court
furnish'd with everything.
The Disagreeable Inconveniences of the Island.
Hurricane. A Hurricane passes by generally every year, sometimes
twice; it occurs from the end of December until the end
of March, without one's being sure in which of these
months the Hurricane comes. Thus during this season
there's no security for any vessel moor'd off the Island.
This Hurricane lasts generally twenty-four hours, & is
compos'd of a furious wind, which roots up the trees &
levels to the ground the Houses or Huts, & of a great
deluge of water; this spoils the settlements, & causes a
quantity of cattle to perish, both domestic & wild. These
Hurricanes are not always of the same force; there are
some more violent than others.
Flies.
There are some Flies which are six months in the Island;
they are twice the size of the largest Flies which are seen
in Summer in France; they deposit their grubs all
1671] of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
91
alive & form'd; they settle on meat as soon as it is kill'd,
& corrupt it; that is very disgusting; thus people have to
cook the meat as soon as it is kill'd.
There are Caterpillars in certain seasons which are very
troublesome. The Sparrows, Grey Parrots, Pigeons, &
other Birds & Bats, do much harm both to seeds & fruits.

PARROT OF ISLE MASCAREGNE, NOW EXTINCT.
Mascarinus duboisi (Life size).
1

Sugar
planta-
tions.
Vessels.
Of things which can be done for the use & advantage
If
of the King, of the Company, & Private Indi-
viduals, in the Island of Bourbon or of Mas-
caregne.
f 'tis desirable to establish this Island, 'tis necessary to
bring people from France to farm the ground, for
which people Blacks will be needed to cultivate these
lands & make the necessary works. These Blacks can be
drawn from the Island of Madagascar, & particularly in
the Province of Antongil & Galemboulle & their neighbour-
hood, where one finds black Slaves, for whom they nego- ·
tiate with their masters, who sell them cheaply, for some
merchandise which is furnish'd to them, either in Corne-
lian, Samesam, Glass Trinkets, or Beads; a Black does not
cost more than twenty sols in this merchandise of Beads;
indeed, for one fathom, provided that it be heavy, one gets
one Black Slave. It will be needful to take care of these
Blacks, & to keep them in fear, because of there being
many, they might make themselves Masters of the Island,
& kill the French, of whom they must stand in awe.
Good Sugar plantations cou'd be made in the said
Island & Indigo works, because Indigo here grows of
itself. One cou'd also make a quantity of timber good for
carpentry & planks, which wou'd serve for the refitting of
Vessels.
If they had some small Vessels they wou'd lade them
1671] Description of the Island of Bourbon, &c. 93
with sugar, tobacco, carpentry wood, with which they
cou'd export to the Indies, & these Vessels wou'd load at
the Indies with merchandise both for France & for the
Island.
The Indigo which they made wou'd be carry'd to Indigo.
France. 'Tis a good merchandise.
There's room whereon to settle more than 10,000
persons in the said Island.
I've made remarks that I've written exactly & faith-
fully of the most remarkable things that happen'd in this
Isle of Bourbon during the stay that I made from the
month of May 1671 when I arriv'd, until the fourth day of
September 1672, when I left it, & embark'd in the ship the
Barbault to return back to France. I've not written any-
thing here because 'tis long; but as this Relation may fall
into the hands of persons who have an interest in the
conservation & establishment of the Isle of Bourbon, I
am ready to instruct them, & to let them see those
remarks on their least request that they make to me.
The 22nd September 1671, the Ship Le Breton arriv'd in
the Isle of Bourbon, & moor'd in the Bay of St. Paul.
This Ship is the King's, of from 1000 to 1100 tons burden,
arm'd for war, having about 400 men on board, including
Officers, Soldiers, & Sailors, & 50 or 55 pieces of ordnance,
commanded by the Sieur Duclos, Captain.
The 24th of the said month there arriv'd in the Bay of
St. Paul a Hooker, or small vessel, belonging to the
Messieurs of the Oriental Company. 'Twas commanded
by the Sieur Chanlatte, call'd Bonne Lame.
The 21st October following, these two Vessels weigh'd
anchor from off the Isle of Bourbon, & departed for the
Indies.
The 17th August, 1672, the Ship Barbault arriv'd at the
Isle of Bourbon; it anchor'd at Saint Denis, at ten hours.
of morning; this Ship had been sent from the Indies by
94
[1671
Description
Monsieur the Admiral, to carry the packets & news to the
King of the State of affairs in the Indies.
This Ship stay'd eight days at St. Denis, during which
time those who were within made provision of Fowls &
Pigs, & not being able to get wood & water at the said
place, because the sea was too rough at the landing, they
resolv'd to go to anchor at Saint Paul, to get wood &
water, as well as some Sea-Turtle.
The Sieur la Hure receiv'd the orders & packets of
Monsieur the Admiral, by which he advis'd him that he
would arrive in three or four months in the Isle, & that he
should get ready as much provision of victuals as was
possible, sending him money for the purpose. This money
& the orders were put into the hands of Sieur La Hure by
the Sieur Beauregard, sent by Monsieur the Admiral to
carry the packets of the King.
These orders vex'd much La Hure, who was not able
to obtain provisions in the Island, not having sufficient of
them, at least very little, for the Inhabitants, he fear'd to
be an expensive merchant of that towards the Admiral,
who could attribute the fault to him with justice, since he
had caus'd to desert those people capable of cultivating
the land & had caused less useful works to be done.
On the 25th August I departed from St. Denis; &
having taken leave of the Sieur La Hure, I proceeded to
Saint Paul to embark myself. The Ship the Barbault
stay'd at Saint Paul until the fourth of September. During
this time they made provision of Sea-Turtle, both fresh
& salted, of wood, water & other supplies.
I embark'd for my provision two dozen Fowls, six
Goats, six Pigs, a quantity of roots, Pumpkins, Onions, &
other vegetables.
There happen'd an accident at the same time; for as
the sea was very rough at the landing-place, the Shallop
of the Ship coming to bring from shore what was needful,
1671] of the Island of Bourbon, &c.
95
& being anchor'd at the landing-place, the Waves of the
sea caused the Grapplin of the Boat to drag & drove it on
to the Beach, where they work'd hard to put to sea again.
All that could of the persons of the place, of whom I was
one of the number, lent a hand, & in pushing off the Boat,
it came to large & violent breakers or waves which capsiz'd
the Boat & those who push'd off, so that several persons
found themselves underneath it, one of whom was crush'd.
This man was a very good sailor.
*
*
*
*
*


RELATION of Fort Dauphin, &c.
The 4th September 1672, being embark'd in this Ship,
we depart'd from the Isle of Bourbon, & took our
route towards Fort Dauphin, where they had orders to
go; & we arriv'd on the 8th of the month.
We put foot to shore in the Isle, where we found the
Sieur Champmargou, Lieutenant-General, of whom I have
spoken, in pretty good health. The Sieur de la Casse
dead, in the place of whom they had plac'd the Sieur de
la Bretesche, as Captain & Major of the Island, he who
had marry'd one of the daughters of the late La Casse.
Treason We learn'd that three Ships of the Company had pass'd,
of Dian
Manangue. which had come from India laden with merchandises, &
had return'd to France; that the Chief, nam'd Dian Man-
angue in the Island, & an enemy of the French, had come
to Fort Dauphin with the design, as it was said, of making
peace with the French, having been advis'd by Monsieur
the Admiral on this subject whilst he was in the island, &
wishing to take advantage of the amnesty which had been
promulgated in honour of the arrival of Monsieur the
Admiral. This Dian Manangue brought 1500 good men
with him & their women. He was well receiv'd by the
French, & made his peace, which he broke very soon,
availing himself of this pretext with the design of entrap-
ping the French, which he did as follows.
It was propos'd to make a raid on their enemies, when

RICE GRANARY, NEIGHBOURHOOD OF FORT DAUPHIN.
1672]
97
Relation of Fort Dauphin, &c.
Dian Manangue & his folk would assist. This was exe-.
cuted. They took some beasts in this expedition which
were divided between the French & the Blacks. Dian
Manangue having requested some French to escort him
home, they gave him five, whose throats he cut after
they were separated from the other French, & falling on
their rear-guard carry'd off the beasts which they brought.
This party was commanded by the Sieur de La Bretesche.
This was not the first treachery which Dian Manangue
had done to the French, having, a long time since, incited
& aided at a massacre of many, he caused the massacre of
Monsieur Estienne, the Missionary Priest, & several other
French who had gone to his home to catechise & convert
him. I will not speak more of the Wars which they have
made with him, because many persons have already written
of them.
the Mata-
We learnt again that Ramousset, of whom I have before War with
spoken, with whom they had been at war, was retir'd to tanois.
the country of Ramilange, his son-in-law, of whom I have
also spoken, both of whom had gather'd a good number
of men & were gone to make War in the Province of the
Matatannes, with the design of making themselves masters
of this Province, & that the Matatannes, who believ'd that
they cou'd not resist, had given way to despair, & were
retir'd into a country where Ramousset and Ramilange
ought to pass in canoes. This they had succeeded in
doing; and seeing Ramousset and Ramilange pass in their
canoes, many had thrown themselves into the water, and
boarding the canoes in which they were, had kill'd them;
then these two Chiefs being dead, the defeat of their
Troops had been easy to the Matatannes.
The Matatannes are not Aborigines of the Island; they've
come there a long time ago, or rather their ancestors, being
on the sea, had been driven thither by tempest. They are
from Mecca, where is the Tomb of Mahomet; and not
G
}
98
Relation of Fort Dauphin, &c.
[1672
having any Vessel for their return, they live in this Pro-
vince, & have made themselves Sovereigns; they inter-
marry'd with the women of the country, & 'tis wherefore
those who have descend'd are Mulattoes, their Fathers
being white, & their Mothers black.
These Matatannes are the most polish'd & wise people
which there are in the Island, & the most adroit in works;
& they write in Arabic, & have very ancient Books: they
dabble in Astrology.
I was ask'd by Monsieur de Champmargou & by the
Sieur de la Bretesche to stay at Fort Dauphin.
They
offered me the charge of the Store-Houses of the King,
but I was not in a state to accept this offer, feeling, since
the short time that I return'd into this island, a recom-
mencement of the malady which I had had, which had
render'd me entirely impotent, & in this state I was incap-
able of anything.
*
*
*
*
*

ར

AN ANTANDROY: PROFILE.

Mo
RELATION of the Rest of the Voyage,
ronday, 19th September 1672, I embark'd in the Ship
Barbault, to take passage for France, with some pro-
visions & Victuals for my own food, & for that of a Black
who serv'd me.
The next day, 20th of the month, we weigh'd anchor
from the Anse Dauphine, & departed thence, taking our
course to double the Cape of Good Hope. The wind was
favourable for us from the 21st until the 29th. We found Tempest.
ourselves to be in 23 degrees of latitude, & changing it,
the wind became all of a sudden contrary for our course,
& increasing in force, we were oblig'd to bring-to our
Vessel, & let it drive, at the mercy of the Winds & the
Waves, before the wind. The tempest lasted until the 4th
October following, when a calm took us.
The 6th October, having taken latitude, we found we had
lost one degree & a half of elevation; we were consol'd
for this by a favourable wind which arose, to double the
Cape.
The 9th we found ourselves in latitude 35 degrees, & the
wind being contrary we again lost our elevation.
The 12th & 13th, continuation of the same wind, we
had one of the most violent tempests which one could
meet with at sea. Happily we had a good Ship, although
small, & had it not been extraordinarily strong, it wou'd
have been made leaky by the violence of the winds & sea,
& we shou'd have founder'd. We were lying-to.
100
[1672
Relation
In this storm our Vessel was struck by a very heavy
sea, by which we thought we should be swamp'd. It
pass'd ten feet higher than the top (cross-trees) of the
main-mast, & we were some time under the waves.
The night of 15th to 16th we doubl'd the Cape of Good
Hope. We chanted the Te Deum, to thank God for his
mercy that he had vouchsaf'd in preserving us from
sinking in these storms, & for having doubl'd the Cape
of Storms; after passing that we had good hope of our
voyage.
This Cape is situated by 35 degrees of latitude, South of
the Equinoctial Line. 'Tis the most commodious station
that there's in the passage from Europe to the East
Indies. The Dutch are there well-establish'd; they have
there strong fortresses, a Governor, & a good garrison;
they also have there fine settlements, where they collect
a quantity of things, & particularly good wheat, & breed
cattle.
The air of the land is very healthy. There's a quantity
of wild & dangerous beasts; such as Elephants, Rhino-
ceroses, Lyons, Tigers, Leopards, Panthers, & other
animals, much to be fear'd.
The Inhabitants or natives of this land are ruddy, of
small stature, & the most ignorant, filthy, & degraded that
there are under heaven.
This land is of the Kingdom of Monomotapa, or of
Prester Jan; but the Inhabitants or Natives of this place
are so far from their King, that they've no knowledge of
him, not more than they have of Religion.
After having doubl'd this Cape, there arose a wind from
the South-East, very convenient for our route.
The 25th of the month we passed the Tropic of Capri-
corn, & re-entered under the Torrid Zone.
Wednesday 2nd November, All Souls' Day, at five
o'clock in the evening, we discover'd the Island of Saint
1672]
ΙΟΙ
of the Rest of the Voyage
Helena; we shorten'd our sails so as not to near the land
at night.
The next day, 3rd, we cast anchor before the Fort of
the English, who hold this Island. They sent the Boat on
shore with some people, to know if we should be well
receiv'd, & whether we cou'd obtain Water & Wood, &
buy some supplies. We had a favourable answer from
the Gentlemen; several among them, & even the Lieu-
tenant of the King on the Island, came on board, &
assur'd us of a friendly reception.
They ask'd us if we were at War with the Dutch, because
eight days before, one of their Ships which had pass'd the
Island, had brought them news of the uncertainty of the
peace between us & the Dutch. We reply'd that we were
not at war with anybody, at least to our knowledge.
They told us that they had sent their Governor in a
Ship to England with his proceedings.
The next day, the fourth, I went on shore in company
with two persons of quality who were on board our ship.
We went into the Fort, where are lodg'd the Officers &
the most considerable people of the Island. We were
well receiv'd, & din'd with the Minister who commanded.
there. We stay'd in the Island from morning till evening :
I walk'd about & laid in some timely provisions.
The Island of Saint Helena is situated by 16 degrees of
latitude South of the Line, it contains not more than 7
to 8 leagues in all, & is very mountainous & unpleasant to
the view; it has not much wood, & I believe that the soil
is not at all fertile; there are some wild Horses which
they cannot domesticate.
There are also wild Goats, Partridges, Guinea-Fowls &
other Game. The waters of this island are not of the best,
for they smell of the mine. There is a fort, passable
enough for the country, with an English Garrison & good
cannon.
102
[1672
Relation
They have farms where they make plantations, & breed
Oxen, Sheep, Goats, Pigs & Fowls.
We purchas'd here some butter which they make from
their cattle, & we found it as good as the best of Europe.
During the time we were there, we had the Sun in the
Zenith, going from the Line towards the Tropic of Capri-
corn; & although we were under the Torrid Zone, at
16 degrees from the Line & the Sun, as well, as I have
said, in the Zenith; nevertheless we requir'd good cloth-
ing to protect ourselves from the cold. Those who have
written & said that the Torrid Zone is uninhabitable,
because of the excessive heat from the Sun which never
ceases, have not had experience.
The fourth November, about six o'clock in the evening,
we weigh'd anchor & departed from the Island with the
favourable continuation of the same wind from the South-
East.
The 11th day, Saint Martin's, we dropp'd anchor before
the Island of Ascension; at four o'clock in the afternoon
we sent our Boat & some people in it, to shore to see if
they could get some Sea-Turtle of which a quantity breed
in this Island; the Boat having return'd, those who had
gone there report'd that there was no fresh trace of these
Turtle, & that consequently they did not come to shore at
that season; so, not being able to get any, we weigh'd
anchor the same day & depart'd from the Island with a
continuation of the same wind.
The Isle of Ascension is situate in eight degrees south
of the Equinoctial Line; it contains three to four leagues
in length, & one league in breadth, it is uninhabited; not
having any fresh water, nor wood, nor any land to culti-
vate, it is very ugly to the view. There's nothing but
mountains, which are of Pumice-Stone or of a kind like it ;
there's a large number of birds which make their Nests
there. The Turtles which lay their eggs in this Island
1672] of the Rest of the Voyage
103
cause ships to pass by here to take them. It is good
fresh provision.
The night of the 17th to the 18th of the month, we
repass'd the Equinoctial Line or the Equator.
The 21st, the calm took us, by which we were greatly
inconvenienc'd because of the great heat which there is
under the Line, & it lasted more than eight days.
The 12th December following, we repass'd the Tropic of
Cancer, & leaving the Torrid Zone without regret, we pass'd
into our Temperate Zone.
We continu'd our route, until 25 degrees of latitude
North of the Line, from which latitude up to 36 degrees
north we pass'd thro' the Sea nam'd Saragasso. This
Sea is full of Grass, & in places so thick that one has
difficulty in seeing the water. These Weeds hinder a
Vessel from making much way. 'Tis as well to avoid
passing through it. We were constrain'd to do so because
of the winds from the East & South-East which drove
us there, & which we met with a little after having passed
the Line.
One doubts if these Weeds take root at the bottom of
the sea, or if they are driven into this place by the Winds
& Tides. These Weeds are yellow, to whose branches
there are leaves formed like Stag's Horns, & with seeds
approaching the shape of small grapes.
After having pass'd these Weeds, we continued our Tempest.
route happily enough until the 26th December, the morrow
of Christmas day, when being in the latitude &, by our
reckoning, abreast of the Islands of the Assores,¹ at eight
o'clock in the evening there arose a storm of wind so
vehement that our sails were carry'd away & a part of
our tackle broken, becoming thus unmanageable, without
power to remedy it. For our safety, because of the con-
1 The Isles of the Assores are inhabited by the Portuguese. La Terceira is
the principal, 'tis the Island where at present is relegated the King of Portugal.
104
[1672
Relation
Fire of St.
Elmo.
Another
tempest.
The
Scuppers &
tinuation of one of the most furious Gales which Ships
have ever encountered at sea, we let our Vessel drift at
the mercy of God, of the Sea, of the Winds, & of the
Storms; our most hardy Navigators were the first who
show'd the apprehension which they had of death which
seemed inevitable. 'Twas therefore resolv'd to implore.
the Divine assistance & to ask of God that which was
necessary in the pressing need in which we were, by the in-
tercession of Saint Anne, Mother of the Virgin, & we made
a general vow to that glorious Holy Protectress of poor
Navigators, whose frequent miracles are sufficiently known.
Our prayers made, we recognis'd a favourable assistance
from Heaven, & the tempest diminish'd a little. We were
four days & four nights thus expos'd to the mercy of the
Elements, without power to manage our Vessel, during
which time the tumultuous Sea toss'd it about incessantly,
& with such violence that if our Vessel had not been one
of the best & strongest it would have been torn asunder
& broken more than a thousand times by the heavy seas
which struck against her.
The last day of December & of the year, the tempest
having ceas'd, we repair'd our Rigging & bent on other
sails in order to continue our voyage, & to put it in
order to arrive quickly in France, but our misfortunes
were not yet finish'd; for the next day, in the evening of
the first of January 1673, whilst walking on the Deck, I
saw some fire in the Scuppers & Hawse-Holes of our
Vessel, & having perceiv'd it I remark'd on it to the
Sailors who watch'd at their Chart, from which we pre-
enters into saged a sure indication of a great & imminent tempest,
which did not fail to occur twenty-four hours afterwards.
Hawse-
holes of a
Vessel are
the holes &
channels by
which is
empty'd the
water
which
a Ship.
Castor &
Pollux.
Such Fire is oft seen in Vessels when great storms
approach. They call this fire the Fire of Saint Elme, &
the Navigators & Sailors hold for certain that when they
see this Fire in the lower part of a ship, 'tis an infallible
16721
105
of the Rest of the Voyage
mark of a great & approaching tempest; & when they
see this Fire on the Masts & upper Rigging of a Vessel,
'tis a sign that the storm is about to cease.
The storm having overtaken us, it lasted again three
days & three nights with thunders & lightnings, surpris-
ing in the Winter season in which we were. The lightning
burnt our sails & our cordage, & the wind having torn our
fore try-sail, the only one which we were able to carry, we
were reduc'd to having none. This storm having ceas'd,
we got out a little of the canvas which remain'd to us, &
from which we made a new fore-sail, on which all our
hopes were founded, all our other sails having been carry'd
away by the winds & lightnings, or render'd unfit for
service, so much so that without this only sail, we should
be in great danger of perishing at sea, either by storms or
hunger, not having anything else wherewith to navigate
& reach the land.
We had still more bad weather, until the eighth of
January, & during this time we doubl'd Cape Finisterre,
& made good way, the wind, although boisterous, being
favourable to our course.
The next day the ninth, being in latitude 45 degrees &
a half, fair for reaching la Rochelle, we hove-to our Vessel,
& cast our lead in order to ascertain where we might
be; we did not find bottom, because our Pilots were
deceiv'd in their estimate of longitude, & we were more
than 150 leagues to the west than what they had
estimated.
The 10th & 11th, we again sounded without finding
bottom.
The 12th, in the evening we remarked a change in the
sea, the water being more white than generally, we saw
sea-weed & a quantity of birds. 'Twas an assurance to us
that we were not far from land. We sounded & found
bottom in 80 fathoms: we shorten'd sail until next day at
106
Relation of the Rest of the Voyage
[1672
two o'clock in the morning for fear of running on shore
during the night.
The next day, 13th January 1673, at ten o'clock in the
morning, we discover'd France, & recognis'd the Sands of
Ollonne, opposite to which we tarry'd. We continu'd our
route as far as the Palisse near la Rochelle, where we cast
anchor the same day at nine o'clock in the evening; &
'twas well we arriv'd that day, for the following day, 14th,
the bad weather recommencing by strong winds, we should
have miss'd finding the Port. All the Vessels which were
anchored in this roadstead drift'd as well as ours, & we
barely miss'd colliding two Ships, of which one was the
Tigre, commanded by Monsieur de la Barre. This gale of
wind lasted five whole days, meantime those who remain'd
in the Ship, of whom I was of the number, labour'd day
& night to save ourselves & the Vessel also.
The 19th, the Boat of the Tigre & its crew having come
on board of us to clear their Main Cable, which was foul'd
in ours, having done what they had to do, I embark'd in
this Boat and went on board the Tigre, where I found
some Officers who regal'd me well, of which I stood in
need. I slept in this ship, & the next day, 20th, I
embark'd in the Boat of this Vessel, which carry'd me on
shore to the place nam'd l'Arpenti, near la Rochelle:
I went immediately to la Rochelle, where having arriv'd I
enter'd into a Church, & return'd thanks to God for having
preserv'd me from so many perils, sicknesses, & other
dangers through which I had pass'd.
END
Permitted to be printed, this 20th July 1673.
DE LA REYNIE.
:
NOTES
NOTES
Title-Page.—The lines on Title-Page occur at the foot of a rude
Dutch engraving representing the destruction of the Dodos, and are
thus Englished by Strickland:
'For food the seamen hunt the flesh of feathered fowl,
They tap the Palms, the round-sterned Dodos they destroy,
The Parrot's life they spare that he may scream and howl,
And thus his fellows to imprisonment decoy.'
The plate is to be found in a rare old tract containing the Journal
of Captain Willem van West-Zanen, who sailed in the fleet of
Hemskerk and Harmansz, published by H. Soeteboom at Amster-
dam in 1648. A copy is in the British Museum. Vide Strickland,
op. cit. p. 13, and E. Oustalet, La Faune Ornithologique des Iles
Mascareignes, p. 21. This plate, however, had appeared in an
edition of van Neck and Warwyck's voyage (1598), published at
Amsterdam in 1619.
EDITOR'S PREFACE. P. ix. Mr. Charles Telfair.-Charles Telfair
was born at Belfast in 1777. He served as a naval surgeon in the
squadron, commanded by Commodore Rowley, which blockaded the
islands of Mauritius and Bourbon (then the Ile de France and Ile
Bonaparte) in 1809-10. He was one of the very few Englishmen
who remained in Mauritius after that colony changed rulers, and it
was owing to his opportunities of understanding and appreciating
the manners and character of the French Creole colonists, that he
was also among that still smaller number of British officials, whose
sentiments towards the natives were of the most friendly nature.
Dr. Telfair was secretary to the acting Governor of Réunion whilst
that island remained under British dominion, and subsequently he
was appointed private secretary to Sir Robert Farquhar. When Sir
Robert Farquhar left the colony, Telfair remained in the island as
Guardian of Vacant Estates, and secretary to the Vice-Admiralty
Court. Mr. Telfair was an ardent naturalist, and sent home to his
friend, Mr. Robert Barclay of Clapham and Buryhill, Surrey, the
originator of the Botanical Magazine, numerous botanical rarities,
including the Coco-de-mer, the Tanghina venenifera, and the
Telfairia pedata, (a cucurbitaceous plant), Hooker ;—whilst his wife,
a talented draughtswoman, transmitted Alga and drawings to Sir
William Hooker, who named the Thamnophora Telfairiæ after her.
Dr. Telfair sent to England two living specimens of the gigantic
tortoise of Rodriguez, T. Vosmaeri, and rare Madagascar reptiles.
One of these big tortoises had died in the Zoological Gardens, circa
IIO
Notes
1829, and the second was sent to replace it in 1830. Writing to Mr.
Barclay, June 28, 1830, he says: 'In sending me your fine plants,
fruit trees, and flowers, you did not contemplate the blessings you
were thus communicating to the great island of Madagascar, where
your apples, pears, and plums are now in great abundance in the
markets of the capital, and add to the subsistence as well as the
luxuries of a numerous people, and to the countless generations
which will succeed them.' Dr. Telfair was on terms of great
intimacy with Dr. Bojer, Professor of the Royal College of Mauritius,
and Dr. Hilsenberg, whose researches in Madagascar have been
so valuable to science. He died at Port Louis on the 14th July 1833.
Vide Hooker's Journal of Botany, vol. i. p. 149. Footnote by Editor
to Thamnophora Telfairiæ.
P. xvii. Introduction.-It ought to be mentioned how indebted the
Editor is to M. Henri Froidevaux, who has lately printed at Ven-
dôme the hitherto unpublished MS. Journal of the Sieur de Lespinay,
an officer on board the Sultanne, a consort of the Navarre, in M. de
La Haye's squadron, which last vessel conveyed the Sieur Dubois
to Bourbon in 1671. M. Froidevaux in his preface gives valuable
information of other unpublished MS. journals by officers engaged
in the same expedition. It is hardly probable that more details
concerning the original fauna and flora of Bourbon could be gathered
from any of these documents; but it might be as well for naturalists
engaged in sifting the evidence concerning the extinct species in
the Mascarene Islands to examine these papers in the archives of
the Marine and Colonial Departments in Paris. To M. Froidevaux's
voluminous notes, the present Editor owes much of the information
now added to the translation of Dubois' voyage.
P. I. EPISTLE DEDICATORY. Monsieur Loyseau.-All inquiries
have failed to obtain any information regarding this King's Coun-
cillor. In Colbert's letters reference is made to a M. Loyseau (vide
vol. vi. p. 271, note 1), but this is the eminent juriconsulte of a
previous generation, Charles Loyseau, who died in 1627. The
patron of Dubois may have been, and probably was, a son or near
relation of this lawyer, whose works were published in 1660, and
held in great esteem. Vide Biographie Universelle.
P. 4.
Fort Dauphin.-'Le Fort Dauphin a esté designé quarré
par celuy [Pronis]¹ qui l'a commencé. Il avoit deux petits Bastions
demy élevez de cailloux sur le roch, qui au costé du Nord com-
mandoient le Port capable de tenir à bon abry quatre Vaisseaux
seulement. L'enceinte du reste n'estoit que de pieux gros comme
le bras, & le tour avoit esté reduit à cent cinquante pas de long, &
1 The former fort had been destroyed immediately on the departure of the
Sieur de Flacourt in February 1655. Vide Relation de ce qui s'est passé en
l'Isle de Madagascar depuis le 12 Febr. 1655, jusque au 19 Januier 1656.'.
Flacourt, Relation, pte. ii. pp. 410 et seq.
Notes
I II
à six-vingts de large. La principale porte regardoit l'Occident &
une petite plaine qui finissoit par un agréable Païsage, l'autre
opposée regardoit l'Orient & la Mer. Dans ce Fort estoit une
Chapelle élevée de planches, laquelle pouvait contenir quatre cens
personnes... la Maison du Gouverneur, que les Nègres appellent
Donac, qui veut dire Palais, comme les Maisons de leurs Grands,
estoit aussi de planches. Il y avoit un Magasin & une cuisine
construits des plus gros morceaux de pierre qu'on avoit pû ramasser
autour des roches; un Corps de Garde, & douze Cases de pieux &
de jongs, tous ces batiments estoient couverts de feüilles.'-Histoire,
Rennefort, partie i. chap. xxiii. p. 47.
P. 4. La Hayfouchy, or la Héfonti.-It appears that in the middle
of the seventeenth century there was a powerful chief named
Andriandahifotsy, or Lahifotsy, who ruled over what is now Menabé
on the west coast, north of St. Augustine's Bay, where his kingdom.
is marked on Flacourt's, on Eberard's, and Sanson's maps as la
Hayfouchy. It was here that the Hooker St. Louis, which had left
Havre in July 1665, in the following year anchored, on her way to
purchase rice for Fort Dauphin. Her commander, the Sieur de la
Vigne, accompanied by the Sieur Guibillon, a trader sent to buy the
rice, having gone a short way inland, were met by a Sahalava chief
who, pretending that he had been previously ill-treated by French-
men, murdered the French captain and his comrades, as indicated
by Eberard on his chart, (ante, p. 4), and confirmed by Rennefort in
his well-known Mémoires pour servir, chap. xxiii. of part i. and
part ii. chap. x. It afterwards appears that the Amboüettes at the
instigation of the same chief, who had (as Rennefort acknowledges)
really been ill-treated by La Pile-in revenge for which insult he
assassinated de la Vigne, revolted against the French.-Id. chap. xx.
P. 4. The river des Mâts and the old and new Macellage.-The
River of Masts, pp. 35, 36. The Rivière des Mâts may possibly be
identified with the Rre demaragande between Vieux Macellage and
Nouveau Macellage, shown in the chart by Dupré Eberard, of 1667.
New Macellage has been identified by M. Grandidier with a site on
the west point of Boina Bay; whilst Old Macellage is recognised by
the same authority as having been situate on the coast of Mahajamba
Bay, more to the North. If these places are correct, then the river
des Mâts would lie south of Mahajamba Bay; and indeed Gran-
didier identifies Eberard's 'Maragande' (sic) with the Betsiboka.
P. 4. Settlements of the Isle Bourbon.-These are shown in the
map of Réunion by L. Maillard in vol. ii. Hakluyt edition of
François Leguat.
In de Flacourt's map of 1661, reproduced in this work at p. 85,
St. Paul only is marked of the settlements named by Dubois. St.
Denis was afterwards formed on the river just east of Cape St.
Bernard; and Ste. Suzanne is where the Habitation de l'Assomp-
tion is marked by de Flacourt.
II2
Notes
Cf. account of M. de Lespinay :-'Les lieux où l'on mouille
ordinairement sont Sct. Paul et Sainct Denys. Il y a aussi Scte.
Susanne mais la rade est moins bonne que les deux premières.'-
Op. cit. pp. 44, 45.
P. 7. Port Louis.-At the entrance of the harbour of Lorient,
where the seat of the East Indian trade was established in 1664.
P. 7.
The Isle of Grouay.-The Ile de Groix, separated by the
Basses des Bretons from the entrance to the Port of Lorient and
Port Louis.
P. 7. Haunt of Turkish Corsairs.-It was in these waters that the
Sieur de Flacourt had encountered Moorish pirates, when his ship
was blown up, causing his death on the 10th June 1660.
P. 8. Isle of Fer, Tree of prodigious size in.-Vide Description of
Africa by Leo Africanus, Hakluyt Soc. Edition, vol. i. p. 100.
'Hierro hath neither spring nor well, but is miraculously furnished
with water by a cloud which ouer-spreadeth a tree from whence
distilleth so much moisture as sufficeth both for men and cattell.
This cloud ariseth an hower or two before the sunne, and is dissolued
two howers after sunne rising. The water falleth into a ponde made
at the foote of the tree.'
P. 21.
The Scurvy, or Land Sickness.-Cf. Leguat, Hakluyt Edition,
p. 33. Also Voyage of Pyrard de Laval, Hakluyt Edition, vol. ii.
pp. 390, 392, 'called scurbut by the Hollanders, and Mal das
Gengivas by the Portuguese.'
P. 22.
This Land being very high 'tis seen from afar.-The Piton
des Neiges is 10,069 feet elevation.
P. 22.
Sharks or Tuberons.-Cf. Thomas Herbert, op. cit. lib. 3,
p. 348, 'Sharks, some call them Tuberons.'
P. 22. Theriac.-The Theriac was a compound medicine long in
repute. This celebrated electuary, ascribed to Andromachus,
physician of Nero, has been used for centuries, and was even re-
garded by the savant Bordeu as the supreme remedy. According
to MM. de Cadéac and Meunier of Lyons, this theriacal mixture
contained fifty-four substances known by the empirical methods then
in vogue as being the most active and efficacious.
P. 22. Orvietan.-This was another of these empirical elixirs, which
obtained its name from the place where it was first compounded,
at Orvieto, in Italy. Sir Walter Scott mentions it in The Talisman.
P. 23. This island Maurice is inhabited by the Dutch.-Vide Leguat's
Voyage, p. lvi. At this time, according to Valentyn, George Frederik
Wreede was the Governor of Mauritius.
P. 23. Sieur Regnault.-Commandant of the Island. Étienne
Regnault had commenced by being a simple clerk in the office of
Colbert. He was in charge of Bourbon from August 1665 to June
1671, and his administration was successful. He was afterwards
secretary to Admiral de la Haye. Vide Les Origines de l'île
Bourbon, par M. I. Guët. pp. 104, 105, et seq.
Cf. Mémoires de
Notes
113
Bellanger de Lespinay, p. 47.
'L'isle de Mascaregne au rapport
de gens qui y ont demeuré, qui avoient pour gouverneur de la part
de la Compagnie un nommé Regnault, Parisien . . . '—M. Froidevaux
mentions some Mémoires of Regnault as still extant. 'Mémoire
contenant les advis de ce qu'il conviendroit de suivre pour l'establisse-
ment considérable que le roy désire faire en l'isle Bourbon, et son
utilité, redigé par Etienne Regnault (Archives Coloniales, Corres-
pondance générale, Ile Bourbon, registre No. 1) depuis le mois
d'aoust 1665 jusques en juin 1671.' Vide Guët, op. cit. pp. 77, 78.
P. 23. Remora.-Echineis remora, Linn. Sucking Fish. Cf. Leguat,
op. cit. p. 97.
P. 24. M. de Preaux Mercy.-Vide infra, p. 25, and Introduction,
ante, p. xxi. Cf. Rennefort, op. cit. part ii. liv. iii. chap. v.
P. 24. Sea Turtle comes a-shoar, because of the sandy Bay.-Sea-
Tortoises. Vide Leguat, op. cit. p. 500. In original 'Ce Lieu de S. Paul
est où la Tortuë tarit, à cause de l'Ance de Sable.' The word 'tarir ’
is sometimes used by Dubois to signify a turtle laying its eggs in
the sand and elsewhere (les femelles qui tarissent, vide p. 80) to
come to shore, or of ships making the land-'nous fusmes tarir
vis-à-vis de la Province des Matatannes.'
P. 25. Province of the Matatannes.-The name of Matitanana is
still preserved on the S.E. coast of Madagascar, where a consider-
able river of that name drains a populous district of Taimoro tribe,
now named by the Hovas Vohipeno. Vide Oliver's Madagascar,
vol. i. pp. 267-268-416; enters the sea in Lat. 22° 24′ 25″.
Fort Dauphin-Bay Dauphine.-Fort Dauphin, in 25° 1′ 36″ Lat., is
known to and pronounced by natives as 'Faradofay.' It is situated
on the southern headland of Taolanaro Bay or Dauphin Cove-the
opposite headland to the north being Itapèrina Point, a mile distant,
There is a good anchorage inside the reef at Fort Dauphin Point.
Dr. Catat's illustrations (reproduced at pp. 5, 26, 49) faithfully repre-
sent the ruins left on the site of the old French fortifications. The
casemates, however, probably date from the time of Comte de
Maudave in the last century, although the gateway and ramparts
may date from the time of de Flacourt and Mondevergue. Vide note
to p. 4.
P. 25. M. de Mondevergues.-François Lopis Baron de Barles,
Marquis de Mondevergue, Governor of Chateau-Regnault and Clin-
champs, was appointed Governor of the Islands Dauphine and
Bourbon by Louis XIV. in 1665, with rank of Admiral. According to
Froidevaux, he was entirely ignorant of colonial affairs, and failed
completely in Madagascar, suffering disgrace on account of others'
faults as well as his own. (Mémoires de Lespinay, p. 32, note 2.)
Cf. Mémoire, du 8 Mars 1669, sur l'état de la Compagnie Orientale
à l'isle Dauphine et aux Indes. 'L'expédition mal preparée, mal
conduite, mit la compagnie en danger. Partout on a fait des fautes
à Madagascar, dissipation des fonds et des vivres, fausses
H
114
Notes
mesures et tyrannie de M. de Mondevergue,' etc. (Lettres de
Colbert, Pierre Clément, vol. iii., No. 7, pp. 414-417.) The fleet of ten
ships, under Mondevergue, conveying 1600 to 1700 colonists, includ-
ing thirty-two women, left La Rochelle 14th March 1666, did not
reach Madagascar until March 1667.
Pp. 24, 25. Monsieur de Preaux Mercy, Captain in the Royal Navy
and Envoy of His Majesty . . . who was to carry the orders of the
King and of the Company to Monsieur de Mondevergue. Le Roy
enverra sur le mesme vaisseau [le Saint-Paul] une personne in-
telligente et fidèle, avec ses lettres et ordres au sieur de Mon-
devergue.'-(Vide Mémoire du 8 Mars 1669, loc. cit. supra, p. 422.)
Captain de Preaux Mercy was this intelligent King's Messenger
selected. A fact which has escaped the keen eyes of Pierre
Clément.
P. 25. Andravois, near the Province of Anosse. There is a river
and town Andravoulle, ¿.e., Andravolo, marked on Flacourt's map,
a short distance to the west of Fort Dauphin. The people of
Andravolo would be termed Andravois.
P. 25. Monsieur de Champmargou.-M. La Chaussée de Champ-
margou had been Military Commandant of the Isle St. Laurent,
under the former Company, the Société de l'Orient. He had been
second in command to the Sieur des Perriers, who succeeded de
Pronis in 1655, under the patronage of the Duke de la Meilleraye.
P. 25. M. Despinay, Procureur-General.-The Sieur Despinay was
Procureur général du conseil souverain de l'île Dauphine, and one
of the accusers of Mondevergue. Puisque Despinay et le secrétaire
ont pu écrire à l'insçu de M. de Mondevergue. . .
'Les dit sieur Despinay et le secrétaire ne parlent pas mesme en
son nom et l'accusent seulement de foiblesse et de trop de bonté. . . .'
Mémorie sur l'estat présent de la Compagnie Orientale. 8 Mars 1669.
Minute autograph Colbert Lettres. Op. cit. vol. iii., pp. 417-418.
P. 26. Paralysis from a raging colic.-The malarial fever contracted
in Madagascar is not seldom followed by paralysis.
P. 27. Dian.—A Chief or Seigneur.
P. 27. Andriana.-The Sovereign, the nobles.
Malagasy-English Dictionary, by Rev. J. Richardson.
Vide A New
Cf. de Flacourt, Histoire de la Grande Isle Madagascar: 'Dian,
Andrian, and Andian c'est à dire Monsieur.'
C
P. 29. Hooker.' Hougre.' Hourque,' a hulk; great hoy, hooker.
-Burns' Dict. 'On sait que le houcre était un navire à varangues
plates, à gros ventre et à cul rond.' Vide Early Voyage to
Australia, by Major; Hakluyt Soc., vol. xxv., 1859. Cf. Pyrard de
Laval; Hakluyt Soc., vol. i. note p. 5. Dont la capacité variait de
60 à 200 tonneaux, qui servait surtout à naviguer le long de scôtes.
Froidevaux, note p. 37.
Choice to continue
P. 29. Letters from the King to M. de Mondevergue.
his Government or return to France.-'Si M. de Mondevergue fait ce
Notes
115
qu'it doit et que, par sa bonne conduite et l'autorité qu'il a en ses
mains, il fasse retirer et remettre sur les vaisseaux de la compagnie
la moitié pour le moins de l'argent et autres effets, l'envoyé du roy
ne fera, en ce cas, que l'exciter, le louer et l'ayder en toute chose;
mais s'il refuse. Il sera porteur de plus du congé du sieur de
Mondevergue, avec l'ordre de s'embarquer sur le premier vaisseau.
Mémoire 8 Mars, op. cit. p. 423. Cf. Minute de Colbert, 9 Mars, id.
p. 427, and Minute 30 Mars 1669, id. pp. 431 et seq.
•
P. 30. Embarkation of M. de Mondevergue.-Date of this embarka-
tion left blank. Rennefort tells us it was the 15th April. Livre iii.
Chap. vi. One of the accusations afterwards brought against Monde-
vergue was that he would not leave Madagascar until obliged to do
so by the arrival of Admiral de la Haye. Vide Colbert's letter to
M. Hotman, op. cit. vol. iii. p. 524.
P. 31. Seasons for going from Madagascar to the Indies.-The routes
by sea from Madagascar to and from India, at different seasons of
the year for sailing-vessels, are well described by Captain de
Kerhallet in his Considérations Générales sur l'Océan Indien. Cf.
Captain Oliver's Madagascar, vol. i. pp. 404-405, and map, p. 200.
P. 31. Malabar Pirates.--Vide Voyage of Pyrard de Laval, Hakluyt
edition, vol. i. pp. 337-349.
For 'dhows,' read 'Pairaus' or 'Prahus.'
P. 32. Arrival of the Sieur de la Haye, Admiral, and his fleet.-Jacob
Blanquet de la Haye was a captain of cavalry in the days of Mazarin
up to 1664, when he was nominated second Quartermaster of the
Regiment of La Fère. In 1656 he was promoted Chief Quarter-
master of the same regiment, and finally Colonel. In 1669 he was
placed in command of a squadron destined for the Indies, and on
the 4th December 1669 created Lieutenant-General in the East
Indies, and again Governor and Lieutenant-General for the King in
Isle Dauphine and in all the Indies, by letters patent of 5th
December 1669. (Vide Lettres de Colbert, Pierre Clement, iii.
p. 461-470.) Well received by Louis XIV. on his return in 1675, he
took part in the war with Holland, was made Commandant of Thion-
ville, and died in 1677 whilst fighting.
De Lespinay styles him-'Colonel du Régiment de la Fère,
gouverneur de Sct. Venant [St. Vincent?] et nostre Lieutenant-
Général.' (Op. cit. p. 6.)
P. 32. Flute.-A small kind of Frigate armed en Flute, i.e. with
the guns on the lower deck removed, used as transport or store-ship.
P. 33. Reception of M. de la Haye.-Vide Rennefort, livre ii. chap.
xiii. The whole account agrees closely with that of D. B.
P. 34. Monsieur de Grateloup, Mareschal de Camp. Rennefort
styles him de Greteloup, Lieutenant-Général au Gouvernement des
Pays Orientaux.
P. 34. Monsieur de Raturierre, Ayde de Camp de M. de Champ-
margou. According to Rennefort, 'de la Raturière Marêchal de
116
Notes
Camp. As Rennefort was not present, it is possible he compiled
this portion of his relation from Dubois' volume.
P. 34. Sieur la Casse.-Le Vacher de la Case, a native of La
Rochelle, who had come out to Madagascar with Captain Kercadio,
under the auspices of the Maréchal de la Meilleraye in 1656. La
Case married Dian Nong, the daughter of a Chief, whose territory,
Ambolo, he inherited, and took the native title of Dian Pousse. He
conquered, in single combat, Andrian Dalaka, armed only with
sagaye and shield. La Case was appointed Major of the island by
de la Haye in 1670, but died in June the same year. His widow
married Lieutenant Thomassin.
His eldest daughter married M. de la Bretesche, who was pro-
moted Major in place of La Case. Vide Mémoires pour servir par
Rennefort; and Un Episode d'Histoire Coloniale, par M. R. de le
Blanchère.
<
P. 34. An Ordinance of the King.-Cf. Rennefort, livre ii. chap. xiii.
- Une Ordonnance à tous ses sujets qui estoient au service des
Etrangers, d'entrer au sien ou à celuy de la Compagnie Francoise
des Indes Orientales.'
P. 35. The intention of the King.-Rennefort, idem. Louis XIV. à
M. de Mondevergue, Paris, 30 Mars 1669.
'Pendant que vous demeurez dans l'isle, je désire que vous vous
serviez du Sieur de Champmargou et que vous luy donniez le pouvoir
que je vous envoye, de mon lieutenant au gouvernement de ladite
isle, et que, lorsque vous partirez, il y commande en attendant que
j'aye fait choix d'une autre personne qui ayt les qualités nécessaire
pour occuper votre poste.'-Colbert, op. cit. vol. iii. p. 432.
P. 35. Messieurs the Ecclesiastics.-Rennefort mentions the names
of the ecclesiastics who had arrived in the Saint-Paul, op. cit. part
ii. livre iii. chap. v., viz. MM. Chemeson, Le Vacher, and Langlois.
P. 35. The Mitave.—Ellis mentions the ‘Mirary' as the singing of
war-songs accompanied by the brandishing of spears. Vide Richard-
son's Dict., 'Hira' singing a song. 'Mihira' to sing. 'Fihirana' a song.
Cf. Flacourt. Ils firent l'exercice de la Sagaye, qu'ils nomment
Mitavan,' chap. xxi. p. 70.
P. 35. The River of Masts.- Vide ante, note to p. 4, and map.
P. 36. Old Macellage and New Macellage.- Vide ante, note to p. 4.
Also Cf. note. Madagascar or Robert Drury's Journal, edited by
Captain Oliver, p. 267.
P. 36. French mistaken for Portuguese and nearly massacred.—This
may have reference to incidents like the assassination of Captain de
la Vigne of the St. Louis. Vide ante, note to p. 4.
P. 37. Portuguese prepared to build a Fortress at Mozambique.-It is
curious that Flacourt describes a portion of the south coast of Mada-
gascar as named Mozambique. 'Depuis Moncale jusqu'à Ranou-
foutchi il y a vne région qui se nomme Mozambique, et le village
principal de Ranoufoutchi se nomme Italie.'-Chap. xii. Fort St.
Notes
II7
Sebastian at Mozambique, in Africa, was built by the Portuguese in
1508-11. But there are two other smaller forts, one on a projecting
point west of the islands, and another on a small insulated rock at
the southern extremity. There are also two semicircular batteries.
It may have been one of these smaller forts here alluded to.
P. 37. The Plain of Manambarre.-Vide Journal du Voyage des
Grandes Indes, p. 57. 'Manambert.'-The plain of Manambarre is
not marked on Flacourt's map of the country around Fort Dauphin.
It is probably on the banks of the Manomboarivo River, north of
Sainte Luce, or Manambato.
P. 37. Province of Anosse.
""Tanosy," S.
The name of a district
and its inhabitants on the south-east coast. Comp. Nosy, an island.
Tanosy, an islander.' Vide Richardson's Dictionary. De Flacourt
describes Le pays de Carcanossi in chapter xvi.: 'La Province
d'Anossi autrement dit Carcanossi ou Androbeizaha située depuis
Manatengha . . . jusqu'à la rivière de Mandrerei.'
P. 40. La Casse proceeds to Cape Saint Augustin to try and find some
English or Dutch ships which are wont to trade at this place.-Vide map
by Eberard, p. 4, on which is marked 'icy les anglais ont une
habitation.'—Above the 'baye de St. Augustin,' p. 40.
P. 40. Defence of Fort Dauphin by de Champmargou. Vide Rennefort,
op. cit. part i. livre i. chap. xxxii.
C
<
P. 41. A Souvou.'-' Sovoka,' s., a surprise, a sudden attack,
Misovoka,' to advance gradually for the purpose of an attack.
Sovokady,' a night attack. Cf. Flacourt, chap. xxx. p. 95.
P. 41. Palanquin.-The native 'filanjana' or 'fitacon.'
P. 41. Marfoutou belonging to Sieur Mesnard.
The village of Marofoutouts is mentioned by Flacourt (ii. chap.
xlviii.), as belonging to Dian Tserongh and being attacked by the
French; and although the French retired, the people of Marofoutouts
afterwards submitted to French rule in 1652.
P. 41. Sickness of Monsieur the Admiral.-Vide Mémoires de
Bellanger de Lespinay, p. 32.
'Par la nous apprismes tout ce qui s'estoit passé au fort Dauphin
depuis l'arrivée de mr. l'admiral, qui y estoit pour lors à l'extrémité
de la vie, estant tombé malade au retour d'un voyage qu'il avoit faict
dans l'isle pour prendre un noir nommé Ramousset qui ne l'estoit
point encore venu saluer.'
P. 42. Missionaries in the 'Saint Paul.'-'Un Gentilhomme nommé
le Sieur de Chemeson, qui avoit employé son bien pour la Mission
de la Chene, menant avec luy les sieurs le Vacher & Langlois,
Ecclésiastiques de grande vertu, estoit aussi arrivé par cette Fregatte'
[le Saint-Paul]. Vide Hist. des Indes Orientales, Rennefort, livre ii.
chap. v.
P. 42. Surat pillaged by one named Savagy.-Rajah Sivaji at the head
of his Mahrattas, plundered Surat in 1640 and again in 1670. Vide
notes to p. 43.
118
Notes
P. 43. Baignans.-Vide Descriptive Letter from Surat, in 1671-72,
by Sir Streynsham Master, in Miscellaneous Papers appended to
Diary of William Hedges, edited by Colonel Yule. Hakluyt Soc.
P. 43. The Company of France has its Hotel and Office in Surat.—An
English factory was established at Surat in 1612. The Dutch factory
in 1617, and the French factory in 1664. Vide note by Ed. Grey,
Hakluyt Edition, Pietro della Valle, vol. i. p. 19.
P. 43. Savagy, i.e. Rajah.-Sivaji, a Mahratta prince and warrior,
who invaded the Carnatic from his original stronghold Rahiri, in the
Northern Ghats, 65 miles S.E. of Bombay.
P. 43.
The Great Mogul.-Vide above Letter from Surat, Diary of
W. Hedges, vol. iii. 309. 'The Great Mogull Oranzeeb.'-Surat was
now under the government of Ahmadavad.
•
•
•
P. 43. Savagy at peace with Frenchmen.-'The 3rd October 1670
Sevagy's army possest themselves of the whole town. Part of
the army assaulled the Tartars' quarters and the English house; But
the Ffrench made a private peace for themselves, on what tearmes
wee cannot Learne; and so never shott off a Gunn, though at first
being strong in menn they Vapoured as if they would have fought
the whole army themselfes.'-Hedges's Diary, op. cit. iii., Master,
p. 227.
P. 45. The gentlemen of the East Indian Company have agencies
established in territory of Savagy.-Idem, pp. 305 et seq. The
Mahrattas were sometimes called 'Sivagees,' and conquered large
portions of the Mogul's dominions.
P. 45. February, Monsieur de Mondevergues embarked in the
ship ‘Mariée.'—' Pendant que son Vaisseau cingla, il ne sentit point
qu'il eût d'autre prison que celle où le contragnoit l'élement sur
lequel il voguoit, quoy qu'il fust observé par quatre Gardes qui
avoient ordre de ne le point laisser mettre pied à terre en Europe.'
(Rennefort, livre iii. chap. xii.). On landing at Port Louis, M. de
Mondevergue was imprisoned in the Chateau de Saumur, where he
shortly afterwards died, it was said, of chagrin ; but from Colbert's
letters it would appear that his death had been expected, if not
wished for, and as he had from 10,000 to 12,000 livres of diamonds
in his possession, these jewels precipitated his death. Vide Colbert
Lettres, iii². p. 524. According to Lespinay the Mariée left Fort
Dauphin on the 6th February. Op. cit. p. 33.
P. 45.
March 1671, Dubois embarked in the 'Navarre,' Admiral, to
proceed to Bourbon. The fleet sailed on the 11th April. Cf. Lespinay,
op. cit. p. 38.
P. 48. Village near Fort Dauphin.-The village of Iaramamy,
inhabited by the Bara Manambia on the borders of Antandroy,
north-west of Fort Dauphin. It was photographed by Dr. Catat on
the 28th June 1890.
P. 49. Names of the Island of Madagascar.-'L'isle Sainct Laurens
est par les Géographes nommée Madagascar, par les habitans du
Notes
119
païs Madecase, par Ptolomée Memuthias, par Pline Cerné, par
l'Autheur de la Géographie Nubienne, par les Perses & Arabes
Sarandib: mais son vray nom est Madecase.'-Flacourt, p. 1.
P. 49.
Sieur Desbrosses's journey to la Hayfouchy.-Lahifotsy's
territory is marked 'Lahefonti' on Sanson's map, and shown there
to extend from Port St. Vincent to Port St. Jacques, between the
Ranomainty and the Ranomena rivers; answering to the modern
Fiherenana country rather than to Menabé.
P. 50. Baytsileau. It is believed that this is the earliest notice in
print of the now well known Betsileo tribe. Part of the Betsileo
country is yet known as 'Arindrano'; and the name 'Eringdranes
is shown on Sanson's map. A portrait of a Betsileo woman is given
at p. viii.
P. 51. Women of Antaisaka. Illustration.-The people of Antaisaka
belong, according to Dr. Catat, to the great Bara tribe. They are
extremely jealous of their independence and are very warlike. They
formed part of the hostile and savage races surrounding the neigh-
bourhood of Fort Dauphin. The figure shows the simbo or corset
and the simple mat petticoat.
P. 51. Samesam.-This is the name given on the east coast of
Africa to the red glass beads most prized by the savages.
P. 51. Mannelers.-' Menilles' has been translated 'Mannelers,'
the expression used by Drury for these bangles which were manu-
factured for trading with savage Africans and Indians.
P. 53. Zanharre.-Zanahary, s. (Za particle, Nahary to create),
God, the Creator, the Supreme Being. Vide Richardson's Dic-
tionary.
P. 54.
Unlucky days.-Consult the papers on 'Sikidy' and
'Vintana' in vol. iii. of the Antananarivo Annual by L. Dahle.
He points out (p. 460) how children born on bad days were regarded
as unlucky, and hence the practice of infanticide. Cf. Flacourt,
part i. chap. xxix. p. 91, 'Des auortemens d'enfans, delaissemens,
& abandon aux bestes sauvages.'
P. 54. Circumcision.-Flacourt minutely describes the elaborate
ceremonies connected with the annual celebration of this rite.
Chap. xx. pp. 63, et seq.
P. 56. Funerals and Tombs. Emounouques and Houses of the Devil:-
De Flacourt gives the word as 'Oemounouques ou sépulcres de leurs
Ancestres,' cap. xi. p. 29. In cap. xxxi. the same author describes
the deposition of a chief's body in 'un Amounoucque ou cimetière
proche de ces ancestres. . . .'
'Emounoques & Trangues de Belitchi,' writes M. Grandidier, are
corruptions of the Malagasy words, Amonoka (lit. cemeteries), and
Trano (lit. houses), Belitsa (the devil).
P. 57. Rohandryes, a Race of Chiefs.-' Rohandrian, c'est à dire
Prince, Seigneur, Monsieur.' Vide De Flacourt, Explication de
quelques noms. 'Dans cette Province il y a de deux sortes de genre
I 20
Notes
d'hommes, sçavoir les Blancs & les Noirs. Les Blancs sont divisés
en trois sortes, sçavoir en Rhoandrian, Anacadrian & Ondzatsi.—
Flacourt, chap. xvi.
P. 58. Mesquiller.—' Ompitsiquili ce sont ordinairement Negres
& Anacandries . . . qui squillent sur un planchette couverte de
sable... principalement à Manghabei, où ils n'entreprennent rien.
sans premierement consulter l'oracle du squille.'-Flacourt,
chap. xlii.
P. 58. Ollys.-'Les Auli & Moussaves, c'est à dire charmes &
caracteres. Vide Flacourt, p. 95, also p. 191, 'Il y a beaucoup de
Negres & de Grands mesmes, qui nourrissent des Auli, que nous
autres Français nommons Barbiers; d'autant qu'ils en prennent
pour s'en oindre lors qu'ils sont malades. Ces Auli sont dans de
petites boistes enjoliuées auec de la Rassade, du verot & des dents
de Crocodile. . . ils dressent ces Auli sur vn baston & leur parlent
comme si c'estoit qu'ils eussent raison, leurs demandant conseil &
secours : bref en toutes choses ils ont recours à ces Auli.
A curious account of these 'Aulis' being used in Ceylon is given
by Lespinay, op. cit. pp. 114, 115. He uses the Malagasy term.
P. 59. Beliche. The devil. Flacourt names the seventh spirit
Bilis. 'Taconbébilis un grand diable qui se cache.'-Flacourt, p.
192.
P. 59. Oath.-Vide Flacourt, part i. p. 99, 'Il y a diverses
manieres de juremens entr'eux.'
P. 60. Crocodiles.-Crocodilus madagascariensis. There are speci-
mens of this crocodile in the British Museum. The markings
distinguish it from the African crocodile.
P. 60. Ordeal by Crocodiles.-Leguével de Lacombe declares that
he witnessed one of these ordeals; but his accounts are too often
fictitious.
P. 61. Fansherre.-A village some distance inland from Fort
Dauphin continually mentioned by Flacourt.
P. 62. Trembles.—The Malagasy word 'Trambo,' applied to centi-
pedes, is here given by Dubois as 'Trembles.' But elsewhere the
French word is used in different senses. Thus it is used for trees
whose leaves shake easily like aspens, or again for quaking bogs.
P. 63. The Gauffre.-M. Grandidier cannot identify this word.
P. 63. Secatses.-'Saikatra,' Effeminate; vide Richardson's Dic-
tionary. 'Les bouffons qu'ils nomment Ompissa, les danseurs ou
ompandihi, les chanteurs ou ompibabon, les Secats & autres sortes
de gens, vont de païs en païs, chez les Grands, donner du passe-
temps.'—Flacourt, chap. xxiii. p. 76. 'Il y a bien quelques hommes
qu'ils appellent Tsecats, qui sont hommes effeminez & impuissans.
J'ay interrogé ces sortes de Tsecats & leur demandé pourquoy ils
vivoient de la sorte, ile me firent responce qu'en leurs pays ils se
voüent des la ieunesse à exercer cette sorte de vie.'-Flacourt, chap.
xxvii. p. 86.
Notes
I2 I
P. 63. Vangasecs.-Known in Mauritius under the Creole name
of 'Vangasasse' or 'Vengasaille.' One of the Aurantiaceæ, Citrus
vangasay, Bojer. Sometimes called the Madagascar orange.
P. 63.
Vontaques.-Creole 'Vuntak,' one of the Loganiaceæ,
Brehmia spinosa. Strychnos Vontac, Malagasy ‘Voavontaka' Vide
Richardson's Dictionary.
P. 63. Lamottes.-Vide Richardson's Dictionary: 'Lamoty. A
small thorny tree with edible fruit similar in appearance and taste
to a crab apple. It is used for making rum, also as a medicine for
lunacy.'
P. 64. Hydromel.-Cf. Flacourt, i. p. 112. 'Ils font vin de miel.'
'Vers le Nord ils font du vin de cannes de sucre qui est tres
excellent; mais il n'est pas si agreable que le vin de miel.'-Vide
Article 'Betsabetsa.' Rum distilled from the fermented juice of the
sugar-cane.—Richardson's Dictionary.
P. 64. Illustration, Malagasy Oxen.-From Dr. Catat's work.
P. 64.
Bourys. Vide Richardson's Dictionary, 'Bory,' round,
cropped, or shortened, cut off, as the tail or horns of an animal.
'Omby, bory,' a bullock without horns.
P. 66. Forty thousand horned cattle captured in a single raid.—The
enormous quantities of cattle driven off by the French in their
various raids are repeatedly mentioned by Rennefort and other
contemporary writers.
P. 66. Lambas.-The usual outer garment worn by Malagasy.
Vide Richardson. So many Malagasy words are adapted from the
French that possibly 'Lamba' may have been a corruption of
'Lambeau,' rags and tatters.
P. 66. Rassangles.-Rassangles, these last are the Rasàna or
Rasángha, Sarcidiornis melanotus.
P. 66. Flamands.-Probably Sarcidiornis africanus.
P. 67. River Ducks like those of Europe. Anas Melleri.
-
P. 67. Serilles. ='Tsiriry,' Dendrocygna viduata, whistling teal.
-Sarcelles. Dendrocygna arcuata or major.
P. 67. Alives.-Dafila (?) erythroryncha. Malagasy, 'Haliva,'
Querquedula Bernieri, also Sarcelles.
Mar-
P. 67. 'Pintades.'—Numida tiarata, 'Partridges all grey.'
garoperdix striata, Partridges not larger than quails. Coturnix
communis, the common quail of Europe, Egypt, etc.
P. 67. Ramiers. The generic name of the Funinguo or Mada-
gascar Pigeon is taken from its native names of Fony and Foningo.
Pigeons all green Vinago australis.
P. 67. Black Pigeons.-Erythrana pulcherrima.
P. 67. Parrots, grey.- Coracopsis vasa or minor.
P. 67. Maroon or Wild Pigs.-Cochon Marron.
wild boar shot in Madagascar by Dr. Catat, p. 89.
Vide vignette of a
P. 67. Hedgehogs and Porcupines, i.e. Tendraka, Centetes ecaudatus.
P. 67. Monkeys, species of, with pointed muzzle.-There are no
122
Notes
monkeys in Madagascar. Dubois means the Lemurs, of which
there are numerous species.
P. 67. Mines.-The knowledge of the exact locality where the
Malagasy found gold was kept secret, although Rennefort affirms
that La Case knew something of it, op. cit. p. 400 :—
'Ce n'est point un naufrage, ny un abord fortuit qui y ont porté
de l'Or comme les Naturels du Pays le veulent persuader. Il n'y a
presque point d'hommes & de femmes qui n'en ayent des ornemens,
sans compter des trésors cachez des Grands, qui ne s'en servent
qu'à l'extrémité: cela montre qu'il y a des Mines d'or. Le sieur de
la Case en sçavoit quelque chose, & feu Monsieur de la Meilleraye
avoit de si bonnes connoissances des richesses de l'Isle, qu'il n'a
jamais voulu céder ses droits.'
P. 68. Crystal.-Flacourt (part i. p. 148) tells us :-
(
Quant aux Mineraux & Pierreries il s'en trouve icy de quantité
de sortes comme sont les Christaux, Topazes, Grenats, Amethistes,
Girasoles & Aigues-marine. . . Il se trouve des Agates des
Cassidoines, & de diverses especes de Iaspe, comme aussi le Lapis
lidius ou pierre de touche.'
•
P. 68. Precious stones. It would be interesting to find out where
M. de Mondevergue obtained the twelve thousand livres of diamonds
which were found in his possession when he was done to death in
the Chateau de Saumur on his return from Madagascar.
P. 68. Sterility, Vallales.-Vide Richardson's Dictionary.—Valala
=the migratory locust Edipoda migratoria, also generic designation
of various locusts and grasshoppers.
P. 70. French settlers as Seigneurs. Cf. ante, note to p. 41, Mar-
foutou belonging to the Sieur Mesnard.
P. 70. Hondsau.-Perhaps Lohahazo, a head-man; but ‘Hondsau'
seems to M. Grandidier to be a corruption of Onjatzy, the name of
a caste among the Antanosy.
P.
70.
Horacs. Vide Richardson's Dictionary, Horaka, s., fen,
a marsh; rice grown on damp ground, in distinction to Teny.
P. 70. Mahosse.-Vide Richardson's Dictionary, Maosy, adj. [osy],
trodden down, trodden out. Compare Hosy, the final preparation
of ground for planting rice. Mihosy, v. int., to prepare the ground
as above.
P. 70. Iron Mines.- Vide Ellis, Hist. Mad., vol. i. p. 306. Vide
Flacourt, part i. chap. xxxvii. The ironworks instituted by the late
M. Laborde, east of the capital, were on the site of ancient native
workings.
P. 71. Illustration, Approach to Fort Dauphin.-Photographed by
Dr. Catat, 1st July 1890. This view shows the interior of the fort
with the avenue of Hova huts leading to the gateway, on which
three fleurs de lis still remain as evidences of the former occupation.
Visit of M. de la Haye to Bourbon.-Vide Journal du Voyage
des Grandes Indes, partie i., and de Lespinay's Mémoires.
P. 72.
Notes
123
P. 73. Fleet short of provisions.-On the 6th April the Jules and
the Diligent were sent to St. Augustine's Bay to obtain provisions
for the fleet, but, according to Lespinay, also on board the Navarre
they could not obtain sufficient.
P. 73.
Prohibition of hunting.-'Ordonnance pour l'Isle Bourbon
Decbre. Ier, 1674, art. 12: Que personne n'ira à la chasse des
oiseaux, bêtes à quatre pieds ni autre gibier tel qu'il soit, sur peine
de vingt écus d'amende . ou à faute de payement, six mois de
service sans gage ni salaire pour la première fois, et en cas de
récidive à peine de la vie et cet ordre exécuté ponctuellement,
attendu que nous avons observé que la liberté de la chasse rend les
habitans paresseux et fainéans, ne se soucians de cultiver les terres,
ni d'avoir des vestiaux pour leur nourriture, et detruissent le pays au
lieu de l'établir.---Donné a l'isle Bourbon, par nous Jacob de Lahaye.'
This ordinance is quoted at length by Guët, p. 124.
P. 73. La Hure established as Governor of Bourbon.-Jacques de la
Hure, 'capitaine réformé,' was appointed Governor of Bourbon, in
place of Sieur Regnault, on the 9th May 1671. He was not popular,
cruelly treated the inhabitants, and was suspended from his govern-
ment, by order of the king, in February 1673. Cf. Origines de l'île
de Bourbon, par Guët (p. 101-123).
P. 74. Ebony.- Ébène,' Creole name, 'Noir des Hauts,' Diospyros
melanida, Poivre. This Bourbon ebony is different from that of St.
Helena, Melhania melanoxylon. Vide observations of Sir Joseph
Banks at St. Helena, during Cook's first voyage. Vide Banks's
Journal, edited by Sir Jas. Hooker, p. 449.
P. 74. Palmistes.-Palmiste blanc (Areca alba, Bory); Palmiste
rouge (A. rubra); 'Palmiste chevelu' (Saguerus saccharifer);
Palmiste épineux (A. crinata); Palmiste poison (Areca lutescens).
P. 74. Lataigniers.-Latania borbonica, Lamk. Cf. Flacourt.
P. 75. Affouche, or wild fig tree.-L'Afouche rouge (Ficus rubra).
Afouche Bâtard (Ficus terebrata).
P. 75. Monstrous Eels. In the Journal du Voyage des Grandes
Indes, partie i. p. 74, we read: 'Le poisson est en abondance et
très excellent, le plus commun sont les mulets, conbuines et anguilles
qui sont prodigieuses.' 'On voit dans cette isle une rivière fort re-
marquable, en ce que son fond est tellement couvert et pavé, pour
ainsi dire, de longues et tres-grasses anguilles, qu'on lui en donne le
nom.'-La Roque, op. cit. p. 206.
P. 75. Lubines.-Chorinemus Commersonii, Cuvier, Val. (?) Cf. de
Lespinay, p. 43: 'L'Isle est toute pleine de fontaines qui, en
beaucoup d'endroits tombants du hault des rochers, à quelque
distance de là font un lac dans quelque plaine, qui se trouve remply
de poisson qui y est excellent surtout la loubine, qui se tient sur les
bancs de roche, que nous prenions à coups de pierres et de bastons.'
On the coasts of the Bay of Biscay the fish, known to the English
as the Basse (Labrax lupus), is called 'Loubine.' Hence the Sain-
I24
Notes
tongeois and Breton sailors gave the name 'Loubine' to the various
tropical species of Centropome, such as Ambassis Commersonii.
Vide Lacépède, vol. ii.
P. 75. Birds so familiar that one catches them by the hand.—Cƒ. de
Lespinay, p. 41: 'Il y a aussi une si grande quantité d'oyseaux
que c'est une choze surprenante et difficille à croire, car ils ne fuyent
point; on les tüe à coups de baston.' M. Froidevaux also quotes the
unpublished Journal of M. du Tremblay and another Journal du
Voyage à bord du Navarre.
P. 75.
Bulls and cows brought from Madagascar.-'Les boeufs
sauvages n'y sont pas encore en quantité n'y ayant pas plus de 35
ans que Mr. de la Melleraye venant de Madagascar y laissa les
premiers.'-Journal du Voyage des grandes Indes, 1re pte. p. 73.
P. 75. English stocked the island with pigs.-'It [Mascarenas] had
no creature in it, save birds; till our Capitaine landed some Hogs
and Goats of both kinds, that by a happy multiplication and encrease,
the future Passenger might be releeved and blesse the Plantee.'
Thos. Herbert, op. cit. p. 351.
DESCRIPTION OF SOME BIRDS OF THE Island of BOURBON.
P. 76. Flamands.-Perhaps identical with the Oyseaux bleus.
Porphyrio Madagascariensis.-'On y trouve des oiseaux appellez
Flamans, qui excèdent la hauteur d'un grand homme.'-Rapport de
M. de Villers, Gouverneur de Bourbon, 1708. Vide La Roque, op.
cit. p. 206. Cf. Leguat, Hakl. Ed., vol. ii. Appendix D.
P. 76. Wild geese.—Sarcidiornis melanotus (?).
P. 76.
P. 77.
River ducks.—Anas Melleri (?).
Bitterns or Grands Gauziers.-Pelicans (?). The frigate-bird.
P. 77. Water hens, black with large white crest.—Probably a Fulica,
allied to the extinct F. Newtoni of Mauritius.
LAND BIRDS AND THEIR NAMES.
P. 77. Solitaires. Didus, sp. 'Solitaire-The name used by the
French colonists for the Didine bird of Bourbon '-Dictionary of
Birds, p. 887. Vide Introduction.
P. 77. Oyseaux bleus.-Sir Ed. Newton states that he 'has always
thought these to have been a species of Notornis or Porphyrio. The
Hon. Walter Rothschild is of opinion 'that as all authorities of the
period agree in saying the "Oyseaux bleus" were flightless, and of
the same size as the Dodo, it is evident they were a species of
Notornis or an allied genus.' Not sufficient bones have been pre-
served to identify this bird clearly. Vide Appendix B.
P. 77. Pigeons sauvages.-The same authority also considers these
to be probably one of those allied to Erythræna pulcherrima of
Notes
125
Madagascar, or Alectræna nitidissima of Mauritius, now extinct;
the other allied to Trocaza Meyeri, nearly extinct, of Mauritius.
P. 77. Pigeons and turtle doves.-Columba Schimperi, the 'Pigeon
marron' of the Creoles. Turtur picturatus, known as 'Tourterelle
malgache,' together with Geopelia striata, 'Tourterelle du pays.'
P. 77. Small grey partridges.-Margaroperdix striata, Reichenb.
Known to the natives as 'Caille.'
P. 77. Snipes.-Probably sandpipers. Tringa, sp.
P. 77. Wood Rails.-Probably allied to Aphanapteryx of Mauritius
or Erythromachus of Rodriguez, both now extinct.
P. 77. Hoopoes or Callendres.-Fregilupus varius, only extinct
within the last forty or fifty years. Vide infra, Appendix D.
P. 77.
Blackbirds and Thrushes. - Hypsipetes and Oxynotus.
Hypsipetes olivaceus, Jard., (Merula borbonica, Brisson) is known in
the island as Merle. Oxynotus ferrugineus, Sw., is called by the
Creoles of Réunion, 'Tuit-tuit.'
P. 78. Grey parrots.-Coracopsis vasa or minor (?).
P. 78. Parrots larger than pigeons.-Mascarinus duboisi.
P. 78. Green parrots having a black collar. - Palæornis eques,
Boddaert.
P. 78. Green parrots with tail the colour of fire.-A Lory or Palæornis.
cf. Oustalet, Faune des Iles Mascareignes, p. 31.
P. 78. Parrots all green.-Palæornis, sp. (?).
P. 78. Parrots, not larger than blackbirds (?).—Poliopsitta cana (?).
It will be seen that five at least out of the six species of parrots
described by Dubois have been exterminated. Dubois, however,
seems to have exaggerated the number of species, unless he included
some kept in captivity—e.g. the 'fire-tails,' which may have been
Lories brought from the East.
P. 78. Papangues as large as capons, made like eagles.-Probably
Circus Maillardi, still existing, Papangues being the Malagasy name
for another bird of prey, Milvus. Vide Richardson's Dictionary.
Papango, the Arabian or yellow-billed Kite, a bird very common in
all parts of Madagascar, Milvus ægyptius, Zm.
P. 78. Pieds Jaunes.-Falco peregrinus, which has occurred in
Mauritius.
P. 79. Merlins.-Probably a Tinnunculus, allied to T. punctatus
of Mauritius, or T. Newtoni of Madagascar. But no Kestrel now
exists in the island.
P. 79. Sparrows. Males with head and upper part of the wings
colour of fire.-Probably a species of Foudia, called by Brisson La
Bruante. Vide Introduction.
P. 79. Land-tortoises.-Vide Appendix E in Leguat, Hakl. Edn.
P. 80. Sea-turtle.- Vide supra, note to p. 24.
P. 81. Bats, 'Fany.'-Vide Richardson's Dictionary. Fanihy,
Malagasy word for Bat, probably a species of Pteropus.
P. 81. Boucassin.-Vide Leguat, op. cit. pp. 76, 108, 141.
126
Notes
P. 82. The 'Pays Bruslé.'-The area within the vast amphitheatre
formed by the cliffs surrounding the active volcano is still named
'le Grand Brulé.'
P. 82. Red Mountain.—Still known as le Piton Rouge above the
Pointe des Cascades, near Ste. Rose.
P. 82. Population.-Population, in 1893, amounted to 166,000.
P. 82. Settlements at Saint Paul.-The first inhabited place was
that called la Caverne in 1662. Later, houses were constructed at
le vieux Saint Paul by the lake, until finally the modern Saint Paul
was established at the foot of the Bernica. Vide ante, note to p. 4.
P. 82. Sainte Susanne.-A commune now containing 8000 inhabi-
tants.
P. 82. Saint Denis.-The chief town of the island, now containing
36,000 inhabitants.
P. 82. Saint Gilles.-A village in the commune of St. Paul, now
a resort for sea-bathing.
P. 83. Antacques.-Vide Richardson's Dictionary. 'Voavontaka,
a shrub with edible fruit, Brehmia spinosa.
P. 83. Voësmes.-Voa means seeds or fruits of all kinds. The
Creole term 'Boëmes,' is used in Mauritius for the beans Delichos
Catiang, a kind of Dholl.
P. 83. Ambericques.-Equivalent to the Creole 'Ambrevates,' also
a Dholl, Cajanus flavus. 'Amberivatry,' the pigeon-pea, on whose
leaves the silkworm is fed. Vide Richardson.
P. 83. Ouvy Foutchy.-Vide Richardson's Dictionary. 'Ovy,' a
generic term for yams, 'fotsy,' white. 'Ovifotsy,' a species of edible
yam, Dioscorea, sp.
P. 83. Oumimes.-Vomanga (?). Another kind of Patate. Flacourt
states, p. 113: 'Des ignames il y en a de plusieurs sortes sçauoir les
Ouuifoutchi, qui sont les plus excellentes, les Soabei, les Campares,
& les Ouuiare. . . . Les Oumimes sont petites racines grosses
comme le poulce qui sont font bonnes à manger.'
P. 84. Ouvys mennes or Patates.—' Ouimena,' Ovy and mena=red.
The Batatas rubra.
P. 85. Fruits of the Island.—Nearly all the fruits of the world have
been introduced and cultivated in Réunion. Vide Maillard, op. cit.
p. 201.
P. 86. Vangasecs.- Vide ante, note to p. 63.
P. 86. Sieur Regnaud.-Probably Regnault. Vide ante, note to
p. 23.
P. 91. Parrot of Isle Mascaregne, now extinct. Illustration of head
of Mascarinus duboisi (full size) from specimen in the Paris Museum.
-Vide Appendices C and D.
P. 92. Province of Antongil and Galemboulle.-In Sanson's map, the
reader will notice the Baye de Manghabei ou d'Antongil, north of
Isle de St. Marie; whilst on the east coast, south of the same island,
is marked the district of Guallen boulou. M. Grandidier gives the
Notes
127
&
simple and commonsense explanation of the name 'Antongil,' as
derived from the European corruption of the native name Antanam-
balana, which flows into the head of the bay. Vide Histoire de la
Géographie de Madagascar, p. 91, vol. i., 2nd edition. Ghallemboule
is the name given by Flacourt to what is now known as Fenoarivo.
Cf. Mémoires de Messire François Martin, extracts from which are
given by M. Froidevaux in his brochure, Un Explorateur inconnu de
Madagascar, describing Galemboule.
P. 95. Illustration. Woman and Child of the Antanosy.-From Dr.
Catat's work.
P. 96. Sieur de la Bretesche.-M. de la Bretesche was a Lieutenant
of Infantry, who had come out in charge of one of the companies in
the squadron of M. de La Haye, and married the daughter of La
Case. Three letters of M. de la Bretesche, Major at Fort Dauphin,
dated 1674-5, are still extant in the Colonial Archives. After the
death of de Champmargou he was left in command of the French
colony in Madagascar. On the 9th September 1674 La Bretesche
spiked the guns, blew up the magazine, and abandoned Fort Dauphin,
embarking on the Blanc Pigeon for India. Vide Guët, pp. 106 et. seq.
P. 97. Massacre of Monsieur Estienne, the Missionary Priest.-The
record of this tragedy is to be found in the pages of Rennefort's
Mémoires pour servir, chap. xxvi. Carpeau du Saussay gives an
account as well, with many details, in the Voyage de M. D. V, but
his dates do not accord with those of Rennefort.
P. 97. Matatannes not Aborigines of the Island.-Flacourt relates
the traditional immigration of Arabs to the east coast of Madagascar.
The Zafiramania, who inhabit the district about Mananjara are in
possession of a curious stone elephant, now at Ambohisary, a relic
of this immigration. Vide Antananarivo Annual, vol. i. p. 525.
P. 99. Anse Dauphine.-'Cette Ance depuis Tholanghare jusques
à Dian Pan Rouge est nommée par les François, ance ou Baye
Dauphine.'-Flacourt, p. 7. Vide Sanson's map.
P. 100. Kingdom of Monomotapa or of Prester Jan.-The empire of
the Mwene Mtapa, to the south of the river Zambezi. See Hist.
and Descr. of Africa, by Leo Africanus. Benomotapa, an ample
kingdom, abounding in gold, in Ethiopia, beyond the Cape of Good
Hope, is described in vol. iii., Hakluyt Ed., p. 985. In fact, Mono-
motapa is not a proper name belonging to any country, of certain or
mythical limits and latitude, but a word signifying, among an ancient
tribe of the Zambesi neighbourhood, a paramount chief. Vide Theal's
The Portuguese in South Africa, and Livingstone's Travels, 1857.
The Fort of the English at Saint Helena.—'Lesdits directeurs
doivent toujours faire reconnoistre dans leurs routes les postes des
isles de Sainte Hélène et du Cap de Bonne-Espérance.'-Lettres
Colbert, iii²., p. 511. 'On doit facilement présupposer qu'ils [les
Portugais] scavent l'establissement des Anglois dans ladite isle [Ste.
Hélène], et qu'il y en a deux ou plusieurs de ce nom-là, ou qu'elle
P. IOI.
i
128
Notes
est assez grande pour y souffrir deux establissemens.'-Id., p.
462.
P. IOI.
War with the Dutch.-Vide Colbert's letter to M. de la
Haye, op. cit., p. 549: 'Vous apprendrez par la relation cy-jointe les
grandes conquestes du Roy sur les Hollandois. Sa Majesté leur a
déclaré la guerre en février [1672], et a marché à la teste de 120,000
hommes en quartre armées contre eux, le 4 may. Le 2 juin, le roi
a attaqué quatre places en mesme temps, sçavoir : Orsoi, Rheinberg,
Wesel et Burick; il les a prises toutes quatre a discrétion en deux
jours de temps.'
P. 103.
p. 301, note.
The Sargasso Sea.-Vide Leguat's Voyage, op. cit.,
P. 103. King of Portugal relegated to La Terceira. This was
Alphonse VI., son of John IV. of Portugal, who succeeded to the
throne in 1656. In 1667 this unfortunate prince was interned in the
Island of Terceira for eight years till 1675, then brought back to
Cintra, where he died in 1683, aged 41 years. Vide Biographie
Universelle.
P. 104. Fire of St. Elmo in the Scupper-holes.Vide Note in Hakluyt
Edition of François Leguat.
P. 106. Sands of Olonne.-Olonne is some distance north of La
Rochelle. The Sables d'Olonne have become the site of a fashion-
able watering-place.
P. 106. The Palisse.-The Rade de la Palisse is shown on con-
temporary maps situated between the Isle de Ré and the mainland
immediately west of La Rochelle.
P. 106. L'Arpenti.-La Repentie was the landing-place on the
mainland from the Road of La Palisse and of the passage from Ile
de Ré. It is at some little distance from the modern Port de la
Palisse, which is destined to compete, it is said, with Pauillac and
St. Nazaire.
P. 106. Permission by M. de la Reynie.-M. Gabriel Nicolas de La
Reynie, Président de la sénéchaussé et siége présidial de Guienne
en août 1646, puis d'Angoulême; maître des requêtes 1661,
Lieutenant Général de Police à Paris, 1667. There are several
communications to M. de La Reynie in Colbert's letters. M. Pierre
Clément points out that ‘la recherche des libellists fut de tout temps
une des grandes occupations de La Reynie.'-Op. cit., vol. vi.
pp. 28, 47, notes. Cf. idem, vol. iii. p. 321, note 2, and vol. vi. passim.
He died at 84 years of age. Vide Étude sur la Police sous Louis
XIV.
1
APPENDICES
I
APPENDIX A.-Extract from Transactions Zoological Society.
On a Picture supposed to represent the Didine Bird of the
Island of Bourbon (Réunion). By Alfred Newton, M.A.,
F.Z.S., etc. Read February 14th, 1867. Plate Ixii. Vide
Frontispiece,
APPENDIX B.-On some extinct Gigantic Birds of the Mascarene
Islands. By Professor H. Schlegel. From Ibis, April 1866,
pp. 163-168 (Extract),
•
APPENDIX C.-Professor Alfred Newton and Sir Edward
Newton On the Psittaci of the Mascarene Islands. Extract
from the Ibis for July 1876, pp. 284-287,
APPENDIX D.-On the Systematic Position and Scientific Name
of 'Le Perroquet mascarin' of Brisson. By W. A. Forbes,
M.B.O.U., etc. Extract from the Ibis, fourth series, vol.
iii. No. 11, July 1879,
APPENDIX E.—Notice sur quelques espèces d'Oiseaux actuelle-
ment éteintes, qui se trouvent représentées dans les collec-
tions du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. Par M. A. Milne-
Edwards et M. E. Oustalet. 1893,
APPENDIX F.-List of the Birds of Bourbon (Réunion).
Extracted from Sir Edward Newton's address to the
Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society (from Transac-
tions, Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Hist. Soc., 1885-86, vol. iv.
p. 548),.
PAGE
131
•
132
135
138
•
141
•
150
•
APPENDIX A.
THE WHITE DODO.
Professor Newton's Remarks On a Picture supposed to represent
the Didine Bird of the Island of Bourbon (Réunion).'
' 1
Extract from Transactions of the Zoological Society, Feb. 14, 1867.
Pl. lxii. p. 373.
6
7
3
Ir represents apparently a flooded meadow, in the pools of
which various aquatic birds are distributed, while the Dodo is
standing, with an expression of alarm on his countenance, on a
scanty bit of dry ground. By his side is seated a fine Bernicla
ruficollis,2 somewhat too brilliantly coloured perhaps; and the
other birds portrayed are Cepphus grylle (engaged with a small
eel or snake), Mergus castor 4 (a female or immature male), Ciconia
alba,5 Clangula glaucion, Fulix fuligula, and Mareca penelope s
(a female). These are all drawn with much attention to detail,
and generally very fairly coloured. The Dodo and the Goose
form the principal figures in the composition. The beak of the
Dodo, as represented here, also demands a word of comment;
instead of terminating in the formidable hook to which we are
accustomed in the pictures of the Saverys and that of Goeimare
(Trans. Zool. Soc. iv. p. 197), its tip is rounded off, as if it had
undergone the operation known among falconers as 'coping.'
Now I cannot help thinking that in this point we have some
grounds for believing that the subject of the figure must have
been a bird kept in captivity. The Dodo was no doubt able
with its powerfully-hooked beak to inflict very serious injury, and
1 A French translation of this paper, by M. Theo. Sauzier, is published
for the Société des Sciences et Arts de l'Ile de la Réunion in 1890.
2 Red-breasted Goose.
5 White Stork.
3 Black Guillemot.
6 Golden-eye Duck.
4 Goosander.
7 Tufted Duck.
8 Widgeon. All the above are birds found in Europe, and not one of
them in the Mascarene Islands.
132
Appendices
it is not at all improbable (so it seems to me) that the keeper of
such a bird would consult his own safety, and by trimming an
offensive weapon so likely to be used against him, deprive it of
the means of doing harm. On this account, therefore, I think
there seems to be a strong probability of this drawing having been
taken from a living subject which had been brought to Europe
and kept in some aviary.
•
And now as to the artist by whom this drawing was executed.
In its left hand corner are to be plainly seen the letters P. W. fe :
and on consulting Brulliot's Dictionnaire de Monogrammes, I find
(p. 321, Nouv. Ed. Sec. Partie. Munich, 1833) that this is the
signature of Pierre Witthoos, 'qui peignait à la gouache des
fleurs, des insectes, et des plantes avec beaucoup d'art et de vérité,'
and died at Amsterdam in 1693. It is, therefore, quite pos-
sible that the figure I have before mentioned in Zaagman's edition
of Bontekoe . . . and the present drawing, were both taken from
the same source, probably a bird brought from the Island of
Bourbon, and kept alive at Amsterdam.
APPENDIX B.
On some Extinct Gigantic Birds of the Mascarene Islands. By
H. Schlegel. Contributed, in 1857, to the Dutch Academy of
Sciences, published the next year, and translated for the Ibis
by Mr. J. H. Hessels.
Extract from the Ibis, April, 1866, pp. 163-168.
We come now to the second extinct bird of the Mascarene
Islands, which, in our opinion, has been completely mistaken by
authors. This is the so-called Oiseau bleu of Bourbon, described
in the manuscript of a certain D. B.,' where [p. 183] we read as
follows:—' Oiseaux bleus, gros comme les Solitaires, ont le
plumage tout bleu, le bec et les pieds rouges faits comme pieds
de poules, ils ne volent point, mais ils courent extrêmement vite,
tellement qu'un chien a peine d'en attraper à la course; ils sont
très bons.' The size of the Solitaire is given in the same manu-
1 Mentioned for the first time by Strickland, in the Proceedings of the Zoo-
logical Society for 1844, p. 77; and afterwards in his work The Dodo, etc.,
p. 59.
Appendices
133
3
script, as that of a 'grosse Oye'; while Castleton, or rather
Tatton,¹ and Carré,2 both give the Solitaire the size of a Turkey.
Strickland's opinion on this bird runs as follows: 'I should
have been disposed to refer the "Oiseau bleu" to the genus
Porphyrio, were we not told that they were the size of the
Solitaire, i.e. of a large Goose, that the feet resembled those of a
hen, and that they never fly.' These objections are, however,
of no value; for, first, we know a species of Porphyrio (the
Notornis mantelli of New Zealand) which is nearly as big as a
Goose; secondly, there are several species of Waterhens, whose
feet are like those of a Hen, or in other words, which have thick
feet with toes short in proportion, as, for instance, Tribonyx,
Ocydromus, and Notornis; thirdly, the wings also of Notornis
and Ocydromus are unfit for flight, and the quills of the last-
named bird are even as soft as ordinary feathers. The guarded,
though incorrect opinion of Strickland, has been followed by the
strange theory De Selys-Longchamps concerning the Oiseau
bleu of Bourbon; for he has referred this bird to one and the
same family as the entirely Struthious Solitaire of Bourbon, and
the Apteryx-like Dodos of Herbert and Van den Broecke, and
has given it the name of Apterornis cærulescens. Finally, in
Bonaparte,5 where, besides, the greatest confusion prevails with
respect to the extinct birds of the Mascarene Islands; the Oiseau
bleu appears in an independent genus under the name of
Cyanornis erythrorhyncha, and there is incomprehensibly added,
as a synonym of the species, the Dodo of Van den Broecke,
while the Dodo of Herbert makes a second species of this com-
pound genus.
4
When we attentively consider the account of the Oiseau bleu,
every one will be disposed to admit, that although very short, it
cannot be applied to any other bird than a Porphyrio, and
especially indeed to the aberrant form of that genus known as
Notornis, which we would regard as representing the galline form
among the Porphyrios, particularly in consequence of the power-
ful figure, the thick tibiæ (clothed with feathers nearly to the
extremity), the short toes, and the short thick neck. The sup-
1 Purchas' Pilgrimes, 1625, i. p. 331.
2 Voyages, i. p. 12.
3 Op. cit. p. 59.
4 Revue Zoologique, Octobre 1848, p. 3 [potius, p. 294].
5 Conspectus Avium, Leiden, 8vo, ii. p. 3.
For similar reasons we regard Tribonyx, or even Ocydromus, as the
galline form of the Gallinulæ.
134
Appendices
position that this Oiseau bleu was such a species of Porphyrio, is
strongly supported by the fact that the various species of the
genus range from the most southern part of Europe, over the
whole of Africa, Madagascar, the East Indies to further India,
Australia, and New Zealand, and that thus the Mascarene Islands.
are contained within the geographical area of this form. That
the Oiseau bleu was bigger than the species of Porphyrio known
to us, is an objection which will fall when we consider that
Notornis also exceeds remarkably the remaining species; and
that the southern hemisphere produces other species of the
family more or less gigantic in proportion, and at the same time.
often different, as, for instance, Notornis under Porphyrio, Tri-
bonyx, and our Giant¹ under Gallinula, Fulica gigas of Peru.
among the Coots, and finally the gigantic and strange Palamedea,
which, however, inhabit the whole of tropical America. That
the Oiseau bleu had wings not fit for flight must not surprise us,
as Notornis has similar wings, and as, moreover, a considerable
number of other birds in the Mascarene Islands, as also in New
Zealand, exhibit the same peculiarity: for instance, in New
Zealand, besides Notornis, there are Ocydromus, the Kiwis
(Apteryx), and the Moas (Dinornis, Palapteryx, etc.), and in the
Mascarene Islands the different species of Dodos-besides that
the wings of the Giant Waterhen seem to have been shorter than
is usually the case. Of the Oiseau bleu it is said that it ran
extremely fast. Although now this characteristic belongs to the
Waterhens in general, it is yet especially mentioned with regard to
Notornis.2 Finally, the colours of our Oiseau bleu, both of its
feathers and its bill and feet, agree with those of Porphyrio, and
fit, indeed, no other genus of birds of this form, size, or habits.
So much for the Oiseau bleu.
•
The bird now described by us may be placed in the system
with the following attributes:-PORPHYRIO (NOTORNIS ?) CÆRU-
LESCENS.
'Oiseau bleu,' D.B., Manuscript Journal [penes Soc. Zool.
Lond.], p. 183: Strickland, op. cit., p. 59.
Les Voyages faits par le Sieur D.B. aux Isles Dauphine ou
Madagascar, & Bourbon ou Mascarene, és années 1669-70-71 &
72. (Paris 1674), p. 170.
1 The Géan of Leguat. Vide Hakluyt edition of Leguat's Voyages, vol. ii.
pp. 363-370.
2 Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, vol. iv. p. 70.
Appendices
135
Apterornis cærulescens, De Selys-Longchamps, Revue Zoolog.
Oct. 1848, p. 3 [potius, p. 294].
Cyanornis erythrorhyncha, Bonaparte. Conspectus Avium, ii.
p. 3 (except synon. Didus broeckii).
Size of a heavy Goose or Turkey. Feet like a Hen's. Colour
blue. Bill and feet red. Does not fly, but runs extraordinarily
fast.
Hab. Bourbon [Réunion.]
Only observed by D. B. [Du Bois] in 1669 [between 1669 and
1672]; never seen since, and apparently extirpated. [Seen by
Governor Villers in 1701-1709]. Seems with Notornis mantelli to
represent the Hen-type among the Porphyrios.
APPENDIX C.
Professor Alfred Newton and Sir Edward Newton on the Psittaci
of the Mascarene Islands.
Extract from the Ibis for July 1876, pp. 280-289.
Unusual interest attaches itself to the members of the Order
Psittaci indigenous to the Mascarene Islands, from the fact that,
while all of them are species peculiar thereto, the great majority
have either already become extinct within the last two hundred
years or must be regarded as expiring. . .
The Mauritian fauna once included two Parrots, the large
species described by Professor Owen . . . Lophopsittacus mauri-
tianus. There is no doubt that this bird has long been
extinct. A smaller species of Parrot-commonly known as Pale-
ornis eques—still survives in Mauritius.
Here it is to be remarked that the specific term eques con-
ferred by Boddaert on the subject figured in the 'Planches
Enluminées' (No. 215) [Reproduced p. xxviii], properly belongs
to the Parrakeet of Réunion-the bird there represented being
called 'Perruche de l'île de Bourbon,' whence De Buffon (Hist.
Nat. Ois. vi. p. 144) expressly says it was brought, identifying it
also with the 'Perruche à collier de l'Isle de Bourbon' of Brisson
(Orn. iv. p. 328, pl. xxvii. fig. 1), who likewise states that it is
found there. It now no longer inhabits Réunion, and whether
a specimen from that locality anywhere exists is not known to us.
1
136
Appendices
Judging from the general dissimilarity of the avifauna of that
island and of Mauritius,¹ we should be inclined to suppose that
each had its peculiar Palæornis; and in the event of this being
the case we would venture to suggest the term echo 2 being applied
to the Mauritian bird, which no doubt answers in nearly all
particulars to the true eques.
It has just been stated that the Palæornis is extinct in Réunion.
That island, indeed, is at present destitute of any indigenous
Parrot; for though M. Maillard (Notes sur l'île de la Réunion,
p. 162) includes Coracopsis vasa as being found there, it has
obviously been introduced thither from Madagascar. But
Parrots there were once, and of several species, in Bourbon;
and the proper habitat of one of these appears to us to have been
so seriously mistaken by many recent authors, that some little
space may well be devoted to the investigation of the matter.
Whatever may have been the Psittacus obscurus of Linnæus
(S. N. ed. 12, p. 140), founded on a 'Parrot from Africa,' which
came under Hasselquist's notice during his travels in the East
(It. Palæst. p. 236, fide Linn.) and at first (1766) identified by
Linnæus with 'Le Perroquet Mascarin' of Brisson (Orn. iv.
p. 315), there can be no question as to the latter, on which,
in 1771, was established the P. mascarin—an abbreviation most
likely for P. mascarinus-of Linnæus (Mantiss. p. 524), that
author citing also Daubenton's figure (Planches Enluminées, 35)
[Vide ante, p. xvii.], and adding 'Habitat in Mascarina'—the last
piece of information being doubtless obtained (for Brisson had
said 'J'ignore dans quel pays on le trouve. Je l'ai vu vivant à
Paris.') from De Buffon, who stated (Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 121):
'M. le Vicomte de Querhoënt nous assure qu'on le trouve à
l'île de Bourbon où probablement, il a été transporté de Mada-
gascar.' This probability appears very questionable, as much so
as Buffon's assertion that the bird received its name 'parce qu'il
a autour du bec une sorte de masque noir qui engage le front, la
¹ The only indigenous species of Land-birds common to the two islands are,
we believe, Collocalia francica, Phedina borbonica, and Tchitrea borbonica.
The Hypsipetes, the Oxynotus, and all the species of Zosterops are distinct.
The original Foudia of Réunion (Emberiza borbonica, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i.
p. 886, founded on the Mordoré of De Buffon, Hist. Nat. Ois. iv. p. 366,
Pl. Enl. 321, fig. 2 [Vide ante, p. xxx], we have never seen, the species now
found in the island being F. madagascariensis, believed to be an importation.
2 'Hx, nympha quædam, imitatrix equitis-sc. Narcissi. Ovid Metam. iii.
380.
Appendices
137
gorge et le tour de la face.' Dubois, who visited Madagascar
and Bourbon in 1669-72, gives the following account of the
Parrots of the latter island:-
'Perroquets gris, qui sont aussi bons que des Pigeons. Voilà
le meilleur Gibier de l'Isle.
'Il y a. de plusieurs autres sortes de Peroquets dont on ne
mange point; sçavoir.
'Perroquets un peu plus gros que pigeons ayant le plumage de
couleur de petit gris, un chaperon noir sur la teste, le becq fort
gros & couleur de feu.
'Perroquets verts, gros comme pigeons, ayant un collier noir.
'Perroquets verts de mesme grosseur, ayant la teste de dessus
des ailes & la queue couleur de feu.
'Perroquets tout verts de la mesme grosseur.
'Perroquets des trois façons comme cy-dessus, qui ne sont pas
plus gros que des Merles' [Vide ante, p. 78].
Now, considering that Dubois was not a technical ornitholo-
gist, his indication of these different kinds of Parrots seems to be
reasonably good; and the first of those, which he says are not
eaten, may fairly be identified with 'Le Mascarin,' though the
black on the face of that bird cannot be correctly described as
forming a 'chaperon.' But if we reject this identification, we
shall find that we have to account for the species of Parrot, both
connected with the same island, and, so far as we can judge, very
similar in appearance, differing, indeed, only in the position of a
black mark on the head.
De Querhoënt's assurance was confirmed in 1784 by Mauduyt,
who says (Encycl. Méth. ii. p. 196):-'On trouve le mascarin à
l'île de Bourbon; j'en ai vu plusieurs vivans à Paris; c'étoient
des oiseaux assez doux ; ils n'avoient en leur faveur que leur bec
rouge qui tranchoit agréablement sur le fond sombre de leur
plumage; ils n'avoient point appris à parler.'
It is true that for many years past Madagascar has been given
as the habitat of P. mascarinus; it is therefore worth while
enquiring into the evidence in favour of that locality; and it will
be found that—apart from the supposition, already quoted, of
Buffon-there was nothing to point to Madagascar till Levaillant
in 1805 declared ( Hist. Nat. Perroquets, ii. p. 112):-'Le Mas-
carin se trouve à Madagascar, et même assure-t-on, à l'île de
Bourbon. Thus the locality commonly assigned, really rests with
this writer, so notoriously untrustworthy in the matter of locali-
ties; and it may be remarked that he does not adduce the
1
138
Appendices
{
shadow of a fact in support of his assertion. Buffon and Brisson
are the only authors he cites, and, therefore, most likely the only
authors whose books on this point he had consulted. He says
it is rare, and that he had only seen three examples-one in
Mauduyt's possession, another in that of Aubry, and the third in
the Paris Museum, which still exists [pp. xvii, 91]. This is, of
course, totally insufficient to contravene the direct statements of
De Querhoënt and Mauduyt that the species was found in Bour-
bon, to which statements the account of Dubois lends greater
strength. Yet nearly all succeeding writers have followed the
assertion of Levaillant. The derivation of the name 'Mascarin'
furnished by Buffon (which, seeing that Mascarène or Mascarina
was the older name of the island, is quite untenable) has doubt-
less been the chief cause of the error which has misled Bechstein,
Kuhl, Vieillot, Lesson, Wagler, Hahn, and finally Dr. Finsch, or
rather, perhaps, has hindered them from the right path. It may
be remarked that not one of these authors has been able to add
a single jot of information on the question of locality. Only two
specimens of the species seem to have been preserved to the
present time-that in the Paris Museum, already mentioned, and
that in the Museum of Vienna, noticed in the Ibis (1873, p. 32).
Hahn's figure (Orn. Atlas, Papageien, pl. 39), published in 1834,
was taken, he says, from a living bird then in the menagerie of
the King of Bavaria; but what became of its remains at its
decease (and it seems to have died since) is not known.
APPENDIX D.
On the Systematic Position and Scientific Name of Le Perroquet
mascarin' of Brisson. By W. A. FORBES.
From the Ibis, 1879, pp. 303-307.
During a visit to Paris last autumn in company with Mr.
Sclater and Dr. Hartlaub, I had an opportunity of seeing for the
first time in the gallery of the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes,
one¹ of the two sole extant specimens of 'Le Perroquet mascarin
of Brisson, the Coracopsis mascarina of most authors. This
specimen is not improbably that described by Brisson, and is
1 The other is in the Vienna Museum (cf. Pelzeln, Ibis, 1873, p. 32).
>
Appendices
139
still in a fair state of preservation, though its wings and tail are
rather damaged. On seeing it I was at once struck with several
points in which it differed conspicuously from the other species
usually placed in the genus Coracopsis; and after my return to
England, at my request, Professor Alphonse Milne-Edwards was.
kind enough to have life-sized sketches of the head and foot of
this specimen made for me, which are here reproduced, all the
figures we have of this species being more or less reduced in size.

Head of Mascarinus duboisi
As will be seen from the drawing, the beak in this species is very
large and deep, not so compressed and elongated as in Psittacus
or Coracopsis, but more like in shape that of a large-billed species.
of Tanygnathus or Palæornis. Moreover, the beak is red, as in
most of the species of the two last-named genera; whereas in
Psittacus or Coracopsis it is black, or dirty white. The head is
fully feathered, the frontal plumes covering the cere, so that the
nostrils are concealed by them. The lores also are fully feathered,
and there is only a narrow circumorbital ring, and particularly in
C. vasa, the lores are sparingly feathered.¹
The feet differ from those of Coracopsis in their shorter and
thicker tarso-metatarsi and shorter nails. [Vide figs. 2, 3.]
From these considerations, it is, I think, clear that the 'Per-
roquet mascarin' is not related closely to Coracopsis, but must be
referred to another genus.
•
Lesson, in 1831 (Traité d'Orn. p. 188), founded a genus Mas-
carinus, characterised, amongst other things, by 'narines cachées
1 Dubois (cf. Ibis, 1876, p. 286) calls it 'couleur de feu' [vide Appendix C].
140
Appendices
par les plumes sur le bord du front,' in which he included, besides
the present bird, two species of Eclectus and a Tanygnathus.
Mascarinus is obviously a Latinised form of the epithet 'mas-
carin'; and although an Eclectus is mentioned first in the list of
species included, there can be little doubt that in reality Lesson
had in view, when he made the genus, the bird at present under
2

3
Feet of Mascarinus duboisi
discussion, which must therefore be considered the type of
Mascarinus.
As regards the specific name, at various times three names
have been proposed for, or applied to, this bird-mascarinus of
Brisson,
and obscurus of
Linnæus.
madagascariensis of Lesson,
•
•
This being the case, there is no other course open than to
use a new specific name; and, at Professor Newton's suggestion,
I propose that of duboisi, in memory of the French voyager Du-
bois, who visited Madagascar and Bourbon in 1669-72, and
described the various Parrots observed by him on the latter
island, including one which is clearly the present bird.
[ORIGIN OF THE NAME 'MASCARIN.'-'The island of Bourbon
is in the Ethiopian or Indian Ocean, almost under the Southern
Tropic, to the east of the island of Madagascar, from which it is
distant about 80 leagues. It does not appear that the Ancients
had knowledge of it; moreover, no inhabitants were found there
when the Portuguese, after having doubled the Cape of Good
Appendices
141
Hope, discovered it. They gave to it the name of Mascaregnas,
because their commander was so named: & the vulgar, even to
the present day, keep up the tradition by styling its inhabitants
Mascarins.' (Report by M. de Villers, Governor of Bourbon,
1709. Vide Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse, by M. La Roque,
p. 197).]
APPENDIX E.
Notice on some species of birds now extinct, which are found
represented in the collections of the Museum of Natural
History (of Paris). By ALPH. MILNE-EDWARDS and ED.
OUSTALET. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1893. Extract.
The rich collections of the Natural History Museum include
some specimens of birds of great value, to which we think atten-
tion should be drawn. These specimens in fact belong to species
which have disappeared within historic times (some indeed at
quite a recent date), and of which many great museums do not
even possess representatives. It is the duty of scientific estab-
lishments, which have the good fortune to contain such rare
objects in their collections, not only to try to guarantee them
against every cause of destruction, but, besides, to make them
known as completely as possible by descriptions and figures, in
order that should these examples, by any accident, happen to be
annihilated, their characters and their zoological affinities could
still be appreciated by the naturalists of the future. It is this
which has prompted us to publish this work, in which will be
found descriptions more detailed, and figures more exact, than any
which have been published to the present day; and in addition,
a certain amount of information, hitherto unpublished, which we
have been able to collect, and which permits us to lay down pre-
cisely the place of origin, or to throw light on some hitherto
obscure points in the history of five extinct species, viz., the
Mascarin Parrot (Mascarinus Duboisi), the Huppe du Cap (Fregi-
lupus varius), the Crested Dove (Alectrænas nitidissima), the
Labrador Duck (Camptolamus labradorius), and the Black Emeu
(Dromaius ater). We also give some details of the Great
142
Appendices
Northern Penguin [the Great Auk] (Alca impennis), of which the
Museum possesses one stuffed example, a complete skeleton, and
some eggs.
The first mention which has been made of the Mascarin
Parrot in a scientific work is found in the Ornithology of Brisson.¹
This naturalist has given a most complete and very exact descrip-
tion of the species, from a living individual which he happened to
see at Paris, but from whence it originated he knew not, and he
has described it under the name of Psittacus mascarinus, which
was adopted by Gmelin,2 Latham,3 Shaw,4 Vieillot," Kuhl," Hahn,7
Brehm, Schlegel and Pollen, and by a crowd of modern authors.
Meantime Linnæus, in the Appendix of his Mantissa Plantarum,10
considered this name of Psittacus mascarinus as equivalent to
that of Psittacus obscurus, which he had previously employed, in
the Swedish edition of Hasselquist's Voyage,11 to describe a bird,
possibly obtained by this naturalist in one of the localities of the
Levant which he had visited.
8
9
The Psittacus obscurus of Linnæus, of Gmelin,2 Latham,3
Shaw, 4 Vieillot,5 cannot be considered identical with the Psittacus
mascarinus; and, consequently, the name of this supposed
species cannot be applied in virtue of the laws of priority to the
Mascarene Parrot, as has been done, after Linnæus, by Ch. L.
Bonaparte,¹² and G. R. Gray.13
The Mascarene Parrot was described or figured under its true
1 Ornithologie, 1760, t. iv. p. 315.
2
Systema Naturæ, 1783, t. i. p. 333, No. 49.
3 Index ornithologicus, 1790, t. i. p. 111, No. 87.
4 Gener. Zool., 1811, t. viii. part 2, p. 528.
5 Nouveau Dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, 1817, t. xxv. p. 313, et En-
cyclopédie Méthodique, 1823; Ornithologie, t. iii. p. 1367.
6 Conspectus Psittacarum, 1820, p. 29.
7 Ornith. Atlas, Papageien, 1835, p. 54 et pl. 39.
8 Monogr. der Papageien, 1854, pl. 60.
9 Recherches sur la Faune de Madagascar, 1868, p. 157.
10 Mantissa, 1771, p. 524.
11 Voyages and Travels in the Levant, in the Years 1749, 50, 51,
52. By the late Frederick Hasselquist, M.D. Published by Charles
Linnæus. London, 1766, p. 196:-'18. Psittaccus obscurus, a Parrot from
Africa. This is the size of a Cuckow,'' magnitudine Graculi, de la grosseur
d'un Coucou.'
12 Mascarinus obscurus, L. (madagascariensis, Br.), Conspectus Psittacorum.
Revue et Magazin de Zoologie, 1854, p. 154, No. 207.
13 Hand List of the Genera and Species of Birds, 1870, t. ii., p. 159,
No. 8262.
Appendices
143
4
5
3
7
name by Buffon,¹ Daubenton,2 Latham, and in a particularly
exact manner by Levaillant, who was wrong, however, in indi-
cating Madagascar, rather than the island of Bourbon, as being
the country of this species. Misled by this indication, Lesson,
in his Traité d'Ornithologie, imposed the name of madagascari-
ensis on the Mascarin Parrot, which he took for the type of a
particular genus, the genus Mascarinus, which was adopted by
Ch. L. Bonaparte in his Conspectus Avium, by G. Hartlaub in
his Syst. Uebersicht der Vögel Madagascars, and more recently
by W. A. Forbes and by T. Salvadori. This last has desig-
nated the species under the name of Mascarinus mascarinus,
whilst Forbes has substituted for the denomination madagascari-
ensis which consecrates an erroneous habitat, the specific name
of Duboisi, derived from that of the French traveller of whom we
shall speak further on. On the contrary, Finsch,10 Pelzeln,¹¹ and
Giebel,12 who leave the Mascarin in the old genus Psittacus, pre-
serve for it the defective name of madagascariensis.13
8
9
Alfred and Edward Newton 14 associated the Mascarin with the
Vazas of Madagascar, and made it simply a species of the
genus Coracopsis, as Wagler,15 Pelzeln,16 Hartlaub,17 and G. R.
Gray, 18 had previously done, and as, later, one of us 19 did, although
with certain reservations.
[Then follows a minute, detailed, scientific description of the
species, taken principally from the celebrated example of the
1 Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, 1779, t. vi. p. 120.
2 Planches Enluminées de Buffon, No. 35.
3 Synopsis, 1781, t. i. p. 265, No. 72, and Gener. History, 1882, t. ii.
p. 113 (with var. A.).
4 Histoire naturelle des Perroquets, 1805, t. ii. p. 171, and pl. 139.
5 P. 189, No. 24 (1831).
6 T. i. No. 7 (1850).
7 P. 107, and Ornith. Beiträge zur Fauna Madagascars, 1861, p. 59.
8 Ibis, 1879, p. 306. [Vide ante Appendix D.]
• Catalogue of Birds in Brit. Mus. t. xx., Psittaci, 1891, p. 421.
10 Papageien, 1868, t. ii. pp. 306 and 955.
11 Ibis, 1873, p. 32.
12 Thesaurus ornithologicus, 1877, t. iii. p. 340.
13 In note in his Conspect. Papageien, t. ii. p. 955, Finsch uses the term
Mascarinus.
14 Ibis, 1876, p. 289.
15 Monogr. Psittacorum, 1832, p. 679.
16 Verhandl. z. b. Gesells. Wien, 1863, p. 232.
17 Die Vögel Madagascars, 1877, p. 232.
18 Genera of Birds, 1846, t. ii. p. 407.
19 E. Oustalet, Étude sur la Faune ornithologique des Seychelles Bull, Soc.
philom., 1878, 7e série, t. ii. p. 165.
144
Appendices
Paris Museum, of which a magnificent coloured plate is given,
two-thirds the natural size of the bird; and completed from the
description by Brisson, who saw the living bird at Paris in
1760.]
The specimen, which is jealously preserved in the galleries
of the Museum, has suffered, in consequence of the treatment to
which it has unfortunately been submitted, some hundred years
ago, certain deteriorations. The tints of its plumage have been
slightly altered by sulphurous fumes, and it can be seen, by con-
sulting the description of Brisson and the plate of Levaillant,
that the hood must have been primitively of a very delicate pale
grey lilac, of a lavender grey, that the deep brown tint of the
back of the wings and tail offered grey reflexions which have dis-
appeared, and that the lower parts of the body, even now notably
brighter than the upper portions, were, like them, a little clouded
with grey, or rather appeared grey when viewed in a certain
light.
In the paper which he has published on the Mascarin,¹ and in
which he has reproduced the drawings of the beak and feet which
were sent him by one of ourselves, Mr. Forbes has set forth some
of the differences which this remarkable species offers from the
Coracopsis with which it has been considered possible to class it;
but he has not sufficiently insisted upon several particularities
worthy of being brought to notice. The Mascarin differs from
the Vazas :-[Then follows an enumeration of technical differ-
ences].
For these reasons, and for others besides, which it would be
too long to enumerate, it is expedient we believe, to accept the
genus Mascarinus, proposed by Lesson, and consequently to
designate the species, by virtue of the laws adopted for nomen-
clature, under the name of Mascarinus Duboisi, Forbes.
[Follows a discussion whether the genus Mascarinus should be
placed, as Lesson puts it, by the side of Tanygnathus, or next to
Palæornis, as Forbes proposes, or, as suggested by R. Owen, to
the extinct Parrot of Mauritius, Lophopsittacus mauritianus, and
not far from the living Microglossus of New Guinea. The
authors find that this last is the nearest allied genus, and without
doubt they aver that certain affinities bring the Mascarinus and
Lophopsittacus nearer Microglossus,-i.e. to a Papuan rather than
an African group.]
1 Vide ante, Appendix D. Illustrations, pp. xvii, 91.
Appendices
145
There do not exist, to our knowledge, more than two specimens
of Mascarinus Duboisi, one in the Museum of Natural History
at Paris, and the other in the Imperial Museum of Vienna. This
last, it appears, is identical with an example formerly in the
Museum Leverianum, to which Latham makes allusion.
It is an
individual affected by a partial albinism and offering some isolated
white feathers on the back, the upper portion of the breast, the
alar coverts, etc.
It is in error that Dr. Hartlaub has mentioned ¹
a third
example of this species as being found in London. The Mascarin
is not represented in the otherwise rich collections of the British
Museum.
From the time of Levaillant—that is to say, at the beginning
of this century-the species was already very rare in zoological
collections; nevertheless, there still existed in France three speci-
mens, namely, one at the Museum that which still figures in the
galleries of that establishment, one in Mauduyt's, and the third in
the Aubry collection. In spite of all our searches, we have not
been able to discover what has become of these last two speci-
mens, of which one, that of the Mauduyt Collection, possibly
represented the remains of one of the Mascarins which were
living at Paris about 1784, and of which the collaborator of the
Encyclopédie 2 speaks. Another Mascarin was to be found alive at
Paris about 1760, either at a shop or in a private house where
Brisson was able to see and study it. At a much more recent
date, in 1834, one of them was kept alive in the menagerie of
the king of Bavaria, but this individual, which served as a model
for the plate published by Hahn,³ is very probably the last which
has lived in Europe, if it were not the last surviving of its kind.
For a long time the great island of Madagascar was looked
upon as being the country of the Mascarin, but, as Messrs.
Alfred and Edward Newton have observed, this assertion rests
solely on the statement of Levaillant. Indeed, everyone knows
that the localities affixed by this last author are not always exact,
and that he has several times quoted birds of Asia or America as
natives of Africa, and vice versa. It is probable, besides, that in
saying, 'The Mascarin is found at Madagascar, and even, we are
5
4
1 Journ. f. Ornithologie, 1860, p. 107.
2 Encyclopédie méthodique, Ornithologie, t. ii. p. 196.
3 Ornith. Allas, Papageien, pl. 39.
4 Ibis, 1876, p. 286.
5 Histoire naturelle des Perroquets, p. 172.
K
146
Appendices
assured, at the Isle Bourbon,' Levaillant has but reproduced in
an altered form the following information furnished by Buffon,¹
'M. de Querhoënt assures us that it is found on Isle Bourbon,
where it has been transported from Madagascar,' for he could
not have found in the description by Brisson, which he quotes at
the same time as that of Buffon, any indication of its native
country. It is likewise after Buffon that Linnæus thought him-
self able to add, in his Mantissa,2 to the very brief Latin diagnosis
of Psittacus Mascarinus, the words 'Habitat in Mascarina,' after
having previously said in the twelfth edition of the Systema
Naturæ,3 regarding the same species identified with the Psittacus
obscurus, 'Habitat in Africa?' By Mascarina he evidently
means the island Mascarègne or Mascarenne of Leguat, of Du-
bois, and other travellers of the last century, that is to say,
not the island of Madagascar but the island of Bourbon or
Réunion.
4
None of all the modern authors, Bechstein, Kuhn, Vieillot,
Lesson, Wagler, Hahn, Dr. Finsch, etc., who have attributed
Madagascar as the country of the Mascarin, have brought any new
document for the determination of the place of origin of this
species, and they can only repeat the assertion of Levaillant,
against which can be invoked a positive fact, viz., that neither
M. Grandidier nor other travellers who have explored Madagascar
in the course of recent years, have discovered the least trace of
the existence of the Mascarin. We ought to say, however, that
in the Relation of the Sieur de Flacourt, who visited Madagascar
in the middle of the seventeenth century, we have found in the
chapter devoted to land birds, the following passage, of which a
part can strictly be applied to the Mascarinus Duboisi:- Vaza,
this is the Parrot which is black in this country. There are some
small ones which are reddish brown; but they have trouble in getting
them. One might even infer from these last words that the
Mascarin, which has, in fact, a reddish-brown chin, was already
more rare, or perhaps was only more wild than the Vazas, but it
remains to be explained under what circumstances the first species
has disappeared, whilst the Vazas have been perpetuated to the
present day.
•
The fact of the presence of the Mascarin in Ile Bourbon
during the last century is moreover attested by M. de Querhoënt,
1 Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux, 1779, t. vi. p. 121.
1771, P. 524.
3 1766, t. i. p. 140, No. 4.
4 Relation de la grande isle Madagascar, chap. xxx. p. 163. Paris, 1661.
Appendices
147
correspondent of Buffon, and subsequently by Mauduyt, who
says expressly, They find the Mascarin at Ile Bourbon; I have
seen many of them living at Paris, they were very gentle birds;
they were only attractive on account of their red beak, which
contrasted agreeably with their dark plumage; they had not
learnt to speak.'
The authors then state their agreement with the statements of
Messrs. Newton,¹ identifying the 'Perroquets plus gros que
Pigeons,' etc., of Du Bois with the Mascarin, and conclude
thus:
'It results from this discussion that the Mascarinus Duboisi
probably did not inhabit Madagascar, but that it certainly in-
habited the island of Réunion, where it must have lived up to
the end of the last century, possibly even to the first years of our
century, and that it was represented in the island of Mauritius by
an allied form, the Lophopsittacus mauritianus.
These two species offer, as we have seen, incontestable affinities
with the Microglossi and the Tanygnathi, and on the contrary
differ in many respects from the Coracopsis, and still more from
the African Parakeets. They consequently furnish new proofs in
favour of the opinion, so often expressed, that the avifauna of
the Mascarene Islands is not directly attached to that of the
neighbouring continent, but offers rather Asiatic and Oceanic
characteristics.
THE HUPPE DU CAP (Fregilupus varius). Planche II.
In the Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux of Buffon,2 Guéneau de
Montbeillard described, under the name of Huppe noire et blanche
du Cap de Bonne-Espérance, a species which he placed near to
the Hoopoe of Europe, at the same time stating that it differed
from this last by its longer beak, by its crest formed of feathers
shorter and attenuated like those of the crested Cuckoo of
Madagascar, by its tail, composed of twelve feathers only, by its
elongated tongue, pointed at the extremity, and by its white and
brown livery. He assigned to it for habitat, Madagascar, Ile
Bourbon, and the Cape of Good Hope. Soon afterwards, in the
Planches enluminées de Buffon, Daubenton gave a figure of the
3
1 Ibis, 1876, p. 286.
2 Edit. 1779, t. vi. p. 463.
3 Probably the Coua cristata, L. (A. Milne-Edwards et Alf. Grandidier,
Histoire phys., nat. et polit. de Madagascar, Oiseaux, p. 143, et pl. 44).
4 T. vi. pl. 697.
148
Appendices
bird [reproduced at p. xxxii], which was called later Upupa varia
by Boddaert,¹ Madagascar Hoopoe by Latham,2 Upupa Capensis
by Gmelin,³ Huppe grise by Audebert and Vieillot,4 Merops huppé
by Levaillant,5 Upupa madagascariensis by Shaw, Coracias tivouch,
and Coracia cristata by Vieillot . . .7
Since 1823 the Huppe du Cap de Bonne Espérance (Upupa
capensis Gm.) was described afresh by a crowd of authors, who gave
it different names, and assigned to it . . . very different places in
their classifications. Thus Wagler ³ believed he ought to name
Pastor upupa, whilst Lesson 9 and Ch. L. Bonaparte 10 call it Fregilu-
pus capensis; Reichenbach,11 G. Hartlaub,12 Schlegel, and Pollen, 13
Fregilupus madagascariensis; Auguste Vinson 14 substituted for this
name that of Fregilupus borbonicus, which Sundevall,15 in his turn,
replaced by Lophopsarus varius; at last G. R. Gray 16 employed the
designation of Fregilupus varia, which was adopted under the
more correct form of Fregilupus varius by Murie, 17 by G. Hart-
laub,18 and by R. B. Sharpe.19
The Museum of Natural History of Paris now possesses four
specimens of this species of Starling, whose synonyms are so
varied, viz., two mounted specimens, of which one, from an
unknown source [possibly the original of the one figured in the
Planches Enluminées, and may be the actual specimen sent by
Philibert Commerson which was drawn by Sonnerat], has served.
as the type for the description and figure published in 1802 by
Audebert and Vieillot, whilst another has been sent to the
1 Table des Planches Enluminéez, 1783, p. 43.
2 Gener. Synopsis, 1783, t. ii. part i. p. 690.
3 Systema Naturæ, 1788, t. i. p. 466, No. 4.
4 Hist. nat. des Oiseaux dorés, 1802, t. i. Suppl. Promérops, p. 12, et Pl. iii.
5 Hist. nat. des Promérops, 180; Promérops, p. 43, et pl. 18.
General Zoology, 1812, t. viii. part i. p. 140.
7 Nouveau Dictionnaire d'hist. nat., 1817, t. viii. p. 3.
8 Syst. Avium, 1827, Pastor, sp. 13.
› Traité d'Ornithologie, 1831, p. 324.
10 Conspectus Avium, 1850, t. i. p. 88.
11 Handbuch Scansor., 1851, p. 321, pl. DXCVI. fig. 4039.
12 Syst. Vebers der Vögel Madagascars, in Journ. f. Ornithologie, 1860, p. 88.
13 Recherches sur la Faune de Madagascar, 1868, p. 104.
14 Bull. de la Société d'acclimatation, 1868, p. 200.
15 Methodi naturalis Avium dispon. Tentamen, 1872, p. 40.
16 Hand List Genera and Species of Birds, 1870, t. ii. p. 28.
17 Proceed. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1874, p. 474, pls. 61, 62.
18 Die Vögel Madagascars, 1877, p. 203, No. 125.
19 Nature, 1889, t. xl. p. 177, and Cat. Brit. Mus., 1890, t. xiii. p. 194.
Appendices
149
Museum at a more recent date, in 1833, by M. de Nivoy, and
two specimens in spirits sent to the Museum, in 1839, by M.
Desjardins .
The so-called Huppe du Cap, henceforth constituting the type
of a genus, the genus Fregilupus, its specific name must be formed
by the addition of the generic name of the epithet varius, which
has been employed since 1783 by Boddaert, and which has
besides the advantage of not consecrating a manifest error like
the epithets capensis or madagascariensis employed later by
Gmelin and by Shaw. The name of Fregilupus borbonicus pro-
posed by M. Vinson would be evidently preferable, but the
rigorous laws of priority oppose its adoption
•
The presence of the Fregilupus in Ile Bourbon is, besides,
attested by other authors: thus Levaillant mentions his having
learnt from an inhabitant of the island that this species (the
Merops huppé) lived in large flocks at Bourbon, where it fre-
quented damp places and marshes, and caused much damage to
the coffee-trees. On the other hand, we find in the Relation,
already quoted, of the Voyage of Dubois, the following mention
concerning the Oiseaux de terre: 'Huppes ou Callendres, ayant
un bouquet blanc sur la teste, le reste du plumage blanc et gris,
le bec et les pieds comme un oyseau de rapine; ils sont un peu
plus gros que les Pigeonnaux ; c'est encore un bon gibier quand
il est gras.'
The Huppes of which mention is made in this
passage are evidently the Fregilupus, the same as those of which
du Quesne speaks in a Report from which Leguat has given an
extract
The authors attribute the extinction of the Fregilupus in Bour-
bon to the Mynas (Acridotheres tristis) introduced by Poivre
in 1755.1 They also refer to Professor Newton's indication
of a possible allusion to a Fregilupus in the 'Relation de l'île
Rodrigues' of 1760, given in the appendix of Leguat's Voyage.
1 This is most likely an error, for Fregilupus was wholly a forest bird,
which Acridotheres is not.
150
Appendices
APPENDIX F.
LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BOURBON (Réunion).
Extracted from Sir E. Newton's address to the Norfolk and
Norwich Naturalists' Society. Vide Trans. Nor. Nor. Nat.
Soc., vol. iv. p. 548, 1888.
Signifies that the species is found also in Mauritius.
extinct.
+
"}
""
>>
T
>>
""
}}
cas
""
"}
peculiar, ¿.e. not found elsewhere.
of accidental occurrence.
¶ Fregilupus varius (Boddaert).
¶ Foudia bruante (P. L. S. Müller).
¶ Zosterops borbonica (Boddaert).
""
¶
""
E.-Newtoni (Hartlaub).
olivacea (Linnæus).
¶ Pratincola tectec (Gmelin).
¶ Hypsipetes borbonicus (Gmelin).
* Terpsiphone bourbonnensis (P. L. S. Müller).
¶ Oxynotus Newtoni (Pollen).
* Phedina borbonica (Gmelin).
* Collocalia francica (Gmelin).
† ¶ Mascarinus duboisi (W. A. Forbes).
† ¶ Palæornis eques (Boddaert).
¶ (?) Circus Maillardi (J. Verreaux).
§ Ardea gularis (Bosc).
§ (?)
$ (?)
cos cas cos
""
""
garzetta (Linnæus).
bubulcus (Savigny).
§ (?) Fregata minor (Gmelin).
Phaethon flavirostris (Gmelin).
(?) Sula piscator (Linnæus).
¶ Didus (?) borbonicus (Schlegel).
* Gallinula pyrrhorrhoa (A. Newton).
Porphyrio madagascariensis (Gmelin), possibly
introduced.
Squatarola helvetica (Linnæus).
Ægialitis geoffroyi (Wagler).
""
pecuaria (Temminck and Laugier).
Strepsilas interpres (Linnæus).
Appendices
151
Tringoides hypozeucus (Linnæus).
(?) Tringa cinctus (Linnæus).
Numenius madagascariensis (Linnæus)
phæopus (Linnæus).
""
Anous stolidus (Linnæus).
""
tenuirostris (Temminck and Laugier).
Sterna anæstheta (Scopoli).
""
""
dougalli (Montagu).
melanogaster (Temminck and Laugier).
Gygis alba (Sparrman).
¶ Estrelata aterrima (J. Verreaux).
Puffinus chlororhynchus (Lesson).
obscurus (Gmelin).
""
Prion desolatus (Gmelin).
Besides seven other species of Petrels, of which specimens, said
to have been obtained in or near Bourbon, are preserved in the
Museum of St. Denis.
1
N.B.-M. Oustalet's recent paper on the ancient and modern
ornithological fauna of the Mascarene islands ¹ was not placed in the
hands of the Editor until the above appendices were already in the
press; and the mass of new and valuable information contained
therein could not be utilised in the present volume.
It is likewise to be noted that furze, or gorse, Ulex Europæus, is
mentioned by Dr. Cordemoy in his Flora of la Réunion² (1895), as
growing on the mountains in the island. This is especially curious
when taken into consideration with the fact that Bourbon has its own
species of Furze-chat, Pratincola tectec, which—as appears in the
above list-occurs nowhere else. This interesting circumstance has
been pointed out by Professor Newton of Cambridge.
1 Notice sur la Faune Ornithologique ancienne et moderne des Iles Mas-
careignes et en particulier de l'île Maurice d'après des documents inédits, par
M. E. Oustalet (Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie. Paris, 1896).
2 Flora de l'Ile de la Réunion (Phanérogames, Cryptogames vasculaires,
Muscinées) avec l'indication des propriétes économiques & industrielles des
Plantes, par E. Jacob de Cordemoy. (Paris, 1895.)
POSTSCRIPT
The translator of the VOYAGES OF THE SIEUR D.B. has now to
ask his brother members of the Hakluyt Society to extend the same
indulgence which they granted to his Hakluyt edition of LEGUAT'S
VOYAGE to its supplement. He is but too well aware of the
imperfections and errors which must therein be discoverable by
historians and naturalists.
Although the information conveyed in the notes may appear
extremely meagre, its collection has involved no little labour and
many letters of inquiry.
Without the encouragement and assistance so readily accorded
to him by friends and strangers, at home and abroad, the work of
annotation would have been impossible.
For whatever value the present English edition of DUBOIS'
VOYAGES may be found to possess, the credit is due not so much to
the Editor as to those whose kind aid has enabled him to complete
the translation and editing of the early French voyager's quaint
record and to illustrate it as it deserves.
Among those to whom the Editor's most cordial acknowledg
ments are especially due must be named :—
PROFESSOR NEWTON, SIR EDWARD NEWTON, THE HON.
WALTER ROTHSCHILD, M. ALFRED GRANDIDIER, MR. F.
DUCANE GODMAN, DR. P. LUTLEY SCLATER, MR. J. E.
HARTING, DR. LOUIS CATAT, MR. C. W. BENNETT, M. A.
MILNE-EDWARDS, M. E. OUSTALET, M. R. DE KERALLAIN,
and DR. AUGUSTE VINSON.
INDEX
:
1
1
INDEX1
*ACAJOUS, fruit (cashew), 86.
*Accouchement of women of Madagas-
car, 53.
*Affouche or wild fig, 75.
Africa, 9.
Agulhas, Cape, 21.
*Air of Madagascar, 48.
of Mascaregne, 75.
Alives, 67.
*Alquierre of Rufisque, 11.
Amber, black, 68.
Ambergris, 9, 68.
*Ambericques, vegetables, 83.
Amethysts, 68.
*Ananas, fruit (pineapples), 85.
Ancients, The, 8.
*Andravois, 25.
*Anglois (English) possess the Island of
St. Helena, 101.
*Anguilles, eels of Mascarenne, 75.
*Animals, Familiar, in Island of Bour-
bon, 75.
are guests among the Banjans, 46.
*Anosse, province of, Madagascar, 25, 37,
65, 69.
*Antacques, small beans, 83.
*Antongil, province, 73, 92.
Aquamarines, 68.
*Arabs in Madagascar, 36.
*Arbre, marvellous tree in Isle of Ferro, 8.
Arpenti, L', the saw-yard near La
Rochelle, 106.
Arquebuzes, 38.
Arums, Water, 84.
*Ascension, Isle of, 102.
Assores, Isles of the, 103.
*Augustin, Cape of Saint, 4, 36, 40, 72.
Autigny, Sieur d', 33.
'Bathing or Baptism of those who have
not yet passed the Equinoctial Line, 18.
*Baytsileau, chief of Madagascar (Bet-
sileo), 50.
*Beasts (cattle) of Madagascar, 64.
Beaulieu, Captain, 33.
*Beef and oxen of Madagascar, 64.
Beliche, the devil, 59.
Belle Isles or Bellelles (shells), 68.
*Benjoins, gum-trees of Madagascar, 74.
*Black men respect the Whites, 52.
Blanc, Cape, 9.
*Bléd de Mascarenne (Mascarenne corn),
83, 87.
*Bléd de Turkie (Indian corn, or long
millet), 83.
Blue birds, 80.
Boars, Wild, 9.
*Bois in Isle of Bourbon (woods), 74.
*Bonne Lame. Hooker commanded by
Sieur Chanlatte, 93.
Boucassin, 81.
*Bourbon, Island of, or Mascarenne, its
description, 74.
Bourys, 64.
*Bremans or Bramanes, doctors, 46.
Bretesche, Sieur de la, 97.
*Buildings of Madagascar, 52.
*Butors (birds), 77.
*CABBAGES of Mascarenne, 87.
*Cabrits (goats) of Madagascar, 66.
Callendres or huppes, 78.
*Calms, under the Line, 17, 103.
*Cambarres, roots (yams), 83.
*Cameleons in Madagascar, 62.
Canaries Isles, 8.
*Canarts of Madagascar (ducks), 67.
Cancer, Tropic of, 8, 103.
*BAIGNANS or Banjans, rich merchants, *Canes, Sugar, 84.
46, 47, 98.
*Bananas or Adam's figs, 63, 85.
Barbary, Shores of, 9.
Barbault, the ship, 93, 99.
*Canoes of the Blacks, 10.
*Cape Agulhas, 21.
Blanc, 9.
Finisterre, 7, 105.
1 The original entries have an asterisk prefixed, and many of the French terms are preserved,
in order that a similar order of alliteration as in original text may be followed.
0
156
Index
Cape of Good Hope, 20, 100.
of Storms, 20, 100.
St. Augustin, 4, 36, 40, 72.
St. Vincent, 7.
Verd, its inhabitants, 9 et seq.
islands of, 17.
Capitan, The, Portuguese ship, 37.
*Cappe à la, putting a vessel, 19, 99, 104.
Captain de Preaux Mercy of Royal Navy
and Envoy, 24.
Captain, Tongue, or Interpreter, II.
Water, at Cape Verd, 12.
Wood, 12.
Captains of merchant-vessels-
Chanlatte of the Saint Jacques, 29.
Cornuel of the Saint Paul, 7.
de Bois Pean of La Mariée, 30.
de la Moisse, of the Saint Denis, 29.
Marchand of La Force, 30.
Company of the East Indies, 8.
of the West Indies, 9.
Coral, 58.
Cornelians, 58.
Cornuel, The Sieur, commanding the
ship St. Paul, 7.
Corsairs, Turkish, 8.
*Cotton trees in Madagascar, 66.
Counsellor of the king, M. Loyseau, 1.
Court of the Alquierre, 11.
(
Cows, Sea, 9.
Crags and Craters,' 'Rambles in Ré-
union,' xxxv.
*Crocodiles at Madagascar, 60.
*Crystal of Madagascar, 68.
*Cucumber of India, 87.
DAUPHINE Anse, 99.
Dauphine, Isle, 25.
Captains of men-of-war in Admiral de la | *Dauphin, Fort, 25, 27, 37, 49, 96.
Haye's squadron-
Beaulieu of the Sultanne, 33.
de la Clide of the Indienne, 33.
de Luché of the Julles, 32.
D. B., The Sr., Journal and Relation
of, 7.
Defunct, the, Manes of, 57.
Demon, 15, 59.
de Turelle, chief of squadron, of *Denis, Saint, settlement of the Island of
the Navarre, 32.
Desmarets of the St. Jean, 32.
Duclos of the Breton, 93.
Dudros of the Diligente, 32.
Dumayne of the Flamand, 32.
Du Pré of the Europe, 33.
Forans of the Triomphe, 32.
Languillet, second chief of squadron
of the Navarre, 32.
Carcanossi, equivalent to Antakanosy, 5.
Casemated Battery at Fort Dauphin, 26.
Castor and Pollux, 104.
Caterpillars, 91.
Cayemans, 60.
*Cazes or cottages of Cape Verdiens, 11.
Centipedes, 62.
*Champmargou, M. de, is feared by the
blacks, 40.
Chanlatte, Sieur, 29.
*Chasse or hunting, sport and game in
Isle of Bourbon, 24, 89.
*Chauve Souris or Fany (bats), 81.
*Chevaux sauvages (wild horses), 101.
Chiefs of Madagascar, 5.
Cider, species of (palm-wine), 14.
*Circumcision of the Malagasy, 54.
*Citrouilles of Mascarenne, 87.
Clide, Sieur de la, 33.
*Colonies in Madagascar, 70.
*Colic or paralysis, 26.
Mascarenne, 24, 72, 93.
Desbrosses, Sieur, 50.
Desmarets, M., 32.
Despinay, M., 33.
Despinay, Monsieur, Procureur-General,
25.
*Devil, The, ill-treats the Cape Verdiens
and the Malagasy, 15, 58.
Dhows, 31.
*Dian (or Adrian) at Madagascar, 27,
96, 97.
Dian Manangue, 96, 97.
Dian Ponin, 27.
Dieppois, 21.
Diligente, La, 72.
Disagreeable inconveniences of Island,
90.
*Diversions of the Madagascars, 62, 63.
Doctors, styled Marabous, at Cape Verd,
15.
Dodaarsen, xxiii.
Dodo, white, xxvii.
Does, 9.
Dorados, Description of, 22.
Drumhead cabbages, 87.
Dubois, the author's Epistle Dedica-
tory, 2.
Duboisi Mascarinus, 91.
Ducks, 69.
river, of Bourbon, 76.
Index
157
Dudros, Sieur, 32.
Dumayne, Sieur, captain, 32.
Du Pré, Sieur, 33.
Dutch Flag, 8.
Dutch, War with the, 100, 101.
*EAUX, bad water at Saint Helena, 101.
*Emounouques or tombs, 56, 57.
*Esclaves (noirs), black slaves, 92.
Esperance, Cap de bonne, 20, 100.
Estienne, the missionary priest, massacre
of, 97.
*Estoille du Midi (the Southern Cross), 8.
Europe, L', ship, 72.
*Europeans at Madagascar, 52.
*Exposure or slaughter of infants, 54.
*FANSHERRE, River of, 61.
*Femmes, women of the Banjans, 47.
of Cape Verd (women), 14, 15.
of Madagascar (women), 51, 53, 69.
*Fer, Island of, Ferro, 8.
*Ferruginous mines at Madagascar, 67.
*Feuilles, foliage of the fan palms (Lata-
niers), Lataigniers, 74.
*Féves of Brasil, 83.
*
Géographe du Roi, 3.
Gigantic tortoises, 79.
Gigault, The Sieur, pilot, 35.
*Gilles, settlement of Mascarenne, 4, 82.
Goats, 76.
*Grains and tempests (squalls), 17.
*Grands, chiefs of Madagascar, 49, 54.
Grateloup, M. de, 34.
*Gris-Gris or magic characters, 15.
Grouay, Isle of, near Port Louis, 7.
*Guerres of the Madagascarois, 119.
of the Matatanois, 55.
against Ramousset, 37.
against Rahessaf, 64, 65.
*HABILIMENTS of the Cape Verdiens, 12,
14.
of those of Madagascar, 51.
*Habitants, French, at Madagascar, 69.
of the Isle of Bourbon or Mas-
carenne, 82.
of Cape of Good Hope, 100.
*Habitations of Isle of Bourbon, 24, 82.
*Haye, M. de la, admiral, governor and
lieutenant for the king in the seas and
countries of the east, 32, 33.
Filles de Madagascar, shameless girls, 69. *Hayfouchy, La, chief of Madagascar, 49.
amoureuses, black, 14, 15.
*Finisterre, Cape of, 7, 105.
*Fire of Saint Elmo, 104.
Flag, Dutch, 8.
French, 8.
Flamand, ship, 72.
*Flamants, Oyseaux (flamingoes), 66, 76.
Flies of Madagascar, Mascarenne, 90, 91.
Force, La, ship, 30.
*Foye-gras (liver) of tortoises, 79.
*French, The, at Madagascar, 69.
flag, The, 8.
*Fruits of Madagascar, 63.
*
of Mascarenne, 85.
*Funeral ceremonies of the Banjans, 47.
of the Cape Verdiens, 16.
of the Madagascarois, 57.
*GALEMBOULE, Province of, 73, 92.
Gardens of Mascarrene, produce, 87.
of Madagascar, 69.
Garets, The, or scurvy, 21.
is rich in cattle, 50.
Hedgehogs, or tanrecs, 67.
*Helena, Island of Saint, IOI.
Helmet-shells, 68.
*Hollandois (Dutch), Island of, at the
Cape Verd, 16.
Hondsaw, master of village, 70.
Honey, 64.
Horacs (marshes), 70.
Houraguan of Mascarenne, 90.
Humps of fat on oxen, 64.
*Huppes (Hoopoe) or callendres, 78.
*Hure, La, governor of Isle of Masca-
renne, 94.
Hydromel, betsa-belsa, 64.
*INCONVENIENCES of Mascarenne, 90.
*Indians, cowardly, 43, 45.
Indienne, the ship, 33.
*Indigo, at Mascarenne, 84.
*Itaperre, 45.
Gauffre, The, a diversion of the Mala- *JARDINAGES of the Island of Masca-
gasy, 63.
Gauziers, Grands, or bitterns, 77.
Geese, Wild, or Rassangles, 66.
Geographers of France and of Holland,
3.
renne, 87.
*Jardins of Madagascar, 69.
*Jealousy of the Madagascarois, 53.
*Joan, Don, Portuguese, 13.
*Jours, unlucky days, 54.
158
Index
Judaism, 53.
Julles, Le, king's ship, 32.
KING of Portugal, 103.
LA BARRE, M. de, 106.
La Bretesche, Sieur de, 96, 97.
Mascarenne or Bourbon, Sparrows in,
79.
Honey of, 88.
*Matatanes, Province of Madagascar, 25.
*Matatanois, The, 97, 98.
Mats, Rivers des, 4, 35, 36.
*Maurice, Island of (Mauritius), 23.
La Hayfouchy, or La, Héfonti (Lahi- *Melons, Water, of Mascarenne, 87.
fotsy), 4, 49, 50, 51.
La Hure, The Sieur, 73, 94.
Lambas, 66.
*Lamottes (fruits), 63.
Languillet, M., 32.
La Reynie, M. de, 106.
*Lataigniers (fan-palm trees), 74.
Lemons, 86.
Letter Dedicatory to Monsieur Loyseau,
I, 2.
Lettuces, 87.
Lodge of the French at Surat, 43.
Louis XIV., Rex Christianissimus, 2.
*Louppes of fat, 64.
Loyseau, Monsieur, 1.
Luché, M. de, 32.
*MACELLAGE, old and new, 4, 35, 36.
*Machicores, Province of the, 4, 49, 50,
108.
*Madagascar, Honey of, 64.
Flies of, 90.
Island of, names, 49.
Island of, 64.
Map of, 3.
Provinces of, 49.
Mahometanism, 53.
Mahosse mud, 70.
*Malabar, Pirates of, 31.
*Malades in Isle of Bourbon, 75.
*Manambarre, Plain of, 37, 38.
*Manangue Dian, Treachery of, 97.
Manes of defunct, 57.
Mannelers, 51.
*Manners of the Cape Verdiens, 16.
of the Malagasy, 52.
Merlins, 79.
Mesnard, Sieur, 41.
Mesquiller, 58.
Metempsychosis, 46.
*Miel, Honey of Madagascar, 64.
*Mines of Iron, 67.
*Missionaries, 42.
*Mitave, to perform, What it is, 35, 50,
63.
*Mogul, The Great, 44.
*Moineaux, sparrows of Bourbon, 79.
*Mondevergue, M., governor of Mada-
gascar, 25, 27, 30, 33, 45.
Monkeys, Species of (lemurs), 67.
Monomotapa or Prester Jan, kingdom
of, 100.
*Montagne Rouge, 82.
*Mouches, flies of Mascarenne, 90.
Mozambique, 31.
*Mullattes (Mulattoes), 13.
*Mutton of Madagascar (sheep), 66.
NAVARRE, LA, Admiral's flag-ship, 72.
*Noirs, at Madagascar, 52.
Nuts, 88.
*OEUFS of Tortoises, 80, 81.
Olly, a fetish, 58, 65.
Ollonne, Sables d', 106.
*Onions of Mascarenne, 88.
*Oranges of Madagascar, 63.
*Orgues d'un Vaisseau (hawse-holes), 104.
Orleans, 43.
Orvietan, 22.
*Ouvys Foutchy or white roots (yams),
83.
Map of the Isles of Madagascar and of *Ouvys mennes, or Patates, 84.
Mascarenne, 3.
*Oyes, wild, 76.
*Marabous or doctors of the Cape Ver- *Oyseaux bleus, 77, 79.
diens, 12, 15.
*Marfoutou village, 41.
Maroon (wild pigs) or cochon marron, 67.
Mariée, La, 30.
Mariette, Père, editeur, 3.
*Marriages of the Madagascarois, 53.
*Marsoüins (fish), 22.
*Mascaregne or Isle of Bourbon, 23, 74.
*Oyseaux of Madagascar, 66, 67.
of Mascarenne, 76.
of prey, 78.
Oysters, Pearl, 68.
*PAGODAS or temples, 46.
Palisse, La, Rade de, 106.
*Palmistes at Mascarenne, 74.
Index
159
*Pannes of Tortoises (cauls or bladders ?), | *SACRIFICE of the Malagasy, 57.
80.
*Papangues, birds, 78.
Paris, 3.
*Parrots, of divers sorts, 67, 78.
*Partridges of Madagascar, 67.
*Paul, Saint, a settlement of Mascaregne,
76, 82.
*Pays brûle at Mascarenne, 82.
of Mascarenne, 77.
Pearl oysters, 68.
Pentecost, 19.
Phenix, ship, 72.
*Pieds jaunes, birds, 78.
*Pierreries of Madagascar, 68.
*Pigeons, wild, 67, 69, 77.
See Ramiers, 67, 69, 77.
*Pintades, birds (guinea-fowls), 67.
Pirates, Malabar, 31.
*Pisces (flying fish), 23.
*Plastron of Tortoises, 81.
Porcupines, 67.
Port Louis, 7.
*Poulles d'eau (water-hens), 77.
*Praying to the devil by the Malagasy and
not to God, and wherefore, 59.
Preaux Mercy, M. de, 24, 25,
Preface to the reader, 3.
Procureur-General, M. Despinay, 25.
*Provinces of Madagascar, 49.
Provost, The, 18.
*Sagayes or Zagayes (arms), 55.
Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin, 104.
Augustin, Cape, 4.
Bernard in Bourbon, 3.
Denis, hooker, 29.
Denis, in Bourbon, 3.
Elmo, Fire of, 104.
Gilles, in Bourbon, 3.
Helena, 191.
Jacques, Rue.
Mariette in Paris, 3.
Residence of P.
Jean de Bayonne, 73.
Jean, Le petit, hooker, 29.
Laurens, Madagascar, Island of, 3.
Luc, Le, hooker, 31.
Martin's day, 102.
Paul Settlement in Bourbon, 3.
ship in which Dubois sailed, 7.
*Sainte Suzanne, Settlement at, 4, 82.
Vincent, Cape of, 7.
Salve, Regina, chanted, 28.
Samesam, 51.
Sands of Olonne, 106.
Sanson, Sieur, 3.
*Sargassum sea, 103.
*Saumague, The, a vessel named, 31.
* *Sauterelles of Madagascar, 68.
*Savagy, Prince, 42, 43.
Scuppers, Fire in the, 104.
*Scurvy sickness, 21.
Protector of Dubois's work (M. Loy- *Secatses or hermaphrodites, 63.
Seigneurs or chiefs, 5.
seau), I.
QUAILS, 67.
*RABERRY, assassin, 27, 28.
*Rafesle, master of village, 41.
*Rahessaf, chief of Madagascar, 64, 65.
*Senegal, a country of Africa, 9.
Serilles, 67.
*Silk-worms, 66.
Solstice, winter, 19.
*Serment, Oath of Malagasy, 59.
*Solitaires, birds, 77, 79.
*Sorcerers at Madagascar, 58.
*Ramiers of Madagascar, 67.
*Ramilange, enemy of the French, 38, *Souvou, what it is, 41, 56.
97.
Sparrows, 79.
*Ramousset, chief of Madagascar, 37, 97. | *Sterility of Madagascar, 68.
*Rassangles, birds, 66.
Raturierre, M. de, aide-de-camp, 34.
Regnault, Sieur, 23.
*Religion of the Banjans, 46.
of the Cape Verdiens, 15.
of the Madagascarois, 53, 58, 59.
*Requien, fish (shark), 22.
*Rice, how it is planted, 70, 83.
*Rivers of Isle Bourbon, 75.
*Rivière des Mats, 4, 36.
Rohandryes or sacrificers, 57.
*Rufisque village, 9.
*Suratte, town of the Mogul, is pillaged,
42.
Swearing, oath of the Madagascarois,
59, 60.
TE DEUM, The, 23.
*Tempests, 99, 100, 103, 105.
Terceira, La, 103.
*Terre of Isle Bourbon, 74.
of Madagascar, 49, 63.
Theriac, 22.
Thrushes, 78.
160
Index
*Thunder at Madagascar, 59.
Tigre, The, 106.
Topazes, 68.
*Tortoises' land, 24, 79, 80.
*Traffic of the French at Madagascar,
70.
Trembles or centipedes, 62.
Trinkets, 51.
*Tropic of Cancer, 8, 103.
of Capricorn, 19, 100.
Turkish Corsairs, Turks, 7, 8.
*Turtles, Sea, 24, 80.
UNFORTUNATE days, 54.
*VACHES de Madagascar, 64.
Vallalles (grasshoppers), 68.
*Vangasecs, oranges, 63, 86.
Vegetables, 63, 87.
Viceroy, M. de Mondevergue, 25.
*Vines of Mascarenne, 86.
Voa or crocodiles, 60.
*Voësmes, vegetables, 83.
*Voilles de Misenne, foresails, 19.
*Vontaques, fruits, 63.
*Voyage of Sieur des Brosses to the
Machicores, 50.
of M. de la Haye in the Island of
Mascarenne, 72.
des Indes, 31.
WAR with the Dutch, 101.
Wars, 55.
Weevils, 86.
*Wine from Sugar Cane, 64.
* from Palms, 64.
Winter Solstice, 19.
Wives, 53.
Wood-hens, 67.
ZANHARRE, 59.
*Zenith, Sun in the, 102.
*Zones, Temperate, Torrid, etc., 8, 19,
100, 103.

16
JACOBDELAHAYE
VICEROY
DES INDES

1
ARTES
LIBRARY
1837
VERITAS
SCIENTIA
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLURIBUS
TUEBOR
SI-QUÆRIS PENINSULAM-AMŒNAM.
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGUBBARD