MEMOIRS AND TRAVELS o i MAURITIUS AUGUSTUS COUNT DE BENYOWSKY. VOL. II. MEMOIRS AND TRAVELS o f MAURITIUS AUGUSTUS COUNT DE BENYOWSKY; magnate of the kingdoms of hungary and toland, one of the chiefs of the confederation of poland, &c, &c. CONSISTING OF HIS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN POLAND, HIS EXILE INTO KAMCHATKA, HIS ESCAPE AND VOYAGE FROM THAT PENINSULA THROUGH THE NORTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN, TOUCHING AT JAPAN AND FORMOSA, y^*S=^*^e:V TO CANTON IN CHINA, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE f éÊt$8kt FRENCH SETTLEMENT HE WAS APPOINTED ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT. WRITTEN BY TO FORM UPON THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR. TRANSLATED FROM TH! in two volumes. VOL II. london: printed for g. g. j. and j. robinson, pater-noster-row., MjDCCjXC. THE MEMOIRS and TRAVELS of the COUNT de BENYOWSKY. Continuation of the journal of a voyage from the peninsula of kamchatka to macao in china. MONDAY, Auguft 15th, 1771 : the veffel aground at the Ifland of Ufmay Ligon. After a lethargic fleep of four hours, I was awakened by the care of my aflociates, who had ufed continual friction* As foon as I recovered my fenfes, Mr. Panow informed me that we were on an Ifland inhabited by a people in a high (late of civilization, from whom I was about to receive a vifit ; and a very fhort time after, Mr. Cruftiew acquainted me that two of the iflanders were then at the entrance of Vol, IL B my my tent. I received them in the beft manner I could, and was in hopes of making myfelf underftood in the Japanefe language, by means of Mr. Bofcarew, whom I ordered to be called. All our efforts, however, were entirely ufelefs. They only fhook their heads, as a fign that they did not underftand us : but one of them prefented a paper to us, on which I perceived fome Latin letters. I received it with avidity, and it was with great pleafure that I read its contents in the Latin language to the following purport. " The Health of our Lord Jefiis to the Reader." my hopes. In the year 1750 my other three brothers repaired to the adjacent iilands, and there is no doubt but that they performed their duty with as much zeal as myfelf. In the year 1754, finding myfelf opprcfled with illnefs, I thought proper to communicate the prefent declaration to 3o \v>ftjV!.'--vj '?r!i m ,nxti now ml the the chiefs of the ifland, in order that they might give the moft neccnary information to thofe of the Company of Je-fus, who might be conducted by Providence to this ifland, to enable them to employ their zeal and ftrength for the good of chriftianity, by promulgating the name of our Saviour among this people, who are fober, and of good manners, and live in the moft abfolute independence, both of China and Japan. Excepting fome merchant veiTels of thofe nations, no other have ever been feen here. Ne-verthelefs I have feen Dutch veflels pafs at a very fmall diftance from this ifland. A. M. D. G. B. V. M. E. S. P. N. I. Done the 18th September, 1754, at the Ifland Ufmay Ligon." Ignatio Salis, Milîionary to the Indies, of the Society of Jefus, and of the Portuguefe Nation. After I had perufed this paper, I returned it to the per-fon from whom I received it. But I firft killed it, which mark of refpect feemed to have conciliated their ef-teem : they gave us to underftand by figns that they were defirous of returning to inform their countrymen of the news. After their departure, finding myfelf entirely recovered, I went out to fee the fituation of the work, and I had the fatisfactioii to find that the veflel was entirely unladen. But my grief was extreme to fee that all our furs were rotten. I gave orders therefore to open all the packages, and expofe the whole to the air, with a view to favc at leaft, part. I charged Mr. Baturm to fuperintcnd this B 2 bulinefs^ bufinefs, as it related to the only refource on which we could depend, when we fhould arrive at China. On the approach of night, we appointed a guard and centinels, and the night pafled in the moft profound tranquility. At day break I was informed that other inhabitants of the country had prefented themfelves, to the number of three hundred, without arms, each perfon having nothing but a parafol in his hand. Two chiefs, who preceded them, approached me, and after having made the fign of the crofs, they prefented their hands, and then exhibited to me an old Breviary, which was borne upon a carpet by four men. By the infcription I faw that the Breviary had belonged to the Miihonary Salis, and in order to join in the refpecr. thefê iflanders fhewed to the memory of that Jefuït, I likewife kifîéd this book. I then gave orders to my companions to bring a large crucifix, which they had taken out of the Church of Bolfha. I directed them to-prefent it to the iflanders. It was covered with a veil, and as foon as this was raifed, the iflanders fell on their knees, and raifing their hands towards heaven, cried out Hifos, Hifos,Chriftos, Chriftos, and as I faw that they would not rife as long as the crucifix was before them, I caufed it to be removed ; whereupon the two chiefs arofe, and embraced me alternately, and gave me to underftand that their friendfhip was fincere. It was unfortunate that we could not make ourfelves underftood by words, and we found much difficulty in the ufe of figns. I fucceeded however in explaining, by my figns and geftures, that our vefTel was damaged, and that we were in want of habitations and frefh provisions. Having Having thus comprehended my requeft, they left me ; and in the courfe of an hour we fàw feveral boats arrive, which brought mats and wood, and others with people on board, who came to build huts for us. Another party of the iflanders arrived with rice, potatoes, bananas, fugar-canes, a kind of brandy, with provifions of fifh, flefh, and fruit. Thefe immediately fet to work to cook for us all. Laftly, about noon, another party arrived with carpenter's tools, and gave us to underftand that they were difpofed to affift us, by working on board. I was defirous however that the company fhould have fome reft, and therefore made figns that the work would not begin till two days after. According to the Report, five fick: the vefl'el aground at the ifland Ufmay Ligon. Tuefday, Auguft the 16th: the whole company was buried in afTifting the natives of the country to conftruct cabins, in which four of the aflbciates might lodge together, or two officers. One hut was built for myfelf alone, at the head of the camp, about which we raifed a palifàde, flanked with four cannon. The inconvenience we fufTered in not being able to make ourfelves underftood by the iflanders, induced me to give orders to all the company who could write, to make a kind of Dictionary of Ruffian words, and enquire their fignification from the natives in their own language. This appeared to me to be the only practicable means of making ourfelves underftood. At two o'clock dinner was ferved up to the company. It confifted of rice, bananas, and potatoes, ftewed with flefh ; and our new cooks informed us that the cuftom of of the country was to make three meals a day. For drink they gave us a kind of hydromel and arrack. This day, being délirons of regulating every thing which concerned our intereft, I caufed the work to be renewed on board by fourteen aflbciates, under the command of Mr. Czurin : Mr.Kuzneczow undertook to repair the fails and rigging : Mr. Baturin, took charge of the cargo : Mr, Crufliew undertook to look to our fubfiftence : the military fervice was put under the command of Mr. Panow, and I undertook to treat with the natives of the country, whofe good and amiable character often excited in me the délire of fharing with them an eafy and happy life. For the ifland was exceedingly fertile ; the climate though hot, appeared excellent, and the people were independent. Thefe were powerful motives to a man who was weary of being the fport of fortune : but unfortunately the hour of my repofe was not yet arrived, and it was necef-fary for me to bear the burthen of the charge I had undertaken. In the evening feveral iflanders came to me, and being feated, they often repeated the word Dzignaro, railing their hands towards the fky. Mr. Panow was the firft who fufpected that they meant to pronounce Ignatio, and in fa61 when they attempted to repeat that word, they always {aid Dzignaro. The refpect with which they pronounced this name, convinced me that the Miflionary had fkill-fully availed himfelf of their difpofitions to imprefs them with the moft profound reverence for his religion. They left me at laft with much regret. After their departure I collected the different notes of the names of things which had been made in the language of the country, according 2 my my orders, and I had the fatisfaction to find, that their number amounted to above a hundred, which could not fail of proving highly ufeful. Mr. Kuzneczow requefted permiflion to make an excurfion over the ifland with fome of the alfociatesj but I refufed him that fatisfac~Uon, at the fame time obferving, that I was apprehenfive of giving occasion to fome mifunderftanding between our people and the natives. The night pafied in a ftate of tranquility, and in the morning I was vifited by an iflander of diftinclion, whom I then faw for the firft time. He was attended by a number of others, among whom I perceived feveral of our earlier friends ; and as all the natives fhew^d him the moft profound veneration, I judged it proper likewife to pay a particular attention, to Him. He was clothed in a robe of fky blue taffeta, with a long cloak of white (ilk, a black fafh, and wooden flippers, covered with fatin. On his head he wore a kind of hat of a very fine fur. When he came near me he likewife made the fign of the crofs, and took me by the hand. I did the fame, and as I had learned fome words of the language, I faluted him, by pronouncing the word 7ho. He inclined his head, and fmil-ed at my embaiTaffment. But I was greatly furprifed to hear him fpeak to me in very bad Portuguefe, though fuf-ficient to make himfelf underftood. He faid, Sinor eo fono Tunqunio vay con Padre Dzignaro ejlas IJlas Ujma Padre vay morte eo fies a ca Capiton di Genté. I comprehended that he meant to inform me that he was a native of Tonquin, who came to thofe iflands with Father Ignatio, and that the father being dead, he remained, and was chief of the people. This difcovery of the power of making myfelf myfelf underftood gave me the higheft pleafure. I feiz-ed the immediate occafion to exprefs my joy. He then demanded if I was deftrous of feeing the tomb of Dzignaro; and upon my anfwering in the affirmative, he appointed three old men of distinction to accompany me. But as it was neceflary to crofs the bay, we embarked in the fhallop, with Meffrs. Panow, Kuzneczow and Ba-turin. Our conductors directed us to the mouth of a river, where the fhallop, not being able to enter, we anchored, and the natives called boats, which fet us on fhore. On our landing we found about fifty perfons of both fexes, who kneeled down, and cried I/o Dzignaro^ (The Friend of Ignatio.) Our conductors then led us to a garden, where we found an old man, bufied in collecting flowers and plants. He introduced us into a very neat and well-built hut, and entertained us with tea, but without fugar. Our conductors then fpoke privately with him, who immediately made a fign to us to follow him, and led us to a fmall hill, which overlooked a very agreeable valley, regularly planted with pulfe and fugar canes. When we arrived at the fummit we found a fmall fquare building, in the interior part of which we faw an altar, and upon it a crucifix, and an image of St. Mary, which, though very ill executed, was diftinguifhed by the crefcent beneath her feet, and the crown on her head. I obferved the letters upon the crown which are re-prcfented in fig. i5 plate 16. The guardian of the chapel fliewed me likewife two urns, in which the afhes of Dzignaro (Father Ignatio) were contained. At going out of the chapel I could dearly diftinguifti the letters I. H. S. O. H. M. D. G. B. B. V. M. O. S. Nque JE SU, Anno 1751. ï likewife obferved fome verfes, but the writing was fo much decayed that I could not make out a fingle line. After having vifited the facrcd monuments of thofe people, I returned home, where I learned, with the greateft fatisfaction, that the damages of the veffel would be eafily repaired, and that our people was employed in making new pumps, the old ones being unfit for fervice. Mr. Czu-rin having likewife informed me that the main top fail yawl was fprung, I gave him orders to fearch in the woods for a piece to replace it, but I was anfwered that the natives had brought feveral pieces exceedingly proper for the pur-pofe. This day I gave orders for distributing pieces of liJk and cotton to the company, to make fhirts, frocks, and trowfers, in order that they might all have an uniform appearance. Mr. Winbladth, who, notwithstanding my prohibition, had made an excursion, informed me, that he had feen very handfome habitations and villages, and had obferved large quantities of different fruits, fuch as cocoa nuts, oranges, lemons, pine-apples, bananas, water melons, fweet mêlions, grapes, potatoes, rice, maize, millet, peas, and other pulfe ; and that in the plantations he had feen bee-hives, fugar-canes, tobacco and cotton. He af-fured me befides that he had vifited a manufactory of pottery and a distillery of fpirits ; and added, that all the women in the villages were bufied in making fluffs, either of filk or cotton. I verified this information myfelf the fame day, and my flay upon this fortunate ifland increafed my ardent defire to form an eftablifhment there. According to the Report, two fick : the fhip under repair. Vol. IL C Wednefday, w Wednefday, August the 17th, we had fcarcely finifhcd our repaft, when the Tonquin Captain arrived; I informed him of my wifhes, and the advantageous idea I had formed of the happinefs of this people. He replied, that it depended only on myfelf, whether I mould fix my relidenee among them, and that if I chofe it, he would propofe to the nation to give me a tract of land > but in the firft place he was defirous of knowing who I was ; how we came to the ifland, &c. I told him the truth, and my narration, though it was impoflible he fhould well understand it, affected him fo much, that he wept, and offered me his friendfhip. It was, doubtlefs, with a view to repay my confidence, that he likewife related his adventures, which were to the following effect. He was born at Tonquin, of a free family and ftudied at Siam in the college of Mifllonaries. He afterwards, accompanied a Miffionary to China, who joining himfelf with three others, at Nankin, embarked together with himfelf in a Chinefe veffel, called a Sampan, which conveyed them to one of the iflands of Ufmay. Father Ignatio eftablifhed himfelf, at this Ifland, Ufmay Ligon, and the others departed for other iflands. He afterwards gave a full, account of the means employed by Father Ignatio to convert the iflanders to Christianity, and protested that the fàid Father enjoyed a fupreme power in this ifland, until his death ; after which the iflanders forced him to marry among them. He obferved that they had the greatest veneration for himfelf ; but he declared that it was not in confequence of any particular, right attached to his perfon, as the government of the ifland depended on an affembly of old men, to which the chiefs of the families of the neighbouring iflands were often invited. This form of government furprized me, and I could could not avoid afking a thoufand questions, which led me to a juft idea of the constitution and government of this people, of which I propofe to give a note at the end of the Journal of my happy residence on this ifland. Our difcourfe was interrupted by the arrival of a troop of iflanders, whom my friend Nicholas informed of my defire to eftablifh myfelf amongst them : this declaration was very agreeable to them, for they affured me that they would divide their pofïefîions with us, instruct us in the manner of working and tilling the ground, and would give us their daughters in marriage. But as I faw that the idea of our eftablifhment gave them great fatisfaction, and was aware that in order to form a colony it was neceffary I fhould be provided with a fet of men, very different from my prefent companions ; I thought it proper to inform them that my eftablifhment could not take place until two years were elapfed, which were neceffary for me to return to Europe, and return back again. I found no difficulty in bringing thefe estimable people to my wifh ; the open fimplicity of their anfwers fhewed their virtuous and innocent difpofitions. They affured me that they would pray to God for my happy voyage, and quick return, and that during my stay I might confider them as my brothers. After this declaration, they demanded, why I did not come among them, nor permit my companions to live with them in a cordial manner. I declared to Nicholas that my only apprehension was that our good intelligence might be interrupted by the inconsistency of my companions, who might difpleafe the iflanders by careffmg their women. But he fet my mind at eafe in that refpect, by C 2 informing informing me that they were at liberty to connecl them-felves with the girls, provided they abstained from the married women, who were known by a veil which covered them. Upon this affurance, I promifed that from thenceforth, considering the natives of this ifland as our brothers, we would vifit them. But I preffed M. Nicholas to make my excufes for not having politely informed the ladies before hand, and apologized by freely telling my reafons, and the fears I had entertained. The iflanders anfwered laughing, that their daughters were younger than their wives, and that therefore I had no reafon to fear their dif-pleafure on that account. After this explanation, the iflanders retired, no doubt for the purpofe of acquainting their families, with the intention that they might receive us with kindnefs. When they were gone, I afTembled the company, communicated my apprehenfions to them, and required of each individual a folemn promife to behave with the utmoft circum-fpeclion to thefe iflanders ; and having received their oaths, I declared that they were free to vifit the whole ifland, provided one third of their number always remained at work. This news produced univerfal joy among them, and they immediately difperfed themfelves, but without arms, as I had caufed them to leave their arms with me. In the evening a meeting was held, confifting of Mr. Cruftiew, Panow, Kuzneczow, Baturin, Winbladth, Meder, Gurcfi-nin and Czurin, where we debated on the means of deriving advantage from the difcovery and knowledge we had acquired of this fortunate ifland. We determined that the difpofition of our companions rendered it impoffible to leave any of them behind ; for I was defirous of leaving a party in in order to difpofe the minds of the natives to receive a colony in future. Being thus difappointed in my hopes, I felt the moft lively regret at not being able to profit by fo favourable an occasion ; and after having difmiftld the meeting, I was plunged in a feries of reflections which were exceedingly diftrefling. At day break I repaired to the nearest village, which was not above a quarter of an hour's walk from our camp ; but concealed by a thick wood. Upon my arrival near the enclosure, I was received in a small building of wood, from which I could easily fee all the houfes in the village. It confifted of about eighty houfes, each having a court-yard before, it with a garden and feveral huts, or out-houfes. All the houfes were constructed of wood, and covered with planks, and formed a Angle, wide, and handfome ftreet, bordered on each fide by very lofty and tufted trees. Upon entering the village I met Nicholas, who conducted me to his houfe, before which all the people were aftembled. He afked me if I was difpofed to make choice of a girl, but, as I replied in the negative, he declared that my companions were of a better composition ; and, in fact, I found few of them who were not accompanied by young women, fome of whom were real beauties. My friend Nicholas regaled us with tea, and engaged the iflanders to form matches at wrestling, at which they are very expert, and afterwards the young women danced to the found of feveral stringed in-ftruments. Thefe amufements lasted till the rcpaft was fcrvcd up in the court-yard of the houfe, which was a fquare enclofure, furrounded with trees. Every head of a family caufed difhes, ready dreffed, to be brought from his own houfe, and the whole was conducted in fuch a manner that every every one contributed his fhare, without the charge falling upon any individual. The women eat feparately, and the young women waited on both parties. At the end of our meal, the juice of fugar cane, which we drank, was mixed with a kind of fpirit made from rice. This drink was very ftong and exhilerating. From one subject to another, our converfation at laft returned to the pro-pofal made to me to choofe one of their young women, which was again urged, and at laft fo ftrongly prefled, that I could not avoid faying that I was willing to make my choice at that time, but mould referve the accomplifhment of my marriage till I returned. I had fcarcely faid this, before the chiefs arofe, and the whole company difappeared, and left me alone with my friend Nicholas, by whom I was informed that the iflanders were gone to nominate feven young women to be prefented to me, in order that I might choofe a wife from among them. In fact, we had fcarcely time to take a furvey of his court-yard, his garden, and the fmall houfes of his women, (for a plurality of wives is eftablifhed and conftitutional, notwithstanding the religion of Father Ignatio) before we were informed of the arrival of the iflanders. The old men firft feated themfelves upon mats in the court, forming a circle. Seven women, whofe faces were covered, led each a young woman, clothed from head to foot in white filk, with a blue fafh ; their hair flowed loofe on their fhculders, and was interwoven with flowers. When the feven young women entered the circle, my friend Nicholas led me likewife there, and requested me to fit down and examine thefe charming objects, in order to determine my choice. During this interval, one of the old men pronounced pronounced a difcourfe of fome length, which he ended by prefenting me with a veil, and by the mediation of Nicholas, he gave me to understand, that I was requested to cover her with it, on whom my affections were fixed. The choice would have been rather difficult, if it had really been incumbent on me to decide ; for there were three among them who might have difputed the preference with the moft perfect work of living nature. But as my embarraffmentwas only imaginary, I afked my friend whether my choice would not offend the others, and upon his anfwering in the negative, I threw the veil over one of them. The others immediately began to dance round her, and carefs her, and at laft conducted her out of the houfe to the street, where fbe was preceded by musical instruments. My friend Nicholas informed me that this ceremony would laft upwards of an hour, becaufe the young woman would be conducted to every houfe, to announce her own marriage, and receive prefents. In the mean time the chiefs were regaled with tea, and fmoked tobacco. About five o'clock I law the new married lady return, conducted by her mother, who was about four or five and thirty years of age, and they were accompanied by a refpectable old man, who was grandfather tç the young woman. This old man made a fpeech, and embraced me ; the mother put her daughter into my hands, and leaving her with me, they difappeared suddenly, as did likewife the reft of the chiefs, Nicholas then acquainted me that I muft myfelf conduct the young lady to his houfe, in which he alTifted me, by leading the way. At the door of this houfe flie quitted me, and Nicholas attended me back to the camp. During our walk, he informed me, that the newly married young woman was the daughter of a very devout christian christian mother, who had been conftantly attached to Father Ignatio ; and as he had mentioned his grandfather to me without telling the name of his father, I queftioned him positively on the subject. He at firft affected concealment, but at laft confeffed that Seignior Dzignaro was his father, and he had likewife two elder lifters, who were among the feven prefented to me for my choice. He informed me that the young perfon I had chofen was named Tinto Volangta, (or luminous moon) and that I might certainly expect her loon at my own place of refidence. He then left me, after promifing to come again to vifit me in the morning. As foon as I found myfelf alone, I informed my companions of my adventure, and feveral of them determined to pafs the night with me, in order to avoid certain embarraiT-ments ; and to anfwer this purpofe more effectually, I re-quelled all the female companions of our voyage to be pre-fent, to amufe thofe who might come from the village. At nine o'clock I was acquainted with the arrival of a body of young women, who came towards our camp ringing. Their number amounted to twenty, and they were received and introduced by our women. But as foon as Tinto Volangta entered my hut, the others retired, fo that I found myfelf under the neceflity of havjng a female companion. It was a fortunate circumftance that one of our lady paffengers was greatly interested by the young iflander, and gave her much entertainment by finging and mufic ; but the reft of our converfation was pantomime. The break of day furprifed us without fleep, except the Ufmayan lady, who fell afleep about eight o'clock. When {he awoke, two other young women attended to drefs her, and afterwards ftaid with her. At ten my friend Nicholas i arrived arrived with a numerous company. I went out to meet them, and upon being informed that they came to make a treaty, or oath, I gave immediate orders for alTembling our company. The heads of the contract were, that the inhabitants of Ufmay Ligon, mould acknowledge me as their friend, and that I fhould engage in an attachment to them. That as I was about to leave them? only with the intention of returning to form an eftablifhment amongthem, they would clear a piece of land on the Southern part of the ifland, and build a village, of two hundred houfes, for the accommodation of myfelf, and thofe who might come with me. And laftly, that on my return to Ufmay, I fhould conform to all the ufages and laws of my friends. Thefe articles being ratified by the invocation of God, the creator of all things, 1 thought it incumbent on me to make my new countrymen a prefent. Accordingly I gave them eighty mufquets, twenty barrels of powder, ten barrels of ball, fix rmndred Japanefe fabres, fix hundred lances, and twelve hundred different articles of iron work. This prefent was highly valuable to them, for they had not above ten mufquets on the ifland, and thofe had matchlocks. It was a very unfortunate circumftance that I could not leave a detachment on this ifland. According to the Report one fick : the fhip under repair, careening. Thurfday, Auguft 18. About two in the evening, the iflanders brought ten oxen, forty hogs, a quantity of rice, millet, and other provifions. On this day likewife, having, by the credit of Nicholas, brought the chiefs to liften to my reafons, I fent Tinto Volangta back to her mother's houfe, whom I loaded with prefents from the Japanefe prize. As Vol. II. D to to my friend Nicholas, I made him a considerable prefent of furs, though I had but a fmall quantity remaining, the fea water having damaged almoft all the packages. In the evening I informed the iflanders of my approaching departure, at which they were greatly affe&ed, and expressed their regret on the occasion. The open and benevolent character of this estimable people, was fuch as will make me ever regret that I could not fix my abode here, where the vicea and wickednefs of Europe are yet unknown, and the government is founded only upon the principles of humanity. After the departure of the iflanders, I ordered my people to float the vefTel, and get the cargo on board. Our work commenced the next day. At nine o'clock, five of the af-fociates appeared before me, and demanded permilTion to remain upon the ifland. I faw that their refolution was fixed ; and having reafon to fear that they might excite a greater number of the company to the fame determination, I re-prefented to them that they were wrong in taking fuch a refolution at this time, as they were fure of returning : for I protested to them that I would ufe every exertion, when we arrived in Europe, to obtain a proper armament to cftablifh a colony on the ifland. At firft they feemed dif-pofed to quit their purpofe ; but one of them, named Lap-fiew, declared that it was only a lofs of time to attempt to difiiiade them, as they were determined not to change their mind; and therefore, that if I were difpofed to give them a proof of my friendfhip, I might fhew it by leaving them a supply of tools, arms, and ammunition, I promifed this to make them eafy ; but I made them fwear that they would not feduce any. others of the company. When When they were gone, I aiTcmbled a Committee, to whom I communicated the defire of the five men. The Committee referred the bufinels to the General Meeting, which was immediately convened, and their decifion was, that leave fhould be given them to remain on the ifland. Three others joined them, and M. Stephanow was likewife defirous of remaining ; but the others refufed him, faying, that as they had taken their refolution for no other reafon than to live in peace, they would not have an incendiary among them. In confequence of this refolution of the meeting, I ordered Mr. Cruftiew to divide what we could fpare, into eight lots, in order that every fubfequent controverfy between our companions who were to remain behind, might be prevented by a proper diviilon made in our prefence. At eleven, we faw three large barks enter the harbour, where they anchored. My friend Nicholas informed me, that they were Japanefe, from the coaft of China, who were driven in by ftrefs of weather. He requeftcd, that I would invite them to come on fhore, which they did, bringing with them a prefent of tea, porcelain, and fome pearls. Auguft 19. This day we were vifited by upwards of one thoufand iflanders, every one bringing fome prefent. The whole amounted to upwards of one thoufand eight hundred ells of cloth, two hundred and five parafols, with a quantity of china velTels, and fome ivory figures, ornamented with gold. In the evening, by the mediation of Nicholas, I recommended to the iflanders thofe companions who had determined to remain, and they all protefted that they would receive and acknowledge them as friends D 2 and and brothers, and give them a {hare of their lands and pofTeffions. In this manner I fecurcd their refpective in-terefts. At four o'clock I gave orders for going on board. The value of my cargo was fo much reduced, that out of a million and a half of piastres which I expected to receive at China, I had fcarcely fufliçient to realize twenty or twenty-five thoufand piaftres. The night was employed in work ; and at day-break I had the fatisfaction to fee all my people on board. I judged it proper to alTure myfelf of the difpofition of the iflanders, by a formal oath and contract, which was drawn up in the language of Lequeio, and the counterpart in Latin, figned by both parties. I took the Latin part with me, and they preferved the other. Its contents were as follow ;— " A Treaty, concluded between the chiefs and people; " of the iflands. Lequeio, and the Baron Mauritius Au-i< guitus de Benyowfky, in the name of the company cc under his direction. Contracted and figned on the 19th " of Auguft, in the year 17715 at the ifland Ufmay Li-gon, one of Lequeio." u In the prefence of God, who created the heavens father ; and thou, unhappy friend, Stephanow, lay afide. thy haughtinefs, and that hatred which is concealed in the bottom of thy heart, againft this worthy friend.— Supply my place by thy fidelity to him." At thefe words I came forward ;—but my God, what a fight ! He feemed to have recovered all his powers. He grafped my hand, wept, and embraced me, btit was unable to fpeak for a long time. At length, he exclaimed, " Alas, dear friend ! friend ! I fhall foon be no more.—I am myfelf the caufe. —But forgive me.—-My laft wifh is, that heaven may ever give thee friends like me.—Thou art worthy of them, and happy are they who fhall know thy worth, as I do: May heaven grant, that this land, which foon fhall cover my bones, may be thy patrimony."—The power of death interrupted his words, and deprived me of this dear and moft valuable friend. Loginow had paid the debt of nature a few inftants before. I determined to bury them immediately ; but as 1 was defirous of providing, that their bodies might not be difturbed, I begged Don Hieronimo, to fpeak with his friends, the iflanders, and requeft permiflion to bury them on their territory. To this they readily confented, and we performed their funerals with the greateft order. I fired twenty-one guns on this occafion, and ordered Andreanow to engrave the following words on a ftone. cc Here lies Vafili Panow, a Ruffian gentleman of * illuftrious birth and merit, the faithful friend of Mauritius Benyowfky, who was treacheroufly flain, with two other companions, John Loginow and John Popow, by the inhabitants of this ifland, on the 29th of Auguft, 1771." After the burial, Don Hieronimo declared to me, that his friends had determined to avenge the death of my com^ panions ; and that, confequently, they would proceed to attack their neighbours, My aflbciates joined in this propofal for vengeance, which had already began by the maffacre of our three Indian prifoners/ While I was thus urged to come to a determination, the Spaniard informed me, that the canoe we faw rowing towards us, was filled with our enemies. My aflbciates waited for no orders, F 2 but but rufhed on board the boats, and attacked them. Their firft difcharge flew thirteen, and the others they immediately brovight on board, and hung at the yard-arm. I repre-fented to them that this execution was enough, and that it was prudent to terminate our warfare here ; but, alas ! I preached to the deaf. They perfifted in their determination to go in queft of the Indians, and make them feel their vengeance. As I faw I could make no impreffion on the minds of thefe enraged men, I was forced to promife to direâ their proceedings, that they might not expofe their lives to no purpofe. My refolution being once made, I entered ferioufly into the bufincfs. For this reafon, I requefted the Spaniard to guide my people towards the principal refidence of the nation, who has given fo bad a reception to us ; and as he promifed to accompany us, I gave him a good carabine. He requefted leave to bring with him a couple ot hundred of his Indian friends ; in anfwer to which I reprefented, that thefe poor people might become the victims of their good intentions, and be flain by my comrades for want of knowing them. However, he removed my objection, by pro-poling, that every one of our party fhould wear a piece of white cloth on his left arm. This precaution appearing to me to be fufficient, I acquiefced in his demand, and he immediately went on fhore to make his neceflary preparations for the attack which was appointed to be made at day break. About feven in the evening, I caufed the boats to tow our veflel to the river of the maflâcre, where I anchored. At three, I ordered forty-fix companions on fhore, commanded by Meilleurs Cruftiew, Kuzneczow, Baturin, Wyndbladth, Wyndbladth, and Stephanow ; and we only waited for Don Hieronimo, who arrived at four. They then proceeded inland, and we heard nothing till about three quarters after fix, when the noife of the mufquetry convinced me that the action had began. Soon after I faw a number of iflanders retiring towards a fteep mountain ; and then it was that my companions on board directed their pieces at them, and made a dreadful flaughter, Thefe unhappy men, feeing themfelves preffed on one fide by my troops, and on the other by the iflanders, under the conduct of the Spaniard, threw themfelves proftrate upon the ground. I was then forced to declare to my whole party, that I would fire upon them if they continued the maflacre. On this mefTage, the paiv ties contented themfelves with making prifoners, the number of whom amounted to fix hundred and forty-three. The killed were reckoned and proved to be eleven hundred and fifty-fix. What furprized me the moft was, that among the wounded and prifoners there were a great number of women armed in the fame manner as the men. Our expedition being thus ended, without any of our fide having received the flighteft wound, I went on fhore, and the Indians prefented me with the flaves. But as I refufed to keep any of them, the Spaniard chofe fifty, and abandoned the reft to his friends. I contented myfelf with carrying all their arms on board. About ten o'clock, a party of our friends of the iflanders, appeared with near two hundred women, children, and old men, whom they had made prifoners. The whole troop appeared to be overjoyed, and returned towards their habitations : but for my own part, being defirous of leaving a fpot wThich prefented 1 nothing nothing but the defolation of the village, which our party had fet on fire, I retired with my veflel to our firft ftation. According to the Report, eleven wounded. Monday, Auguft the 30th. Having this day informed my friend the Spaniard, of my wifh to eftablifh a camp on ihore, he begged I would permit him to make the neceffary preparations. In confequence of my acceding to his re-queft, he went on fhore, and about three o'clock he returned with about five hundred iflanders, who began to erect huts for us. Several were finifhed before evening. I therefore went on fhore myfelf with the women, and fuch of our people as were wounded, and a guard of fixteen men. At the clofe of the day, the iflanders fet a guard of forty men on our right flank, in order to fecure us, as they faid, from the attacks of the allies of the nation, with whom we had been at war. At day-break, Don Hieronimo prefented his family to me, with a great number of his friends, and likewife acquainted me that Huapo, a prince of the country, was coming to exprefs his gratitude for my having avenged his fubje&s upon the two nations who were their enemies. He informed me, that Huapo lived in a town about thirty or thirty-two leagues diftant inland ; that the central parts of his dominions were well civilized, as was alio the whole Weftern part of the ifland ; the Eaftern coaft only being poffefTed by a favage people, among whom, however, he excepted the territory belonging to Huapo, which was inhabited by a gentle and induftrious race. He added, that the Prince Huapo could mufter twenty, or five and twenty thoufand thoufand armed men, notwithftanding which he was often difturbed in his capital, either by the Chinefe party, or their allies. After this information, he infinuated that it would be eafy to conclude a treaty with this prince, to form eftablifh-ments in his country, the productions of which confifted in gold, cryftal, cinnabar, rice, fugar, cinnamon, filk, and particularly the moft beautiful kinds of wood, might form advantageous branches of commerce; in exchange for which they would receive a quantity of hardware, iron, and European cloth, to the profit of two hundred per cent, to the fellers. Such was our converfation, when it was interrupted by the arrival of the Bamini, or General. The Spaniard immediately haftened to meet him, and I can fed my companions to honour him with three difcharges of their mufquetry. When he had arrived near my barracks, he caufed a tent to be put up, the ground underneath being covered with a rich carpet, upon which he feated himfelf, and invited me to do the fame. The Spaniard flood up to attend us, and ferve as my interpreter. After the firft civilities, he demanded who I was ; whence I came; what caufe had determined me to land on the ifland of Formofa ? 8cc. I replied to his queftions in fhort, that I was a General of a kingdom, who, having been made prifoner of war, had effected my efcape with a party of my people to return to my own country ; that having found the ifland of Formofa on my way, I anchored on the coaft to procure water ; but that the cruelty exercifed by the two nations towards my companions, had demanded vengeance, which I had fatisfied; and was preparing to return to my country. He He replied by requefting me to defer my departure till the arrival of Huapo, who having heard fuch wonders of me, had determined to come in perfon to vifit me ; in confequence of which, he had been difpatched with a party of troops to defend me againft my enemies. To this compliment I replied, that I was truly fenfible of the good difpofition of the prince ; that I fhould be infinitely flattered by the honour of feeing him ; and flill more in rendering him every fervice in my power. That the precaution of fending his troops to defend me, was fuperfluous, as no force could have any effecl: upon me. To this declaration I added the moft flattering compliments to the Bamini, to whom I immediately made a prefent of a beautiful fabre, which, however, he politely refufed, by obferving, that he could not accept it without the knowledge of his maftcr. After this converfation, he regaled me with tea and tobacco, at the fame time that at intervals, he caufed betel and the areca nut to be prefented to me, with a fmall quantity of lime, all which together I chewed, and found moft execrable. The habits of this General confifted of a long red pau-talon*, Chinefe half boots, a white fhirt, with a veft of black, and a red furplice, or outer garment, which had fome buttons of coral, fet in gold. His head was covered with a bonnet of ftraw, exceedingly pointed, and the upper extremity was ornamented with horfe hair, dyed red. His arms confifted of a fabre, a lance, and a bow, with a quiver, containing twenty-five arrows. The troops who attended him were entirely naked, except a piece of blue * The pautalon is a clofe garment fitted to the body, and all of one piece from head to foot. T. blue cloth round their middle, and their arms were lances and bows. According to the Repott, feven wounded. Wednefday, Auguft the 31ft. This day all our huts being finifhed, I landed all my people, and having raifed two epaulements, I placed four pieces of cannon upon them, two on each flank of my camp. No more than eight men remained on board, as a guard. Our repaft was not of long duration. The Formofian General eat with aftonifhing rapidity, without fpcaking a word ; and after he had devoured a quantity of rice, with fome pieces of roaft meat, he rofe, and began to chew his betel, and fmoke tobacco. As I was defirous of making my court to him, I followed his example, though my palate lufFered for it. After dinner we walked round my camp. When we came near a battery, Bamini requefted me to order fome cannon (hot to be fired. I immediately gave orders to fix a butt at five hundred paces diftance, and pointed the pieces myfelf. At the fécond fire, the boat which the iflanders had expofed as a butt, was broken in pieces ; at which the Formofian General teftified the greateft furprize. To increafe his aftonifh-ment, "I gave orders to my companions to take their arms, and fire at a plank at eighty paces diftance. Very few of their fhot mined ; and as the plank was fhot through, this exercife gave him great fatisfaction, and induced him to fpare no flattering expreffions on the oc-cafion. About five in the evening, Bamini received a courier, who announced the approaching arrival of the Huapo. The General therefore left me, and went to prepare a Vol. II. . G camp. camp. I embraced this opportunity to give orders for fome fire-works ; and at the fame time give the Prince the diverfion of feeing our military exercife. The iflanders, in the mean time, had become fo familiar with us, as to leave their daughters freely in our camp ; and it is remarkable, that there was no inftance of any pilfering committed by them, though our people were exceedingly negligent. I employed the night in making feveral different fufees, and a large ferpent for the fire-works. At day-break, Don Hieronimo waited on me, to acquaint me with the arrival of the Prince, and advifed me to fend two of my officers to meet him, inftead of going myfelf. As he offered to ferve as their interpreter, I immediately fent Meffrs. Cruftiew and Kuzneczow, with fix of our aflbciates armed, to attend them. After their departure, I afcended an hill to fee their camp prepared ^ I perceived that the arrangement was made after a certain order ; the tent of the Prince being in the centre, and the others round about it. About eight o'clock, I faw the troops march in, and at laft the Prince arrived. Their order was as follows : Firft came fix horfemen, with a kind of ftandard. Thefe were followed by a troop of infantry with pikes. After thefe came thirty or forty horfemen, and another body of infantry with bows. A troop armed with clubs and hatchets came next; and laft of all came the Prince, attended by twelve or fifteen officers, mounted on fmall, but beautiful horfes. The reft of the troops came after without any regular order. On their arrival at the camp, every one lodged where he could, and there was no guard fet. About About eleven o'clock, Don Hieronimo returned to invite me, in the name of the Prince, to come and fee him ; and he brought feveral horfes, though the diftance was very fhort. I immediately mounted, and foon arrived at the Prince's tent. His appearance ftruck me at firft fight. He was between thirty and thirty-five years of age, about five feet three inches high, of a ftrong and vigorous make, with a lively eye and majeftic carriage. Upon being introduced to him, I found Mr, Cruftiew already in great familiarity with him; who faid to me in Ruffian, this youth would do our bufinefs, if we propofed to remain at Formofa; and his good difpofition would permit him to aflure me, that I might be King of the ifland whenever I pleafed. He had fcarcely fpoken, when the Prince addrefTed me by our interpreter, affuring me, that I was welcome on the* ifland ; and that he had heard, with the greateft fatisfa&ion, of the manner we had treated his enemies, for which he thought it proper to make his grateful acknowledgements. To this he added, that he had no doubt but that I was the perfon whofe coming was announced by the Prophets, who had foretold that a ftranger fhould arrive with ftrong men, who fhould deliver the Formofans from the Chinefe yoke : in confequence of which he had determined to pay me a vifit, and make me an offer of all his power and forces to fupport and obey me. This commencement changed my fyftem, and the Spaniard infenfibly led me to play a new part, by alluring the Huapo that I was a great Prince, who had vifited Formofa, with the intention of fatisfying myfelf concerning the pofition of the Chinefe, and to fulfil the wifhes of the inhabitants of the ifland, by delivering them from the power of that treacherous people. G 2 Upon - Upon this information, I thanked the Prince for his good intentions, and affured him that I fhould always make it a part of my glory to contribute to the happinefs of a nation who were fo fortunate as to be governed by a Prince of fuch wifdom and penetration as himfelf. But that upon the prefent occafion, having came only for the purpofe of contracting alliances with the natives of the ifland, and more efpecially with the Huapo, I fhould explain myfelf more at large on another occafion ; as thefe affairs and interefts required to be treated of in fecret. The Prince appeared to be fatisfied with this reply, and invited me to dine with him. Meffrs. Cruftiew and Kuzneczow were likewife of the party, as well as the Spaniard, whom the Prince took into favour, and caufed him to be immediately clothed after the fafhion of the country -, at the fame time that he gave him a belt and a fibre, as marks of diftinction. After dinner, the Prince propofed to vifit my camp, and while our horfes were getting ready, Mr. Cruftiew went before, to prepare the men to render due honour to the Prince, who was attended by near fifty officers on horfe-back, and his whole body of troops following him at the diftance of about three hundred paces. When we came in fight of our camp, the cannonade began, and the aftonifhed Sovereign was in great danger of fharing the fate of his officers, moft of whom were thrown by the frifks and leaps of their horfes, who were not accuftomed to the noife, and could not be made to advance. We therefore difmounted, and arrived at the camp, where the af-fociates faluted the Prince with three difcharges of muf-quctry, and the ceremony ended with twenty guns from the fhip. fhip. This honourable and noify reception gave him infinite pleafure,and as a mark of friendfhip, he put his hand in mine, and in this manner we proceeded to my tent, followed only by his General and three other officers. He foon refumed his difcourfe, by giving a detail of the reafons, which made him defirous of driving the Chinefe out of the ifland; and he left me no reafon to doubt, that vanity induced him to declare war upon than. His inclination, in this refpect, would certainly have been highly advantageous to me, if I had propofed to remain in the country ; but as my determination was to return as fpeedily as pofiible into Europe, I thought it would be very unfafe to engage in enterprizes, which, even on the moft happy event, would not make my return the lefs necefîary. But, on the other hand, being well convinced, that by an alliance with this Prince, I fhould be enabled to propofe the eftablifhment of a colony on the ifland to fome European power, I refolved to do every thing in my power to preferve his favourable difpo-fition towards me. About four in the evening, the Prince expreffed a defire to fee the veffel : I accordingly ordered thirty of my companions to go on board immediately ; and afterwards fent Mr. Cruftiew to attend him, with directions to amufe him as long as pofiible, that I might have time to prepare my fireworks. All was ready at half paft feven, when I conducted the Prince to a place where he might fee the whole fire, which began after the difcharge of three great guns. He exprefied his admiration at this exhibition, but informed me that the Chinefe made the fame. When the fireworks were ended, the Prince retired, after giving me his belt and fabre, as a token that he would fhare with me me his power over his army, which amounted to eight thoufand men, of whom only two hundred and fixty were horfemen. As foon as the Prince was gone, I affemblcd a Committee, in which I declared Mr. Stephanow our equal, and capable of being adinitted to our confidence ; and I gave orders to Mr. Cruftiew, to acknowledge him as fuch before the whole company. At the fame time I gave dire&ions for preparing the prefents for the Prince Huapo, which confifted or two pieces of cannon I had brought as ballaft, thirty good mufkets, fix barrels of gunpowder, two hundred iron balls, and fifty pounds of match. At day-break, I detached MefTrs. Cruftiew, Wyndbladth, and Kuzneczow, to inform the Prince of the prefents ; to which I added thirty common Japanefe fabrcs, one fabre very elegantly wrought for himfelf, and twenty others for his principal officers. About eight o'clock, Don Hieronimo came to announce a vifit on the part of the Prince, who came attended only by his confidential officers, as well to receive the prefents, as to treat with me on objects of the greateft importance. About ten he arrived, and as I had the whole intermediate time to converfe with, and make enquiries of the good Spaniard, I had my anfwers in readinefs. In the firft place, the Prince caufed a very magnificent tent to be erected near mine, in which very rich carpets were laid ; and here it was that he received me. He began the converfation, by thanking me for the prefents which he had accepted on my part, and then proceeded to make the following demands : I. Whether I could leave part of my people behind to remain with him till my return ? 2. Whether 2. Whether I could bring back a number of troops armed with mufkets, and fkilled in the management of cannon ; and what would be the expence of maintaining one thoufand men ? 3. Whether I could procure for him vefTels armed with Cannon, and captains to command them ? 4. Whether I would accept the concefïïon he would make me of the province of Havangfin ; which, with its cities, towns, and inhabitants, he would cede to me in propriety, on condition that I fhould fupport him with Europeans, until he fhould have driven the Chinefe out of his dominions, at which period he would yield up to me his whole kingdom ? 5. And laftly, whether I would afiift him in an expedition he was going to make againft one of his neighbours, on condition that he fhould allow me a certain fum, with other advantages ? 6. That after having received my anfwer, he fhould propofe to me to enter into a permanent treaty of friend^ fhip with him ? Thefe queftions appeared to me, to be the work of Don Hieronimo ; though he would never acknowledge that they fprung from his brain.—My anfwer was as follows : 1. That having a very long voyage to make, I could not leave any of my people behind me. 2. That it was in my power to bring armed troops and cannon along with me; but that the tranfport of one thoufand men, would coft one thoufand five hundred pounds of gold ; and the maintenance of fuch a body of troops, would coft yearly, five hundred pounds of gold. * 3. That 3. That I could procure armed veffels, fuch as he demanded y but that each veflel of twenty guns, would coft fifty pounds of gold. 4. That I fhould accept the commiflion of the province of Havangfin, fuch as he was defirous of bellowing it j on condition that I mould fupport him againft the Chinefe, until they were driven out of his dominions ; and that he fhould veft the property of his kingdom in me. 5. That though the feafon prefied my departure, yet, with a view to teftify my attachment to the Prince Huapo, I fhould be ready to afiift him in his military operations, without demanding any recompence, except what he fhould voluntarily pleafe to beftow upon my companions. 6. That I was ready to conclude a treaty of friendfhip with him, and hoped, that, provided he acted with as much fincerity as myfelf, I fhould foon fee him fovereign of the whole ifland of Formofa, and in a fituation to avenge himfelf and family on the Emperor of China, for the perfecutions they had formerly fuffered from that potentate. The Prince having liftened with the great eft attention to my replies, caufed them to be written upon a paper, on which I perceived that his demands were likewife written. He then caufed the queftion to be put to me, whether my refolution was invariable ; and upon my an-fwering in the affirmative, he propofed to make the ceremony of the oath ; to which I confented with all my heart. During the time the preparations were making, I embraced the opportunity of prefenting him with a fabre, and a pair of choice piftols. I did the fame to his Generaliffimo, Ceneraliflimo, and begged he would diftribute the others to the moft diftinguifhed officers of the army. Soon afterwards the Prince informed me that all was in xeadinefs, and went out with me. We approached a fmall fire, upon which we threw feveral pieces of wood. A cenfor was then given to me, and another to him, Thefe were filled with lighted wood, upon which we threw in-cenfe ; and turning towards the Eaft, we made feveral fumigations. After the ceremony, the General read the queftions, and my anfwers ; and whenever he paufed, we turned towards the Eaft, and repeated the fumigation. At the end of the reading, the Prince pronounced imprecations and maledictions upon him who fhould break the treaty of friendfhip between us ; and Don Hieronimo directed me to do the lame, and afterwards interpreted my words. After this we threw our fire upon the ground, and thruft our fabres in the ground up to the hilts. The affiliants immediately brought a quantity of large ftones, with which they covered our arms, and the Prince then embraced me, and declared that he acknowledged me as his brother. On our return to his tent, he caufed a complete habit, made according to the fafhion of the country, to be brought, with which I was cloathed ; and in this manner we fet out for the camp of the Prince, where we were received with every demonftration of joy. On our arrival at his tent, dinner was ferved up in a more plentiful manner than ufual; and as the Prince had requefted the company of my officers,*I caufed them all to attend, except Mr. Baturin, who commanded in my abfence. During the whole time of our meal, our ears were ftunned Vol. II. H with with a very noify kind of mufic, and the continued beating of drums. At our riling from table, I was not a little furprized to fee the two pieces of cannon planted at the entrance of the camp. But Mr. Wyndbladth informed me, that my aflbciates had paid the Prince the compliment of placing them there,; at which he was exceedingly well fatisfied. At four o'clock, all the principal officers being affembled, with the Bamini at their head, the Prince fpoke to them for a long time ; and after having ended his dif-courfe, he difmiflèd them. Half an hour afterwards, the Prince and myfelf, accompanied by the Spaniard, mounted our horfes, and paffed through the camp ; where I was faluted by all the officers. The manner of falutation confifted in each officer touching with his left hand, the ftirrup of him whom he falutes. When we had made feveral turns in the camp, we returned to the Prince's tent, who urged me to come to a determination to accompany him in his enterprize ; and, as I had refolved to affift him, I thought it proper to make fome enquiries into the fubjeâ. The information I received was as follows : The Prince Hapuafingo, Sovereign of a neighbouring territory, who was allied and tributary to the Chinefe, had demanded, in confequence of a private quarrel of individuals, that Huapo fhould put feveral of his own fub-jects to death ; and as Huapo did not chufe to comply with his wifhes, he made war upon him, in which Huapo was not fuccefsful, but was conftrained at laft to pay a considerable fine to Hapuafingo : and though he had fulfilled the treaty, yet the Chinefe Governor demanded a further reimburfement, on pretence of the expences he had been at in bringing his troops into the field ; and upon this plea the Chinefe, with the affiftance of Hapuafingo, had ufurped one of his fineft and moft fertile provinces. That, cbn-fidering the prefent as a favourable moment to avenge himfelf on his neighbour, and the Chinefe, he hoped, by my affiftance, to bring his wifhes to a happy termination. He informed me, moreover, that the army of Hapuafingo did not confift of above five or fix thoufand men ; and that the number of Chinefe who could come to his affiftance, were about one thoufand, of which no more than fifty were armed with mufkets. That the diftance of Hapuafingo's capital was not more than a day and a half* s march from the place we then were at; and that the roads were very good. Upon this information, I promifed my ally to maintain his quarrel, and required no more than one day to get ready, and fixty horfes for my companions and their equipage. My promife tranfported the Prince with the greateft joy, and induced him to declare Don Hieronimo his General of cavalry. I thanked him for this mark of confidence ; but as I had need of him near me to ferve as an interpreter, I begged the Prince to caufe him to be declared in the mean time a principal officer, bearing the Prince's orders and mine, which were neceffary to be implicitly obeyed. The Prince promifed that every thing fhould be done according to my defire ; and then I quitted him, to return to my camp with the Spaniard. Immediately on my return, I afiembled my intimate friends, to whom I explained my in-terefts and intention, which was fupported by the afîurance of our being able to eftablifh a colony hereafter on this ifland, under the guarantee and friendfhip of the Prince Huapo. But as it was of the utmoft importance that the H 2 company company fhonld confent, I directed my friends to excite them to make a requeft to me to carry his project into execution* At day-break, the effect of this ftratagem exceeded my expectation. When I came out of my tent, or rather barrack, I faw two deputies, who, in the name of the company, requefted.me to permit a certain number of them to aflift the good Prince Huapo in his war againft the Chinefe. Oa this menage I affembled the company, to whom I represented, that I thought it improper to comply with their demand, becaufe it was an abfurdity for us to interfere on fuch flight grounds in this quarrel, fo much as to fend fome of our number to afiift in the enter.prize. That an undertaking of this kind might effectually deftroy all our hopes* reflecting the ifland, as it would be fuflicient for this pur-pofe, that the Prince Huapo might be beaten. My fpeech altered the countenance of my companions ; but I foon revived their fpirits, by declaring, that I was no lefs fenfible than themfelves, of the importance of the fervices we might-render to Huapo ; but as I was convinced that our whole, reputation in the place depended on this mcafure, I begged-them to chufe forty refolute men of their number, withi whom I would myfelf go upon this expedition. On this declaration they demanded to eaft lots, and affured me,; that they unanimoufly approved of my determination. I: therefore left the care of regulating the lots to Mr. Cruftiew, and nominated the officers myfelf, as follow : The Left. The Center. The Right. Mr. Kuzneczow, Myfelf, Mr. Wyndbladth, Mr. Bocfarew, Mr. Stephanow, Mr. Baturin, 13 Aflbciates. Mr. Sibaew, 13 Aflbciates, — 16 Aflbciates. — *5 — 15 18 After C OU NTT de BENYOWSKY. 53 After having declared and fixed this order, I caufed ammunition to be diftributed, and ordered four patererosr which belonged to the fhallop, to be got ready, with fixty rounds of ball, and twenty of rubbifh for each ; and with a view that thefe pieces might be more effeâually fervice-able, I caufed piquets to be fhod with iron to drive into the ground, and provided each with a focket at top to fix the piece. This commiffion was very ingenioufly performed by Mr. Baturin. About ten we received fixty horfes ; but as eight more were wanting to tranfport our patereros and ammunition, I difpatched Don Hieronimo, who brought them. This day we dined all together ; and after having placed the command, in my abfence, in the hands of Mr. Cruftiew, and Meffrs. Gurcfinin, Meder, and Czurin under him, I took my leave of them. Thurfday, September the 1 ft, 1771*. On the ifland of Formofa, marching to affift the Prince Huapo in his war. At four, P. M. I entered the camp of the Prince, who immediately ftruck his tents, and prepared to follow me, after having appointed one hundred and twenty horfemen,. and four hundred infantry to clear the way. We did not halt till eleven o'clock, near a brook called Halavith. At four in the morning we renewed our march ; and at feven Don Hieronimo, as we were defcending a mountain, made * Here is an inadvertence of the Count, with regard to time. Under the dare of* Auguft the 31ft, are included the adventures of three whole days, as appears by the fucceflion of the hours. It feems probable, that during his (lay on fhore, he kept minutes of the principal events, and afterwards divided them into day's tranfactions by memory ; and that the prefent date ftiould be September the 3d j. a fuppofition, which, by including the three following days in one, agrees very well with the Princes aftertion, (page 51.) that Hapuafingo's capital was diftant only a journey of one day and a half. T. me me take notice of a fmall town belonging to Huapo ; but as we left it near a league diftant on the right, I could not judge of its extent with any precilion. Its environs, however, feemed to be well cultivated. At nine we halted to refrefh our horfes, whom they fed with rice ; and, after having pitched our camp on the border of a wood, we remained there till four in the afternoon, to avoid marching in the noon-day heat, which was extreme. Friday, September the 2d. At four in the afternoon, we refumed our march, and continued our progrefs till ten at night ; at which time we flopped in a valley, where we received twenty oxen loaded with rice, a quantity of fruit, and feveral cafks of a kind of brandy. At three in the morning we fet out again, and continued till nine, when we came to a village with a pond of water near it, in which we caught fome excellent fifh. As I found this village abandoned by its inhabitants, 1 imagined it belonged to the enemy ; and the information I received from the Spaniard, confirmed this opinion. From this, I had no doubt, but that Hapuafingo was apprized of our invafion ; and for that reafon I fhould have been glad to have converfed with the Prince. And as he only followed me at the diftance of a march, I thought it proper to wait for him. Saturday, September the 3d. Encamped near a defer ted village. The Prince Huapo did not appear till near five o'clock. I took the liberty to remonftrate with him for his flownefs ; which he excufed, by reprefenting, that his troops being loaded with provifions, could not march fo quickly. At three in the morning we refumed our march ; and at half-paft four, being in the van with Don Hieronimo, we obferved thirty or forty horfemen before us. I immediately * diately advanced with fix aflbciates, and the Spaniard. They paid no attention to us till they fuppofed us to be in their reach ; and then, turning about, they came on full gallop, with their lances in their hands. Their courage was, however, not a little difconcerted, by the firft report of our fire arms, which difmounted two of them, whom we made prifoners. From them we learned, by the examination of Don Hieronimo, that we fhould foon fee the main army advancing towards us ; and that we were then at no greater diftance from the capital than a fix hours march. The reft of my troops having joined me, we continued our march without feeing any thing remarkable, except fome villages on our right and left, and a prodigious quantity of cattle. As we were now very near the enemy, I pitched my camp to advantage, and fixed my patereros for its defence. About noon we perceived a troop of about an hundred horfe, who approached to examine us at leifure* which I permitted, with the intention of familiarizing them with us. Sunday, September the 4th. At two o'clock we obferved another body of upwards of fifty horfemen on our right; and at .laft,. a. great number of troops, amounting at leaft to ten or twelve thoufand men, but very few cavalry. As I made no movement, thefe troops began to prepare for the attack ; and at the fame time I put my men in readinefs to keep up a continued fire. I was de-firous of working the patereros myfelf ; and for that reafon had them brought near the center. About half paft three, a party of about twenty horfe approached to infult an out-poft which I had fet. As foon as they came within reach, I fired a few fhot at them, which had no other efFecl than 1 1 that that of intimidating them. They foon, however, recovered from their apprehensions, and difpofed their whole troop to attack me ; but their reception was fo warm, that near two hundred were {lain. This lofs, inftead of checking their impetuofity, appeared to increafe their fury. They came on a fécond time ; and, after very coniiderable lofs, were forced at laft to retreat. I purfued them for two hours, when the approach of night obliged me to halt. The Prince did not come up with us till eleven, and a council was held, wherein it was determined to attack the enemy in our turn. At two I difpofed our troops in order, and placed a divifion of my comrades on each wing, and myfelf, with my own divifion, occupied the center. At three we marched towards the enemy ; and when we had arrived very near them, we waited only for the break of day to commence the attack. At three quarters after four the attack began ; but the noife of our patereros and mufkets was fufficient to put them to flight. This lofs was fo much the more coniiderable, as they had no thought of providing for a retreat. The greateft number retired into the town. The fpirit of the troops of Huapo like-wife carried them before us, in which fituation the enemy, no longer intimidated by our fire arms, turned upon them, and began a dreadful flaughter, which however ceafed at our approach, as foon as we could make ufe of our arms. While the battle began in the city, Don Hieronimo pro-pofed to fend fifty horfe to the other fide of the town, to prevent Hapuafingo from efcaping. I immediately gave orders for twenty of my aflbciates, under Meflrs. Stephanow and Baturin, to perform this office ; and they were fo fortunate as to make Hapuafingo prifoner, with four of his women, women, with whom he was endeavouring to make his efcape. This capture decidedthe whole quarrel ; for he promifed to Don Hieronimo to comply with all the demands of Huapo, on condition the lives of himfelf and family fhould be fpared. When he came before me, I declared that he was my prifoner ; and that fo far from being defirous of putting him to death, I fhould wifh to cultivate his friendfhip, 011 condition of his giving every fatisfa&ion to Huapo, who was juftly irritated. About eleven, all the noife of war having fubfided, I caufed enquiry to be made after Huapo, in order to put Hapuafingo into his hands : but as this Prince was defirous of being a fpectator, inftead of an aclor, he did not return till about noon ; at which time I delivered Hapuafingo to him, on condition that he fhould not fuffer any perfonal injury : and then I thought proper to encamp on the other fide of the town. Monday, September the 5th. In camp, near the Town of Xiaguamay, on the ifland of Formofa. At three, I received a vifit from Fluapo, accompanied with Bamini, who overwhelmed me with proteftations of friendfhip ; and, as I underftood that all the operations of war were ended, I declared to the Prince my refolution to return, and fet fail, as early as pofiible. This information was very unpleafant to him ; but as he was convinced that he fhould not fuc-ceed in attempting to diffuade me from my purpofe, he contented himfelf with entreating me to return as foon as pofiible, which I folemnly promifed to do. . This day we regulated the order of my departure ; arid the manner in which the province was to fupply me with provifions, pur-fuant to the order of the Prince. In the evening, Don Hieronimo requefted me to leave one of my companions Vol. II. I behind behind to affift him in his functions. On his prefling entreaty, I perfuaded young Loginow, whofe brother had been fiain, to fix his refidence here till my return, in order to learn the langxiage of the country, and affift our future operations. The next morning I received the Prince's prefents, confirming in fome fine pearls, eight quintals offilver,.and twelve pounds of gold. He apologized for the fmallnefs of the prefent, on account of his diftance from home, and becaufe my precipitate departure prevented his making it more con-fiderabler But with regard to myfelf, he fent me a box, containing one hundred pieces of gold, weighing in the whole thirteen pounds and a quarter; and gave orders to Bamini to accompany us with one hundred 3fid twenty horfemen, to provide for our fubfiftence. Don Hieronimo likewife attended me as interpreter ; and I gave orders for our departure at four in the evening, Tuéfday, September the 6th. After renewing our -oaths and engagements with the Prince Huapo, we took our leave at three ; and I had the fàtisfaclion to fee, that he did not part with us without tears. At four we began our march ; and at the moment that my troop filed off, I made the Prince a prefent of my patereros, with the great eft part of the ammunition we had brought ; at the fame time, that I requefted the favour that he would appoint our companion Loginow, who ftaid behind, his General of artillery This he promifed in his prefence. Our march was very eafy and pleafant ; for we were mounted on good horfes, and went by the moft direct road ; and we were plentifully fupplied with provifion of all kinds, at the places where we halted. Wednefday, Wednefday, September the 7th. We continued outmarch through a pleafant and well cultivated country, watered with fine rivers, and very populous, as we could judge by the fmall diftance from one village to another. Whenever we refted, we were furrounded by a multitude of people,, who brought prefents. Their good will was, however, chargeable to us by the returns we made. This day I made an offer to Bamini, of part of the gold and filver I had received of the Prince ; but he positively re-fufed to accept it, faying, that he was contented in pof-fefling my friendfliip, which hé begged I would preferve till my return, Thurfday, September the 8th. At three, P. M. we at length arrived at our camp very much fatigued, and ex-haufted with the exceffive heat we had fuffered, as there had been no rain during the whole of our excurfion. General Bamini, after having given the neceffary orders to the chief inhabitants of the country refpe&ing our fubfiftence, took leave of me. He embraced all my aflbciates one after the other ; and at the inftant of his departure, he put into my hands a collar of pearls on the part of the Prince, and a rich tent, with a carpet of fuperior workmanfhip. After the departure of Bamini, I received the congratulations of my companions, and faw with the greateft fatif-fadion, that Mr. Cruftiew had difpofed of every thing in the beft manner. In the evening, being defirous of giving my companions a mark of liberality, I diftributed among them the whole of the filver and gold by weight -, and I put the pearls and the box of gold, which had been privately given me, into the hands of my intimate friends, the officers and women. When the aflbciates were informed, I 2 that that I had kept nothing for myfelf, they propofed each to* give me a half fhare of their poffeffions ; but I refufed, and begged them to preferve the whole, and to referve their generous difpofition for fome future occafion, if I fhould find it neceffary to apply to them for affiftance; in which cafe I fhould not fcruple to have recourfe to them for a loan. This conduct on my part feemed to elevate their minds, and gave me a perfect empire over them. And at this moment I was convinced, that though a man of genius may avail himfelf of his fuperiority over common minds, yet, an act of generofity at a proper time, is worth a thoufand fpeeches, however eloquent. After the company had feparated, none remained but my intimate friends, who endeavoured to perfuàde me to fix my reiidence at Formofa, in the province which the Prince Huapo had ceded to me. They reprefented, that the af-fociates being this day witneffes of the mild nefs of my command, and guided by the moft profound refpect towards me, would be fufficient to form a colony; and that we might befides fend, by the way of China, at fome future time, certain emiffaries into Europe, to engage fome fove-reign power in our interefts ; or, at all events, to raife recruits. Their opinions were fo well fupported, that at laft I could make no other objection, than my own peculiar interefts ; namely, that I had a wife who loved and was attached to me by the bond of marriage, and who probably at that inftant had a child, as fhe was with child at the time of my departure. But, in order to conceal my own private fentiments, though I communicated as much to them as I thought neceflary, I did not fail to reprefent, that that a perfon on the fpot could do more than a thoufand written melTages ; and that, therefore, upon my return in Europe, I might reafonably expect to obtain the favour of fome court, as we could affure them the greateft advantages ; fuch as that of forming an eftablifhment in the Aleuthcs iflands, to carry on the rich commerce of furs y to open the trade of Japan ; to form an eftablifhment on the iflands Lequeio ; and laftly, to eftablifh an European colony on the ifland of Formofa. I expreffed my firm alTurance, that thefe propositions would infure our happy fuccefs ; and that in cafe the European courts fhould abandon us, we fhould always have it in our power to carry our project into execution, by the fitting out of private veffels. This reafon-ing at laft determined them, and they requefted permiifion to explain it to the whole company ; for they affured me, that every individual was refolved to demand my confent, not to quit the ifland of Formofa. After having gained this effential point, I retired to reft, which was very neceffary to me -y and did not awake till ten the next morning. When I arofe, I received thé deputies of the company, who, having been informed by Mr. Cruftiew of my intention, had paid refpect to it, though they had already made a different determination themfelves ; for which reafon they confined their requeft to that of defiring that I would not quit the ifland until, the 12 th of the month, in order that they might have time to recover themfelves from the fatigues and difficulties they had undergone, Ï granted their requeft with fo much the more readinefs, as in reality the fatigue of our march had been exceffive, and the good conduct of my companions was fuch as led me to comply with every requeft they might make. I there- fore promifed to remain on the ifland until the 12 th ; and my confent was followed by expreflions of the moft lively gratitude on their part. This day the whole company dined together. Friday, September the 9th. After dinner, I gave orders for putting an end to all work, that all the aflbciates might follow their recreations, except a guard of fix on board, and four on ftiore. The officers likewife feized this opportunity to make fome excurfions into the country ; and, for my part, I employed myfelf in drawing up fome notes re-fpe&ing the project of forming a colony on the ifland. Thefe were as follow : Some notions and details refpeéting the ifland of Formofa; and the plan of forming an European colony there. The ifland of Formofa is called by the Chinefe, Touai-ouai ; and by the natives Paccahimba. It is one of the fineft and richeft iflands of the known world. The foil, in an infinity of places, produces two harvefts of rice and other grain, with a great variety of trees, fruits, plants, animals, and birds. Cattle, fheep, goats, and poultry, are very abundant here. This ifland is interfered by great rivers, lakes, and waters, abounding with fifh. It has many commodious harbours, bays, and founds on its coafts. Its mountains produce gold, filver, cinnabar, white and brown copper ; and likewife pit coal. The ifland of Formofa is divided into eight principalities, three of which, fituated on the Weftern fide, are governed by the Chinefe, and peopled by the fame nation. Every year an Ambaflador arrives from China, to receive tribute from thefe three provinces, which is raifed by a poll tax ; and the Emperor of China keeps five hundred l veflels veffels for the purpofe of annually exporting this tribute, which confifts of a large quantity of rice, wheat, millet, fait, beans, raw filk, cotton, gold, filver and mercury. The Governors of thefe three provinces continually extend •their poffeiîions, either by alliance or intrigue, in fuch a manner, that they have obtained feveral towns and diftrifts from their neighbours. The inhabitants of the ifland are civilized, except thofe who live on the Eaftern coafts. They are of an effeminate difpofition, without any marks of courage ; given to indolence, and are indebted to the goodncfs of the climate for their prefervation, as the foil fupports them with very little labour. If we except the three Chinefe provinces, the mines on the ifland are no where worked. They are contented to wafh the fand to extratf: gold out of it ; and if they find pearls in the fhells, it is by mere accident. The common people of Formofa are cloathed only in blue cotton cloth ; the towns are always built in the plains ; and the villages are upon the mountains. The houfes of people of condition among them are extenflve and beautiful, but plain. Thofe of the people are mere huts ; and they art-riot permitted to build better, Moft of them are covered with ftraw and reeds, and are divided or feparated from each other by rows of pallifadoes ; their moveables arc nothing more than wThat necefîity has rendered indifpen-iible. In the houfes of men of rank, there are advanced rooms, in which they eat, receive ftrangers, and divert themfelves. The apartments of the women are always feparate, and apart from the houfe. Though they are built within the court, no one is permitted to approach them, In this country there are no inns for travellers ; but thofe who are on a journey fit themfelves down near the firft houfe they come to, and the mafter of the houfe foon after receives them, and entertains them with rice and fome flefh meat, with tobacco and tea. The only commerce of the inhabitants of Formofa is with fome Japanefe barks, who touch here, and with the Chinefe. In each province there are five or fix towns, which have eftablifhments for inftrucling youth in reading and writing. Their characters of writing, and for the exprefiion of numbers, are as difficult as thofe of the Chinefe. Their pronunciation is fomctimes quick and elevated, and at other times flow and grave. They obtain their books from China. There are forcerers or diviners here, who have a great influence over the people. Their religion confifts in adoring one God, and in the performance of good offices to their neighbours. The provinces which are not conquered, are governed by Princes or Kings, who have an abfolute power over their fubjects. None of thefe laft, without any exception of the great men, has any property in the lands. They receive the advantages of their lands, fubject. to the good pleafure of the Prince, as well as the gains they derive from the multitude of their flaves. Some of the principal people have as many as one, or even two thoufand. The princes always compofe their councils of their principal military officers, and always keep their troops on foot, divided into four, five, and fix divisions, which remain con-ftantly on the frontiers. The body guard of the Sovereigns confifts of no more than five or fix hundred young men, born of the principal families among their fubjects. The ancient foldiers are employed in the command of towns or villages ; villages 3 for there is no village in Formofa which is not commanded by a foldier, and each commander is obliged to prefent annually to his fuperior, a lift of the people under his jurifdiction. Formofa being furrounded by the fea, thefe princes conftantly maintain a certain number of vef-fels, each of which has two mails and twenty-four oars ; they do not ufe cannon, but make great ufe of artificial fire works. A plan for forming a colony on the ifland Formofa. Previous to entering into the project of eftablifhing a colony, it will be neceflary to mention a few maxims. 1. Before any attempt is made to found a colony, it muft be previcaifly considered, whether its eftablifhment be intended to be made upon a military or mercantile footing; and whether it be propereft to cultivate the commerce of exchange, of œconomy, or of induftry ? 2. In the formation of a colony, it is neceflary to conciliate the benevolence, the confidence, and the attachment of the natives of the country. When a fuperiority is acquired over their minds, their own proper impulfes will render the colonifts matters of the country ; and in this cafe it will be eafy to eftablifh the conftitution intended to be adopted, or to fet on foot that kind of commerce which is propofed. The conftitution may likewife be maintained with very little force, and the country defended againft the attempts of foreigners. 3- It is neceflary that the bafis of the colony be military, animated by glory ; for in that cafe it may conquer, but will never be conquered. Vol. II. K 4. The 4. The falubrity of the place of eftablifhment mud be: afcertained, and no Labour neglected that may tend to procure this advantage fo neceflary to humanity, 5. It is required to make fure of the poffeffion of good harbours, fertile grounds, and the courfe of the principal rivers, to comprehend all the branches of commerce ; to carry cultivation to its utmoft extent ; and to facilitate by thefe two branches the different departments of in-duftry. 6. In an infant colony it is proper to avoid fortifications of the firft order, and to eftablifh the chief place in: the inner part of the country ; where, confequently, it will be out of the reach of any hidden ftroke. In this manner, when a colony is mafter of the country, the firft attack of an enemy, and the capture of a poft, eftablifhed near the feacoaft, will not decide the poffeflion. '7. The multiplicity of councils, and the number of people employed, muft be reduced to the fmalleft number, which can be difpenfed with in the management of the affairs of the colony. 8. Luxury muft be banifhed; but it will be proper to eftablifh external marks of grandeur, according to the different ranks of citizens who form the colony ; as by this means emulation will be encouraged. 9, Induftry muft be encouraged and recompenfed by gradual tranfition from one clafs of citizens to another, and by procuring to the colonifts the fale of their commodities. The money which is thus difperfed among the colonifts in the purchafe of productions, always returns to government in the courfe of exchanges. 10. Reftraint 10. Reftraint of confcience muft be baniftied and prohibited for ever. Happy is he who fhall eftablifh toleration, and the belief of one only God. 11. A code of laws ought to be eftablifhed in favour of flavery y in which, means fhould be appointed to enable this unfortunate order of men to arrive, by the force of labour and induftry, to the rank of free citizens. 12. Population being the only true foundation of national force, it will be necefTary that government fhould encourage it by faerifices, and preferve it by law. It will fucceed by punifhing libertinifm feverely, and by granting privileges and gratifications to fathers and mothers, who fhall have prefented a number of children, the iffue of their marriages. It is therefore on thefe principles that I fhould wifh to eftablifh a colony on the ifland of Formofa, fuppofing that -an European power fhould accept my offers. 1. I fhould demand, that this power fhould confine it-felf to the Suzerainity ; and, on this principle, it fhould poffefs no other advantages but fuch as are derived from fubfidies, and the commerce of its European fubjects. 2. Conformably to this plan, I fhould require three armed veflels; one of four hundred and fifty tons, another of two hundred and fifty tons, and another of one hundred and fifty tons, with provifions for eighteen months. 3. And likewife permiffion to raife a body of workmen, of different kinds, to the number of twelve hundred men, with the neceffary officers whom I fhould chufe. 4- That I fhould be furnifhed with a neceffary quantity of arms, ammunition, and the value of one million two K 2 hundred 68 MEMOIRS and TRAVELS op > hundred thoufand livres, in articles of trade, which I fhould point out. 5. That for the fpace of three years, permiffion fhould be granted me to raife recruits to the number of four hundred men yearly, and the tranfport of two hundred foundling children of both, fexes annually. 6. That permiffion fhoiild be granted to all the fubjects of the fovereign power to trade with the new colony. 7. That permiffion fhould be granted me to eftablifh warehoufes and factories in its colonies. Thefe articles being granted, I would ftipulate, ï. That the new colony fhould furnifh a certain fum of money annually, to the power who had protected itr as a grateful acknowledgement. 2. That the colony fhould affift its protector in every war, by furnifhing a ftipulated number of foldiers and feamen. 3. That no merchandize, or objects of Europ ean luxury, fhould be admitted into the new colony, except the product or manufacture of the dominions of its protector. 4. That the whole fum advanced in fitting out armed veflels, with the ammunition and objects of commerce, on account of the new colony, fhould be entered into a regular charge ; that the intereft fhould be paid during the three firft years, and the capital reimburfed during, the fourth. Thefe ftipulations being thus fixed, I would repair to port Maurice, where, conformably to the treaty entered into with the Prince Huapo, I would difembark ; and, after having eftablifhed a military poft, I would repair to the capital of the province which has been ceded to me. I Saturday, Saturday, September the 10th. The affociates came to work of themfelves, and began to load the veflel. This day Don Hieronimo entered into an oath with me before the whole company ; in which he engaged to fupport the favourable difpofition of the Prince towards me. I made him a prefent of feveral Latin books, and fome arms. Sunday, September the nth. I gave orders for our embarkment, and the natives of the country* aflifted us with the utmoft readinefs, with every thing in their power. This day Mr. Stephanow afked leave to go on fhore, which I durft not confent to, as I had reafon to fear the wickednefs of his character, which certainly might have deftroyed all our credit and intereft on this ifland. But as I was not defirous that the refufal fhould come from me, I promifed to explain his wifh to the company 5 and promifed, that the moment they gave their confent, I would make no objection. I gave orders for the immediate calling together of the company on board, in the morning, to decide on this affair ; but Stephanow was fcarcely gone, before I affembled a committee, to whom I communicated his intention. Every individual, urged by the fame motives as myfelf, oppofed his purpofe ; and feveral among them undertook to induce the whole company to refufe him. I employed this night in writing out inftructions for Don Hieronimo, and at day-break I went on board, accompanied by him. After I had taken a formal leave of the iflanders, at ten I put a letter for the Prince Huapo, into the hands of Don Hieronimo, with inftructions for Mr. Loginow, who at laft took leave of us, and returned on fhore. Immediately after his departure, the company affembled, and deliberated upon the proportion proposition of Mr. Stephanow. Their determination was, that it was impoflible to fuffer any other perfon to go on fhore ; and more efpecially Mr. Stephanow, who had given fo many proofs of his evil intentions. This unhappy man, urged by defpair and rage, attempted to throw himfelf overboard \ and by his outrageous deportment, obliged me, at length, to order him into confinement. In the mean time, we weighed anchor, and fet fail under the two top-fails, with the boats a-head, as well as five or fix of the country boats, who were ready to come to our affiftance, as the road was difficult. According to the Report, all the company in good health, the veflel making rio water. Monday, September the 12th. A light breeze at E. S. E. with fair clear weather. When we had got to the mouth of the harbour, it fell calm ; which obliged me to tow the veflel out by the boats, where I anchored in fixteen fathom water. At fun-fet the wind fprung up at S. E. and I fet fail, and flood to the Northward, in order to double the Northernmoft extremity of the ifland of Formofa. In the night the wind flackened, and we faw many fires on fhore. At eight, A. M. we difcovered two iflands a-head, with a channel between them of fuf-ficient extent, to induce me to fail through it. At eleven, fàw a large veflel at the diftance of three leagues to the Northward, and prepared to chace her ; but finding fhe outfailed us, 1 gave up the attempt. According to the Report, all in good health. The fhip making no water. Latitude in 240 15' N. Longitude in 3240 o87. Wind S. E. Current from Si to N. Courfe N. N. E. 2 Tuefday, Tuefday, September the 13th. Fine weather, inclining to fqually. This day Mr. Stephanow was releafed from confinement; and I declared to the company, my refolution to direct., onr courfe to Macao. In the night the weather was moderate, and we continued our courfe very agreeably. According to the Report, all in good health. . Latitude in 250 15' N. Longitude in 3230 56', Wind S. E. I E. Current from S. to N. Courfe N. ■{ E. Wednefday, September the 14th. Squally weather. * Saw a quantity of water fnakes. In the night, continual rain, with thunder and lightning. Sounded feveral times, but got no ground. According to the Report, all well. Latitude in 24 41' N. Longitude 3220 00'. Wind S. E. Current from N. to S. Courfe S. W. l7 W. Thurfday, September the 15th. Clofe cloudy weather throughout, with heavy rain. At three, A. M. founded, and got ground at thirty fathoms, fine fand, and broken fhells ; and we obferved a very ftrong current from N. to S. At day-break, faw a quantity of fifhing boats around us. At nine, the coaft of China was in fight, and I determined to go into fome harbour. At ten, feveral fifhing veffels being near us, offered to fell us fome fifh ; and upon our exprefling our willingnefs, feveral canoes immediately came along fide, from whom we bought all their fifli for twelve piaftres. Two Chinefe among thefe fifhermen, fpoke a little Portuguese; and were at laft perfuaded to pilot us into Macao. They demanded for this fervice one hundred piaftres ; but in the mean time, requefted leave to go on fhore for their cloaths ; to which I con- I contented, on condition, that one only mould go on fhore, while the other remained on board. This agreement being made, they conducted us to an anchoring place ; where we came too in eighteen fathom, fine fand and mud. Friday, September the 16th. The pilot having returned on board, made me to underftand his direction to weigh, and make fail along the coaft, in order to put in at Tanafoa; and by way of explaining the reafon, he faid, Mandarin hopchin malas, Mandarin tanajou bon bon malto bon ; all which I made fhift to comprehend wonderfully well. I therefore triade fail without delay, and flood along fhore. At day-break, the pilot fhewed me the bay of Tanafoa, into which we entered, and anchored in five fathom water, oppofite a caftle, which I faluted with three guns, and received the fame number in return. The pilot immediately went on fhore, and did not return till ten o'clock, when he appeared, together with a Mandarin, and an interpreter. He demanded who I was ; to what nation the fhip belonged ; where I came from, and whither I was bound ? To this I replied, that I was an European, and one of the nobles of Hungary ; that the veflel had belonged to the Ruffians, but having taken it from them, who were my enemies, it now belonged to myfelf ; that I came from Kamchatka ; was on my return to Europe, and propofed to put in at Macao. The Mandarin wrote my anfwers with a hair pencil, and faid, he was furprized to fee Hungarians arrive at China. He afterwards afked, what I was in want of ; and being told that I wanted frefh provifions, he confented that a party of my companions fhould go on fhore ihore with the interpreters. I therefore availed myfelf of this permiffion, to fend MefTrs. Winbladth and Kuzneczow on fhore, accompanied with fix of our companions, to carry my prefents to the Governor. They confifted in a beaver's fkin, and two fables. Saturday, September the 17th. At anchor at Tanafoa, before the town. At five, P. M. my officers returned, and brought word, that the Mandarin had accepted my prefents with pleafure ; and had fent me in return, a fèrvice of porcelain, with two chefts of tea, fix cows, and twelve hogs, with a quantity of poultry, and a kind of arrack. The aflbciates brought an hundred different , kinds of fweetmeats, and fome toys, very nicely wrought. The interpreter acquainted me, that the Mandarin was defirous of purchafing fome furs, but fecretly ; I therefore fent one hundred and fifty beavers, and three hundred fables ; in return for which, he fent fix thoufand eight hundred piaftres, in three cafks. Here I had additional caufe to regret the lofs of my furs. My companions like-wife opened a trade with the inhabitants, and fold every fcrap of bear's lkin they could collect. In the night feveral Chinefe veffels anchored near us, and my companions went on board them. They affured me, that every boat had feveral cabins, which were filled with girls, who fold their favours.' A. M. Set up the rigging, and cleaned the fhip thoroughly. My companions were incommoded by the quantity of fruit they eat on fhore, and fix of them were taken with illnefs. Sunday, September the 18th. My pilot took notice that the wind was favourable, and that we ought to take advantage of it. I therefore fet fail, and after ftanding Vol. IL L off off more, I directed my courfe to the Southward, which was contrary to the wifh of my pilot, who was absolutely averfe to lofing fight of the fhore. The quantity of hilling boats we faw were innumerable. Towards the evening they all made for the fhore ; and as I was importuned by my pilot, I confented to do the fame. At day-break we faw many water fnakes around us, fome of which I caufed to be taken, and the pilot eat them. At nine it fell calm, and at noon our latitude was by obfervation, 2 2° 32'. Eighteen of our people were this day lick, which I attributed to the fpirituous liquor they had drank. Monday, September the 19th. The pilots enquired whether my veffel drew more than fix feet of water ; and when I informed them that fhe drew upwards of eight,, they begged me to come to anchor ; becaufe at the fourth hour of the tide, the depth of water at this place was eight or ten feet. The under current here was contrary to that at the furface. I therefore anchored, in compliance with their wifhes, and I determined to note this obfervation in my journal, in order that more fkilful navigators might, at fome future time, afcertain the fad. At fix, P. M. weighed with a light breeze at Eaft, and the tide in our favour. This night one of the women who was attached to Mr. Cfurin, was brought to bed. The Chinefe boats which furrounded us the whole night, made a coniiderable noife with their oars. At day-break we faw a fleet, at the head of which was a veffel of prodigious magnitude, almoft entirely gilt, and hung round with numberlefs ftreamers. My pilots informed me that it it was the Canton fleet, which carried the revenues to Pekin. We counted one hundred and eighty-fix vefiels. This day our fick amounted to no more than eight. Tuefday, September the 20th. This day I was attacked by a violent fever, for which the pilots advifed me to eat an orange, roafted in its juice, with fugar, and a good deal of ginger. They prepared this remedy for me, and it produced a ftrong perfpiration, which difli-pated my complaint. Meflis. Winbladth, Baturin, Gurc-flnin, and Kuzneczow, with twelve others, were affected in the fame manner. At eight, P. M. Mr. Sibaew acquainted me, that Mr. Stephanow, taking advantage of my indifpofition, had formed a party ; but as he could not yet fay what their intentions were, he promifed to watch their motions. Sibaew had fcarcely finifhed his difcourfe, before I heard a noife on board. I went out of my cabin, where I found Mr. Cruftiew engaged in a quarrel with Stephanow. I gave orders to feize the latter; and after receiving the information, that this wretch had propofed to the company, to fign an act of complaint againft me, to be delivered to the Governor of Macao on our arrival, I ordered him to be put in irons. This day we had twenty-two fick. Wednefday, September the 2ifL About fix, P. M. anchored among the iflands, called Ladrones, where we remained all night. At five, A. M. weighed, and at ten the pilots fhewed "me an ifland, which they called Omy ; and at laft made me underftand, that Omy is the Chinefe name for Macao. At half paft eleven we faw the fort, and the Portugueze colours difplayed. At noon, being oppofite the fort, I fainted it with twelve guns. L 2 Thurfday, Thurfday, September the 22d. At half paft one,. P. M. we were fairly entering the harbour, where we faw feveral veffels at anchor. At two, in pafling the pafs,* I was hailed to come to anchor ; but as I did not think it neceffary to lofe time in fuperfluous ceremonies, I entered the harbour, and anchored at laft, near a frigate of forty guns, in four fathoms water. As foon as I had brought too, I faluted the Admiral's colours with twenty-four guns, and he anfwered with twelve. I went on fhore immediately after, and pafling near the Commodore, I paid him a vifit. On my arrival at the Governor's, I was introduced into the hall, which I found full of priefts and monks ; among whom I perceived feveral negroes of the Canary iflands. After fome time, the Governor, M. de Saldagna, arrived, and received me with the greateft politcnefs. When I had acquainted him with my misfortunes and my deliverance, he gave me permiffion to hire houfes in the town, to accommodate my people, till I could find a favourable opportunity of conveying them to Europe. Several perfons of the magi-ftracy, who were prefent, exprefled fome fufpicions. of me ; for which reafon, to prevent debates, I thought proper to put my veflel as a depoflt, in the hands of the Governor ; referving only for each of my companions, the neceflary arms, fuch as guns, piftols, and fwords, which I likewife depofited in the caftle. After this convention, the Governor charged M. Hifs, a gentleman of French extraction, but fettled at Macao for fome years, to affift me in my affairs, and ferve as interpreter. At fix, P. M. the guard having come on board, I caufed all my people 1 to * Pajant la pa£e~l do not underftand this. T to go on fhore. For the firft day, my companions lodged in a public houfe, and the excefs and avidity with which they devoured the bread and frefh provifions, which they were now fupplied with, coft thirteen of them their lives. Thefe died fuddenly, and twenty-four others were feized with dangerous illnefs. September the 23d. M. Hifs having found two convenient houfes, I hired them, and went to refide in them with my companions. This day I dined with the Governor, in company with a number of priefts, who from that moment afpired to the glory of converting my aflbciates to the Roman religion. On my return home, I found all my people commodioufly lodged, and an apartment completely fitted up for myfelf ; the Governor having fupplied the furniture out of his own houfe. I employed this day in making vifits to the Bifhop of Mi-telopolis, the Procureur of the town, the different convents, and principal inhabitants, I likewife gave orders to clothe my companions uniformly, in red and white, as well as the officers ; and the Portugueze ladies undertook to provide the apparel for our female fellow travellers. When the accounts were made up, thefe charges were efti-mated at eight thoufand piaftres, and the monthly ex-pence for lodging and provifions, amounted to fix thoufand two hundred piaftres. On the 24th, I received vifits from the Governor, and the principal men of the town, as well as from the Bifhop, accompanied with the different religious orders. Thefe all together, accompanied me to the Hoppo, or Chinefe Governor, who regaled us with tea and fweetmeats, This day three more of my aflbciates died, and their conver- lion was publifhed throughout the town. In the evening, a Dominican prieft, and friend of the Governor, named Zunitta, came to me, and offered every affiftance in his power ; and as I thought I might difpofe of my furs by his affiftance, I propofed the bufinefs to him, and he confcnted to take them. I therefore put into his hands four hundred and eighty beavers fkins, five hundred fables, and one hundred and eighty dozen ermines ; and he agreed to pay me for each beaver fifty piaftres, for each fable fix piaftres, and for every dozen of ermines eight piaftres ; which produced the fum of twenty-eight thoufand four hundred and forty piaftres : the whole, and only remains of lb coniiderable a fortune, as I had brought from Kamchatka ! a fcanty pittance, fcarcely enough to pay the expences of putting into Macao. This day, likewife, I gave orders to releafe Mr. Stephanow from his confinement, having received a formal apology on his part. The town made me, on the fame day, a prefent of one thoufand piaftres in gold, with forty-two pieces of blue cloth, and twelve pieces of black fatin. Their prefent was accompanied with a requeft, that I would depofit a copy of my journal in their archives. I promifed the deputies, that I would give them an hiftorical extract, as I could not act fo much to the prejudice of my own interefts, as to deprive myfelf of the merit of my manufcripts. This day I dined with the Bifhop of Mitelopolis, Mr. le Bon, of French extraction ; and I agreed with him that I would claim the protection of the French flag, for my paffage to Europe, in which lie promifed me his advice .and affiftance. On On the 25th, Mifs Aphanafia paid the debt of nature. Her premature death affected me greatly, and more*efpeci-ally as it deprived me of the fatisfaction of repaying her attachment, by her marriage with the young Popow, fori of the Archimandrite, to whom I had given the furname of my family. This day I difpatched Mr. Cruftiew with letters to the Directors of the French Company, containing my reclamation of the protection of the colours of his Moft Chriftian Majefty. He returned on the 29th, and brought me a very favourable anfwer, and the affurance of my paffage, which news was very acceptable to me. At Macao, October the 3d, 1771. A certain Mr. Gohr, Captain in the fervice of the Englifh Company, came to fee me, and made me offer of fervices on the part of the Directors, and a free paiTage to Europe, provided I would bind myfelf to entruft my manufcripts to the Company, and engage to enter into their fervice, and make no communication of the difcoveries I had made. This propo-fition, fo evidently interefted, difgufted me ; but I was contented to anfwer, that I was very fenfible of the obliging offer he had made ; but that, as I had accepted thole of the French Directors, it was not in my power to change my determination : that with refpect to my entering into the fervice of the Company, it did not appear to me to be fo eafy ; becaufe it was not only neceffary that I fhould be affured of a fuperior ftation, but that in the mean time all my people fhould be provided for ; and that our common lot, and the execution of feveral projects fhould be fecured. My anfwer furprized Mr. Gohr, who took his leave in an affected manner. The moment after his departure, I learned that Mr, Stephanow had accompanied him; and \ from thence I inferred, that I fhould ftill find new caufès of difcojtent on his part, which accordingly happened, as will appear in the fequel. On the 4th of October, I received a letter from Mr. L'Heureux, Director * for the Dutch Company. He fent me a prefent of cloth, wine, beer, brandy, fait provifions, and two thoufand piaftres. His letter and prefents were accompanied with the offer of a paffage for me to Batavia, and the alfurance that I fhould be received into the Company's fervice. But, as he made the fame pro-pofal as the Englifh, I refufed the acceptance of his prefents, except the liquors. On the 6th, Mr. Jackfon, an Englifh merchant eftablifh-ed at Macoa, arrived with Mr. Beyz. They renewed the propofitions made by Mr. Gohr, and fhewed me full powers, figned by the Englifh Council at Canton, to regulate the conditions of my engagement, and to offer a prefent of fifteen thoufand guineas. The fir It fne qua non was, that the Company, in confideration of my configning my manufcripts, and entering into their fervice, fhould grant me a penfion of four thoufand pounds fterling, reverfible to my children ; and that they fhould fettle on each officer a penfion of one hundred pounds, and each aflbciate thirty pounds ; and that they fhould give me every affiftance in forming eftablifhments beyond China. On this firft condition the Plenipotentiaries acknowledged, that they had not fufheient authority to conclude with me, and retired, after begging that I would well confider their offers. This evening the Governor informed me, that the four Englifh * Or Supercargo. gentlemen gentlemen had been with him, and that he thought feveral of my affociates were gained by the Englifh. In fact, thefe gentlemen, piqued at their want of fuccefs, raifed embar-rafTments among my people, in which Mr. Stephanow was of wonderful fervice to them. On- the 12th, I received a letter from Mr. de Robien, Director of the French Company at Canton, wherein he informed me that two of the Company's fhips, the Dauphin and the Laverdi, were ready to receive me and all my people on board. The fame day Mr. Kuzneczow informed me, that he had difcovered a plot, at the head of which was Stephanow, who had engaged to deliver my journals and papers to the Englifh, for the fum of five thoufand pounds fterling ; and to prove the fact, he fhewed me a letter of Mr. Jackfon, wherein that merchant afferted, that Meflrs. Gohr, Hume, and Beg, were ready to pay the fum on the delivery of all my papers. On this information, Ï took all my papers out of my cheft, and put them into the hands of the Archbifhop of Mitelopolis, unperceived by any of my companions. On the 15 th, the affociates met by my order. I informed them, that I was affured that a number among them were difcontented with me ; for which reafon I thought proper to declare to them, that all thofe who were defirous of feeking their fortune elfewhere, were at liberty to quit me ; and that as they had all received a retribution at my hands at the ifland of Formofa, I thought myfelf acquitted from them. 1 had fcarcely made a finifh, before Mr. Stephanow loaded me with invectives, and charged me with an intention of depriving the company of their fhare of the advantages I was about to Vol, II. M receive, receive, from the knowledge I had acquired during the voyage ; and that the moderation I had fhewn at Formofa, in delivering my fhare of the prefents of Prince Huapo, was merely a fcheme to deprive them of greater advantages, He then excited the companions to throw off my authority, by affuring them that he would fecure them a large fortune the inftant they fhould determine to put my papers in his hands, and follow his party. The infamous plot of this wretch was nothing extraordinary ; but when I underftood that he was fupported by Mr. Wyndbladth, my ancient Major, the companion of my exile, and my friend, I was incapable of fetting bounds to my indignation, and could not avoid declaring, that their proceedings were highly disgraceful ; and to confound them,. I difplayed their fecret projects to the company, and juftified my words by fhew-ing Mr. Jackfon s letter, which convinced them that Meffrs. Stephanow and Wyndbladth, under pretence of ferving the company, wete defirous of fecuring the five thoufand pounds to their own ufe. They were highly irritated, and threatened them ; but Stephanow preferved a party of eleven,, with whom he went to my lodgings; and while I remained in converfation with my friends, he feized my box, in which he fuppofed my papers were depofited. As foon as I heard of this outrage, I went to his chamber, followed by twenty affociates ; and as he refufed to open1 the door, I broke it down. On my entrance he fired a piftol at me, which miffed. In confequence of this attempt, I gave orders for feizing and keeping him in ftricl: confinement ; and as it was neceffary likewife to fecure Mr. Wyndbladth, I went to his chamber ; but he had retired into the garden, armed with a pair of piftols and a i fabre* fàbre. I determined to fhut him in, being convinced that he could not get over the walls on account of their great height. This whole affair paffed without the leaft alarm without, as the doors of the houfe were fhut. On the 16th, Mr. Wyndbladth, fatigued by a continual rain, and perhaps urged by hunger, requefted forgivenefs, and furrendered himfelf to two companions I had appointed to watch him. Having thus made fure of thefe two turbulent men, I thought it proper they fhould be fcparated from the company ; and they were therefore conducted to the caftle by permiffion of the Governor. The officers of our company, being defirous of avenging themfelves on the Englifh emiffaries, played them a trick, the whole effect of which fell upon a Jewifh agent, who was feverely flogged. Upon this wretch there were found minutes of propofals which he made to the companions, as follow : 1. That the Englifh would pay to each aflbciate one thoufand piaftres, in cafe they would ferve the company, and put my papers in his hands. 2. That in cafe the aflbciates refufed to take the Englifh party, the company would arreft them by force, in the name of the Emprefs of Ruffia, to deliver them up. 4. That the company would anfwer for obtaining the Emprefs's pardon for them, if they would determine to make a voyage to Japan, and the Aleuthes Iflands. Such proceedings cannot be attributed to men of fenfe. It was in my opinion a forgery, concerted between Mr. Stephanow and the Jew, to excite the aflbciates againft me. On the 2 2d, I was attacked by a violent fever, and the Governor had the goodnefs to offer me an apartment in his M 2 houfe. houfe. I accepted his offer with the more pleafure, as the noife of my companions was infupportable. I therefore entrufted the command this day to Mr. Cruftiew, and retired to the Governor's, where my illnefs continued till the 18th of November. During this period, four of my affociates and three of their women died. The following is a lift of thofe who died at Macao : Mifs Aphanaiia du Nilow, MelT. George Nolinkin, Meff. Maxim Cfurin, George Voronow, Afaph Baturin, Alexis Tufka, Philip Zablikow, Cath. Kuzmika, Nicolas Perevalow, Alexis Zacharka, John Perevalow, Boleftaus Sipfkoy, The Wife of Perevalow, Laurence Chodin, Andrew Mafchinfkoy, Prince Zadfkoy, George Panow, Nicolas Zarfkoy, Gregory Novozilow, Cafimir Levantiew, Stephen Kazakow, James Lubimoy. Alexander Ziran, The great number of deaths in fo fhort a time, gave me a very unfavourable opinion of the climate of China, at leaft of the Southern Provinces of the empire. On the 25 th of November, the Governor, feeing my health eftablifhed, and being determined to lodge me in future among my companions, informed-me that during my illnefs he had had great debates with the Chinefe on my account, becaufe the Englifh Directors had informed them, that I was a pirate, and deferter from the Ruffians ; and that upon this information, the Governor or Viceroy of 2 Canton, Canton, had required the Governor to deliver me up, or, at all events to make me depart immediately ; and that he had obtained a delay till my recovery. For this reaibn he advifed me to pretend that my illnefs ftill continued, until the time the French veffels fhould be ready to fail. From his embarraffinent, I perceived he was apprehen-five that he might find my affair troublcfome to himfelf. I therefore begged him to remain neuter, and undertook to terminate the bufinefs with the Chinefe myfelf. On the 26th, I fecretly difpatched Mr. Hifs and Mr; Cruftiew to Canton, with a memorial for the Viceroyr and a letter for Mr. Robien, in order that he might prêtant it at the audience of the Chinefe chief. My deputies did not return till the 3d of December ; when they brought me a chopp, or permiffion to wait upon the Viceroy at Canton. This imperial officer fent a fuperb veflel, with fixty-four oars for me, and caufed a letter to be written to me, importing, that he was informed of the falfity of the infinuations againft me, and hoped to convnice me of the juftice, which the Chinefe knew how to render to heroes like me. This difpofition was very flattering ; but my fatisfadion was of fhort duration, for on the 5 th, which was fixed for my departure, the Mandarin, Hoppo of Macao, let me know, that if I did not intend to travel as far as Fekin, it was °f no ufe to go to Canton, as the Viceroy had nothing to coinmunicate. This hidden change furprized every one, and efpecially the Bifhop of Mitelopolis, who was ftrongly interefted in my favour. I was in doubt with myfelf this day, whether I fhould go to Pékin. I was greatly affected ; for I fhould have been exceedingly gratified witli the the view of the capital, and interior parts of the Chinefe empire ; and a favourable opportunity now prefented itfelf: but to have embraced it, would have required me to abandon my project, and defer my return to Europe. It was not till after much deliberation, that I at laft determined to give up my intention of going to Canton. On the 6th of December, my Japanefe traveller appeared again, having fuffered an illnefs of ten weeks. His recovery was very agreeable to me, as his perfon in-terefted me ftrongly. This day, upon examining my chefts, I found that the collections I had made of various kinds, in the cotirfe of my voyages, had difappeared ; and I at laft heard, to my extreme grief, that Stephanow and WyncL-bladth had fold the whole to the Englifh Jew. I immediately fent after him ; but the rafcal had retired, after his correction, to Canton. Mr. Sibaew allured me, that the Jew had bought the whole for one thoufand five hundred piaftres \ whereas the pearls alone which I had, were worth five times that fum. On the 7th, the Bifhop of Mitelopolis informed me, that he was informed by the Secretary of the Hoppo, (a Chriftian in fecret) that the declaration of his mafter was falfe, and that the Viceroy was angry at not feeing me. He attributed this conduct to the intrigues of Mr. Jackfon, and endeavoured to perfuadc me to write another memorial to the Viceroy ; but as I thought this ftep of no advantage to my interefts, I refufed to comply with his advice, being contented with being permitted to remain undifturbed at Macao. On the 10th, I aflembled all my companions, and pro-pofed to them to embark on board the French ihips, in order * order to return to Europe. They confented, and fub-mitted entirely to my orders. This day, having received the apology and entreaties cri' Mr. Wyndbladth, I releafed him from confinement ; but as I could not place the fame confidence in Mr. Stephanow, I paid him four thoufand piaftres, with leave to go where he pleafed. He immediately took part with the Hollanders, whofe director, M. L'Heureux, expecting to derive'fome information from him concerning our voyage, received him, and fent him to Batavia. On the 20th, I gave orders to make every preparation for our departure, having this day received the conventions, figned between me and the Captain, M. de St. Hi-laire, in the fervice of the French Eaft-India Company. Thefe conventions were ratified by M. Robis,* Director of the Company ; in which I engaged to pay the fum of one hundred and fifteen thoufand livres Tournois^ for the paffage of myfelf, and all my people, to L'Orient. On the 26th, having received information that it was neceflary I fhould be provided with a chopp, or order of the Viceroy, to permit me to enter the river Tigu, I fent Mr. Hifs, as my commiflioner for that purpofe, to the Viceroy. January the ift, 1772. M. Hifs returned with the order, which coft me four hundred and fifty piaftres for three boats, which had been permitted to carry myfelf and people to the mouth of the Tigu. On the 2d, I fold my veflel to a Portugueze merchant, for the fum of four thoufand five hundred piaftres, ready * Robicn is the name of the Dire&or mentioned page 81, where it is written ia the M S. in the Count's hand-writing, money, money, and as much on credit. The Governor referved to himfelf the whole of the ftores. From the 5th to the 12th, I was employed in liquidating my accounts ; and after having fettled every thing, I found myfelf totally deftitute. On the 13th, I took my leave of the Governor, and chiefs'of the town; and in the evening I embarked on board three fampans, with all my people, to go on board the French veftels, which were appointed to receive us at the time of their leaving the harbour of Canton. On the 14th, we quitted Macao, where the Governor faluted me with twenty-one guns, from the principal for-trefs -y and, after a tedious pafTage, we arrived at laft at the mouth of the Tigu ; where we were very civilly received by a Mandarin, though he at firft refufed to permit us to go on fhore. The fight of a purfe of piaftres, however, abated his feverity ; which was fo much altered by this circumftance, that he offered permiffion for us to take lodgings in the fort. His complaiiance was very acceptable, for the fhips did not arrive till the 2 2d ; and in the mean time, I was at liberty to ride out on horfeback, accompanied by fome Tartars. On the 2 2d, we at laft faw the two fhips ; the firft of which was the Dauphin, of fixty-four guns, commanded by the Chevalier de St. Hilaire, on board which I embarked, with half my people ; and the fécond was the Laverdi, of fifty guns, which received the other half. After our embarkation we failed for the ifle of France. On the 27th, we paffed the Englilh bank, on which we had foundings at thirty-fix fathoms, fand and broken fhells. On On the 4th of February we crofTed the equator. On the 6th, in the Straits, we joined a Spanifh armed frigate, named the Pallas ; and on the 16th of March, we arrived fafely at the ifle of France. My arrival here was fo much the more agreeable, as I was perfectly tired of the many queftions the French propofed to me, respecting my discoveries during my former voyage. This voyage gave me an ample knowledge of the predominant character of a nation, to which I fhall probably attach myfelf in future. As foon as we came to anchor, and the Governor, the Chevalier de Roche, was informed that I was on board, he fent a boat belonging to the government, to bring me on fhore. On my entrance into the town, I was received with military honours, and had the pleafurc to be very amicably received by the Governor, who offered to accommodate me in his own houfe. I accepted this friendly offer with great fatisfactioii ; more efpecially as I hoped, that his experience would be of fervice to me, in directing my conduct, with regard to the French Court and Mini-ftry. After a day's repofe, the Governor invited me to accompany him in his excurfions upon the ifland ; and thefe little journies made me acquainted with fome of the interefts of the French government, though I could never agree to call this eftablifhment a colony. For the ifle of France can never be made any thing more than a military poft. The arrival of Lieutenant Kreguelin, was a great relief to me. For this navigator having returned from a voyage to the Southern lands, gave employment to all the poli- N ticians ticians and idle talkers of the ifland ; who before his appearance, had no other object but myfelf. I became acquainted with this officer ; but from what I had myfelf feen in the North, I could not believe that he had dif-covered fuch agreeable countries, as he afferted to exift on his Southern continent. On the ift of April, the Captain acquainted me, that he intended to depart on the 4th, and I got ready my little accommodations, by the generous affiftance of the Governor, who lent me a fum of money. On the 4th, having taken my leave, I embarked ; and the Governor, with all the officers, paid me a vifit on board. In the evening we fet fail. On the 12 th, we anchored at the Ifland of Madagafcar, where I went on fhore at Fort Dauphin. Some particulars of information I had received from the Governor of the ifle of France, induced me to wifli for more ample information, refpedting this fine and extenfive ifland ; but unfortunately for this purpofe, I could not prolong my ftay, but went on board again on the 14th. On the 27th, we doubled the Cape of Good Hope. On the 28th, we fpoke two French veflels, outward bound to India. On the 24th of May, we faw two Englifh veflels in the latitude of St. Helaira ; and on the 18th of July, we happily arrived at the Ifle de Croix. As foon as we had come too, I fent an officer to the Lieutenant du Roy, at Port Louis, who permitted me and all my people to lodge there. On On the 19th, I went on fhore, and was very politely received by the Commandant ; who agreed to fend a courier to the Miniffer with my packets, which I addreiTed to the Duc D'Aiguillon. On the 2d of Auguft, I received an invitation from the Duc D'Aiguillon, which was brought by a meffenger of ftate. On the 8 th of Auguft, I arrived in Champagne, where the Minifter then was, who received me with cordiality and diftinftion, and propofed to me to enter into the fervice of his mafter, with the offer of a regiment of infantry ; which I accepted, on condition that his Majefty would be pleafed to employ me in forming eftablifhments beyond the Cape. In France, likewife, I had the happi- nefs to find my uncle, the Count de Benyow, Commandant of the caftle and town of Bar, Commander of the Royal Order of St. Lazare, and Chevalier de St. Louis. The affiftance of this worthy relation, and the benevolence of his Majefty, put me in a condition to fend an ex-prefs into Hungary, to enquire after my fpoufe and child. She arrived at the end of the year ; but fhe had the misfortune to fee her fon expire, at the inftant of the arrival Or my courier. An event which was the more affecting, as I was then in a fituation to provide for him very ad-vantageoufly in France. In the courfe of the month of December, the Duke d'Aiguillon propofed to me from his Majefty, to form an eftablifhment on the ifland of Madagafcar, upon the fame footing as I had propofed upon the ifland Formofa ; and I at laft complied with the defire of N 2 this 92 MEMOIRS and TRAVELS, flfo this Minifter, to whom I fhall be ever bound in gratitude, as well as perfonal efteem and attachment.* * Here ends the fécond volume, according to the divifion of the Count, who has in this place annexed his abridged fignature. A MEMOIR A MEMOIR concerning the EXPEDITION to MADAGASCAR, for the Formation of a Royal Eftablifhment on that Ifland ; the Execution and chief Command of which, were intrufted by his M A J E S T Y*, to the C O U N T de BENYOWSKY, proprietary Colonel of a Corps of Volunteers, in 1772. PRELIMINARIES. AS the fuccefs of every remote enterprize which is intended to form an eftablifhment of Europeans, dependant always on precife orders and inftructions, as well as preparations and well-founded operations, made in confequence of a knowledge of the country, and proportioned to the advantages which are propofed to be obtained, I think it neceflary to give an account of the circumftances which preceded my arrival on this ifland. Circumftances which prove, that notwithftanding the very fcanty means which have been afforded me, I have fucceeded in forming treaties of friendfhip and alliance with the greater part of • The King of Fiance. the the inhabitants of this extenfive ifland ; and, confequently, that if I had not been, as I may fay, totally abandoned by the Minifter, which was the fource of the miferies, di-feafes, and mortality, to which myfelf and my people were expofed ; the ifland of Madagafcar, at this day in alliance with France, would have formed a power, capable of fup-porting her colonies of the ifles of France and Bourbon, and defending her eftablifhments in India, as well as fe-curing new branches of commerce to that kingdom, which would have carried immenfe funis into the royal treafury. In order to exhibit in the moft perfpicuous manner, the different obftacles which I have experienced fince my arrival in this ifland, and to develope thofe events which by fudden revolutions have procured me favourable advantages in forming this eftablifhment, I fhall give an account of the original difpofitions of the Minifter, upon which it was ordered that I fhould regulate my operations. Here follows the account : On the 15th of September, 1772, Mr. Dc Boynes, Secretary of State for the Marine department, communicated to me the intentions of his Majefty, to make a con-fiderable enterprize on the ifland of Madagafcar, and that his Majefty had determined to entruft this expedition to my care. In confequence of which, he informed me of thefe determinations, that I might take the moft fpeedy and proper meafures to carry this important and honourable enterprize into execution. After having thanked this Minifter for the confidence he honoured me with, I obferved, that having no knowledge of Madagafcar, and being abfolutely ignorant of the nature 4 of of the enterprize which his Majefty was defirous of en-trufting me with, I could not myfelf regulate the meafures neceffary for fuch an expedition ; ^ the fuccefs of which would depend on orders and means, in conformity to which I fhould regulate my operations with the greateft exact-nefs. The Minifter, after having affured me that nothing which might be neceffary to fecure the fuccefs of my million fhould be wanting, added, that the intention of his Majefty was to form an eftablifhment at Madagafcar, in favour of which, at fome future time, a much more extenfive plan might be carried into execution, by gaining the confidence of the King, Princes, and chiefs of the country, and engaging them to put their ifland under the protection of his Majefty. Upon this I reprefented, that in order to execute an enterprize of this nature, and of fuch great importance, in fo remote a country, the intemperate climate of which, together with the jealoufy of the inhabitants, had fo often deranged the proje&s, and rendered former attempts abortive, the operations would require well-combined dimenfions, confiderable forces, and continued fupplies, to prevent any thing from being left to chance. The Minifter approved my reprefentations, and promifed to provide for every thing; referving to himfelf the regulation of the different details, which my million might require, and which he propofed to concert with me at the end of the month. Some days after the Minifter, having fent for me to his hotel, informed me, that the intentions of his Majefty were to entruft me with the command of a military corps of twelve hundred men ; and that during the time I fhould be employed employed in railing them, he would take care to give the moft precife orders, that nothing might be wanting to expedite the coniiderable enterprize to which I was invited. I reprefented to the Minifter, that the number of one thouland two hundred men appeared to me to be too confiderable for an enterprize, where nothing more was intended than to gain the confidence of the natives of the country ; and I requefted, that the troop deftined to accompany me to Madagafcar, might not amount to more than three hundred men. To this propofal the Minifter agreed. On the 20th of January, 1773, the recruits being railed, I informed the Minifter, and requefted his orders, and the communication of his inftruâions, refpefting the enterprize in which his Majefty defigned to employ me. He replied, that he had not yet been able to work upon it ; and that he had put it into the hands of the firft Commis. I waited upon the latter, whom I found bufied in drawing up the plan ; but his work not being finifhed, I could not receive any precife information from him. At the beginning of February, the Minifter having fent for me again, declared that the plan drawn out by his Commis, was not to his mind ; and that he left me at liberty to draw it out myfelf. He ordered me likewife to add the neceflary demands for the execution of my million, and faid, that the intentions of his Majefty were to form at Madagafcar a fimple eftablifhment, by favour of which the fubfiftence of the iflands of France and Bourbon might be fecured, or new branches of trade might be opened, and men fupported, . who might be ferviceable in India in the next war which might happen. He concluded, by exhorting » ing me to omit nothing in this plan of all the demands neceffary for its execution. From thefe particulars of information, which I learned from the mouth of the Minifter, concerning my comrniflion, I continued to confer with Mr. Audat, the firft Commis, who had no knowledge of Madagafcar, but from the contradictory relations of merchants, which were more fuited to confufe the fubjec"t, than to give the flight eft information relative to my expedition. He communicated to me feveral accounts of Madagafcar, and a map of the ifland ; from which, as well as from the particular account of Mr. Johannis, Captain of a veffel, who had made feveral voyages to Madagafcar, I founded the plan which follows : A Plan which was- presented to the minister for securing the performance of my operations at madagascar. ARTICLE I. The Minifter will pleafe to give orders for my paflage, with my corps of volunteers for the ifle of France, with Pne year's provifion of meat, drink, and pay. ARTICLE IL He will pleafe to give orders to the chiefs of the Ifle of France to furnifli me with two veflels of the burden of one hundred and twenty, or one hundred and fifty tons each ; which will ferve to tranfport the troops and neceffary provifions for the eftablifhment at Madagafcar. One of Vol. II. O thefe thefe veflels fhould remain fubject to my orders, to be employed in the coaffing fervice of the ifland, and the other to return to France, in order to inform the Minifter of the pofition and fuccefs of the enterprize, with other circumftances neceffary to be communicated. ARTICLE IIL The Minifter will pleafe to give orders to the chiefs of the ifle of France, to fupply me with merchandize to the value of two hundred thoufand livres, with a fupply of artillery and warlike ftores, together with utenfils for the hofpitals, and workmen, with their inftrumcnts and tools for the conftruction of the neceflary habitations of his Ma-jefty's people. ARTICLE IV. To avoid the ravages which the unwholefomenefs of the climate of Madagafcar might occafion, during the time of erecting proper buildings on the fpot, the Minifter will pleafe to order the chiefs of the ifle of France to fupply me with four buildings framed in wood ; one to ferve as a general ftorehoufe ; the fécond as an hofpital ; the third as a barrack ; and the fourth for my own habitation. ARTICLE' V. The Minifter will pleafe to join to my million, perfbns attached to the adminiftration, to regulate and conduct: the affairs of finances and accounts 7 and who, at the fame time, time, may take charge of the commercial bufinefs, while my attention is directed to the forming of the eftablifhment. ARTICLE VL The Minifter will pleafe to order the chiefs of the ifle of France to aflift me, in cafe of need, with men, provifions, ammunition, articles of trade, and money for the pay of toy troops. ARTICLE VII. The Minifter will pleafe to fend out to me the firft year, one hundred and twenty recruits, to keep up the eftablifhment, until I can receive his final inftructions. After having prefented to the Minifter this plan, reduced into feven articles, I protefted to him that I fhould fucceed in gaining the confidence of the natives of the country, and in forming the intended eftablifhment, if my demands were exactly complied with ; but that, as operations of this nature indifpenfibly required a particular and ftudied knowledge of the place, I fhould have the honour to addrefs to him a more extended and better combined plan, with cir-cumftantial details and topographic charts of the country, and information refpecting the manners, laws, and governments of the iflands ; and, laftly, a regular ftatement of the demands proper to be complied with, to fecure the execution of fo vaft a project. O 2 The The Minifter, after having read my proportions, approved them fo far as to affure me, that he would give an account of them to his Majefty, and that I might depend on the whole being executed to my utmoft fatisfaclion. The particular conferences which I had, during the courfe of the month of February, with Mr. De Boynes, and the Duke D'Aiguillon confirmed me more and more in the perfuafion, that nothing would be wanting for my expedition. On the 19th of March, being lent for by the Minifter, I received a letter, which contained the intentions of his Majefty, concerning the formation of the eftablifhment of Madagafcar, with the copy of another, addrefTed to the chiefs of the ifle of France ; and he recommended to me at the fame time, to repair without delay, with all my men, to port L'Orient, where I fhould receive his orders for my paffage to the ifle of France. I then faw that my mifîion was in fome refpecr. abandoned to the difcretion of the chiefs of that ifland ; and that the flighteft want of difpofition, or mifunderftanding on their part, would be capable not only of injuring my operations, but even of entirely fruftrating them. I made my repre-fentations to the Minifter, at the fame time requeuing him to change the contents of the letter addrefTed to them ; and to caufe me to be fupplied from France with the moft in-difpenfible fupplies. His anfwer was, that there was no more time to make any change in thefe difpofitions ; that he was affured of the good difpofition and zeal of the chiefs of the ifle of France, who certainly would not fuffer me to be in want of any affiftance; and, laftly, that being upon the fpot, I might do every thing which I judged of advantage to to the fervice. He added, that he would befides provide by new orders for the particular fupplies, which the fafety of the eftablifliment required. Notwithftanding this decifive anfwer, I ventured to make new reprefentations on the inconvenience which might remit from fuch an arrangement ; but the Minifter perfiffed in his firft anfwer; and added, that the intentions of his Majefty being, that I fhould repair as fpeedily as pofiible to the ifle of France, I could not haften my departure too much. I therefore left him, with my mind filled with the evils and fufferings to which myfelf and my troops would be expofed. It was with a view to prevent thefe that I addrefTed myfelf to the Duke D'Aiguillon ; to whom I communicated the orders and difpofitions of the Minifter, refpecling my million, and the juft fears which they produced of my want of fuccefs. But the Duke comforted me with the promife that he would confer with Mr. De Boynes, that the face of affairs would certainly change, and that I might make myfelf eafy. The following day Mr. Audat, firft Commis of the marine, came to me, and informed me, that the Minifter being buficd with important and preffing affairs, could not confer at that moment with me, concerning my mif-fion, but that he had fent him to affure me, that every thing fhould be done to my utmoft fatisfaction ; that he had determined to change the letter addrefTed to the chiefs of the ifle of France, and even to augment the demands I had made ; that I might depart immediately for that ifland, as I fhould foon be joined by fuccours dispatched immediately from France ; and that, in the mean time, the chiefs of the ifle of France would fupply me coiiformably conformably to the orders tranfmitted to them with the fupplies I might want before the arrival of thofe which I fhould receive immediately at Madagafcar, and which would in future place me in a fituation to do without fupplies from that ifland ; and, laftly, that with regard to the letter addrefTed to the chiefs of the ifland, the moft efTential articles had been changed, in order to let them know that I was left matter of my operations, and that they were no otherwife concerned in my million than in fupplying me with the indifpenfible affiftance I might want. This overture of the firft Commis, fatisfied me fo much the more, as I conceived the pleafing hope of acquitting myfelf with honour, in the important commiffion, which it had pleafed his Majefty to entruft me with. On the 2 2d of March, I took my audience of leave; and trad the fatisfaction to hear a confirmation of the news from the mouth of the Minifter ; who put the letters and inftructions which are annexed to the prefent volume, into my hands, and added the following words, *c I fhall provide for all your demands, and you will have reafon to be contented with me." Being thus difpatched by the Minifter, I departed for L'Orient ; where I embarked on board the vefiel La Marquife de Marbeuf. On the 22d of September, I landed on the ifle of France, where I found a detachment of my corps, who had arrived before me ; the reft had remained at L'Orient to wait for fhips. On my arrival in this colony, Mr. De Ternay, the Governor, was abfent, and did not return till the month of October ; and as Mr. Maillait had re-fufed to confer alone with me on the affairs of my mif- fion, fion, before the return of the Governor, I waited till that time \ and then demanded four days to regulate affairs with them, concerning my departure to Madagafcar. In anfwer to this, thefe gentlemen replied, that their obje&s being feparate, they would not confer with me, but each individually. I therefore waited on Mr. De Ternay, on the 2 2d oi the month , of whom, after having communicated my orders, I demanded the furniture and afliftancc neceflary to my operations. But he replied, that no particular order had been addrefTed to him relative to my miflion ; that the general letter of the Minifter, regarded Mr. Maillart more than himfelf, fince the furniture and afliftance I flood in need of, depended on the treafury funds, which he did not concern himiêlf with ; that he would do his duty, in whatever related to the formation of my corps, and would put into my hands his Majefty's packet the Poftillion, which had been forwarded by the Court, for the fervice of my million ; and, laftly, that all the reft related to the intendant. After this interview, I waited on Mr. Maillart, to whom I likewife communicated the orders of the Minifter ; and gave him a ftatement of my demands of furniture and affiftance, neceflary to the execution of my mif-fion, of which I gave a detail of the circumftances ; at the fame time urging fuch reafons, as appeared to me the moft perfuafive, to induce him to concur in every thing which might depend on him, and might promote the good of the fervice, on this occafion. But what was my fur-prize to hear him fay, that he was very much aftonifhed, that the Court had undertaken fuch an expedition, fo prejudicial to the ifle of France; all whofe merchants 1 would would be ruined, if the eftablifhment fhould fucceed at Madagafcar ; where, by their concurrence, they carried on an advantageous commerce, which could not be legally prohibited by a fimple letter of the Minifter ; but that, neverthelefs, he would fee what could be done, until he received the moft pofitive orders of the Court : but that he could not avoid informing the Court, that the project: was impracticable ; becaufe the Madagafcar people having for one hundred and fifty years paft, repelled all the attempts of France, they would not fubmit at this moment, when they were united under a folid government, formed by themfelves. Such an anfwer, from the fécond in command of the colony, confirmed ftill more the fears I had conceived at Ver failles, that I was to be abandoned to the mercy of a jealous party ; who, as feveral reports evinced, did not fcruple to declare publickly, againft the eftablifhment at Madagafcar, and who had already began to ftrike the firft ftrokes ; which, as will hereafter be feen, have placed the eftablifhment in the moft unhappy fituation. On the 28th of October, Mr. De Maifonville, whom the Minifter had nominated to the place of fub-commif-fary and ftore-keeper under me, having refufed to go to Madagafcar, Mr. Maillart nominated in his place, the Sieur Vahis, a fhip's clerk, of known bad character ; whofe public impofitions rendered him unworthy of a poft, which required an equal fhare of probity and capacity. I made my reprefentations on this fubject to Mr. Maillart, affuring him, that I never would have any connection with a difgraced man ; and that he muft immediately make choice of a perfon, more worthy of fuch a fituation. fituation. He contented himfelf with anfwering, that the Sieur Vahis was good enough for Madagafcar ; where he had no wifli to expofe people of any value, as it was fending them to certain deftruction. The indignation which fuch a reply deferved, led me to take the moft prudent ftep. I turned my back upon him. On the 24th of the fame month, I conferred again, and more amply, with Mr. De Ternay, refpecting my million ; and gave him an affecting fketch of the unhappy pofition in which my corps was about to be placed, and the fufferings to which we fhould be expofed, if he perfifted in refufing the afliftance I demanded. But I could do nothing with this Governor, who publickly af-ferted, that the eftablimment at Madagafcar could not fuc-ceed, becaufe the Minifter had been fo indifcreet, as not to confult the chiefs of the ifle of France, on the means neceflary to be employed. Mr. Maillart, on the other hand, continually repeated, that the Minifter ought to have confided this expedition folely to the chiefs of the ifle of France ; becaufe, being perfonally interefted, they would have provided for all the afliftance which might have been required ; inftead of which, the orders of the Minifter concerning the fupplies to be made to the eftablifhment, being ambiguous, they durft not proceed upon them. I perceived, therefore, that no other fteps remained for me to take, than that of haftening my departure for Madagafcar, at the rifque of being expofed to the laft mifery, and to be abandoned in the moft cruel manner, until the arrival of the fupplies directly from France, which I expected from the Minifter. This determination, though Vol. II, P violent, violent, was moft fuitable to my engagements, and my fenfe of honour. I therefore overlooked all the inconve-niencies, and gave orders for the departure of the packet, the Poftillion, with a detachment of thirty men ; and inftructions for making enquiries reflecting the place, manners, and power of the inhabitants ; in order that I might be better enabled to expedite my operations, in obedience to the orders his Majefty had honoured me with. On the 7th of December, the Sieur Saunier, Lieutenant of a frigate, and Commander of the Poftillion, fet fail, and departed the fame day with my detachment, on his way to Madagafcar. From the road he wrote me a letter, in which he informed me, that Mr. Maillart, notwithftand-ing the requifition I had made for the good of the fervice, and the repeated promifes he had made to comply with them, had given no orders, but for objects of fmall confequence ; and thofe not fufficient for the ordinary prefents to the chiefs. He added, that he had refufed him a fupply of brandy, for thefubfiftance of the detachment; and that he fhould be obliged to deliver that article out of his own ftores. Juftly aftonifhed at what I heard, I waited upon Mr. Maillart, for an explanation of thefe circumftances ; but his anfwer was, that the Court had left him mafter of his own operations, in whatever related to Madagafcar, and that it would be of no ufe for me to apply to him in future, upon that fubject. In feveral converfations I had with Mr. De Ternay, for the feven following days, I begged him to perfuade Mr. Maillart to comply with his duty, in refpect to my mif-fion j and, jointly, to let the merchants who frequented the the coaft of Madagafcar know, that they were to fufpend their commerce, till new orders were received from the Minifter ; in order that I might take cognizance of abufes, and put the trade upon a footing more fuitable to the advantage of the public, and of the fettlement in particular. He acquiefced in my demand ; but upon hearing that he had merely written, but not publiihed his order, I redoubled my complaints ; and had the mortification to receive for anfwer from Mr. Maillart, that he thought it very extraordinary, I fhould infift on an objedl, which was foreign to my department, as it related to a commerce, which being authorized, could not be prohibited, and ftill lefs abolifhed, by a fimple letter of the Minifter. On the 2 2d, the armament of my corps not being yet arrived from France, and having been obliged to exercife them with arms which had been borrowed, I requefted arms of Mr. De Ternay, Lieutenant of the arfenal of the ifle of France ; and after feveral contefts, I obtained them, and armed my troops in a proper manner, in confequence of the care 1 took to get the greateft part of the arms repaired. On the 25 th, being informed that a private fhip was on the point of fetting fail for Madagafcar, and being defirous of feizing this opportunity, of forwarding my orders to Mr. Saunier and D'Efteruby, I fent for the Sieur Vahis, who ftill performed the functions of ftore-keeper, and enquired of him concerning the ftate of the fitting out of my expedition. To this he anfwered, that he was accountable only to Mr. Maillart, and not at all to me ; and that he was not bound to attend to the fmalleft advice I might give him* This unexpected P 2 anfwer anfwer from a man, who by the nature of the fervice was fubjected to my orders, induced me to complain to Mr. Maillart ; who coolly anfwered, that the Sieur Vahis acted according to his inftructions, and that I muft expect nothing more. On the 28th, I again waited on Mr. De Ternay, to engage him to renew his conference with Mr. Maillart, upon the fupplies required for my expedition. But he anfwered, that the Minifter having addrefTed his orders directly to Mr. Maillart, it was he alone who was charged with their execution. I therefore waited upon this Intendant, accompanied with my Major, and a Captain of the corps j and made the moft prefiing reprefentations to him, by ob-ferving, that my demands were founded on his Majefty's orders, fignified by the Minifter ; and that he could not, without failing in his duty, refufe me fuch things as my operations indifpenfably required. But his anfwer was fuch as I had no reafon to expect from a man in place. He indulged himfelf in the moft indecent obfervations on my miflion ; and had the confidence to fay, that if Mr. De Ternay would follow his advice, he would put a flop to my expedition, becaufe the Court had not reflected on this project, formed by a mere adventurer ; and that even if the Minifter fhould give him the moft pofitive orders, he wovdd rather throw up his employment, than have any concern in a fcheme fo badly projected. This indecent anfwer obliged me to quit him without anfwering a word y and I availed myfelf of the departure of a fhip for France, to inform the Minifter of all that had paffed between the chiefs of the ifle of France and myfelf. At At the beginning of the month of December, the reft of my people having arrived at the ifle of France in the Laverdi, and being defirous of haftening my departure for Madagafcar, I demanded of the chiefs of the ifle of France veflels for my tranfport ; at the fame time that I delivered to them a lift of the moft indifpenfable things, fuch as tools, medicines, and particularly twelve cafks of vinegar, and three filtering ftones. I infilled more ftrong-ly on thefe laft articles, becaufe I was fully informed of the bad qualities of the waters of Madagafcar, which were either muddy, or charged with metallic matter ; and that filtering ftones and vinegar were the only means of rendering them lefs noxious, as had been proved with great fuccefs, in different European garrifons. On the nth of December, Mr. Maillart invited me to a conference, either at his houfe, or at that of Mr. De Ternay. I gave the preference to the former, where Mr. Maillart, in the prefence of Mr, De Ternay, and Mr. De Bellecombe, ancient Commandant at Bourbon, made ex-cufes for his former behaviour, requefted my friendfhip, and affured me, that the veil that had hitherto covered his eyes with regard to my million, was now removed 3 and that he now knew, that the Minifter had particular teafons for employing me in the eftablifhment at Madagafcar ; the labour of which he was ready to fhare with me, as far as it depended on the fupplies to be furnifhed by him. He begged I would forget all that had paffed, and grant him my friendfhip. My anfwer had no need to be ftudied. The Intendant appeared to be fenfible of the impropriety of his conduct:, and protefted, that he was teady to exert himfelf, in promoting the fuccefs of my enterprize* enterprize. I therefore affured him, that my efteem and friendfhip would always go together ; and that from that moment, he was in poffeffion of both. This protefta-tion, on my part, was the more ffncere, as I could form no idea, that a man in poffeffion of a confidential employment, could be guilty of fuch a degree of impofition and hypocrify ; but the fequel will fhew, that the Intendant had no fuch fcruples. On the 17th, Mr. De Ternay fupplied me with artillery and military flores, which I was in want of for my departure ; and I ferioufly fet about exercihng part of my men with the artillery, which they managed to my great fatisfaction. Mr. Maillart, on his part, took the treafury cheft out of the hands of the Sieur Vahis, and entrufted it to the Sieur Senaut, whom I was not acquainted with. Thefe chiefs, fome days afterwards, let me know, that they defigned the veffel Le des Forges for my tranfport, which was every day expected from Bourbon ; but Mr. Maillart obferved, that he could fend only a very fmall part of the articles of trade by that veffel ; that the ftore-houfes were abfolutely without vinegar, and that he did not know what had become of the filtering ftones : but that he would not fail to forward thefe by the firft fhip, even if he were obliged to buy them of the merchants. On the laft day of the fame month, I begged Mr. De Ternay to make a review of my corps, with that commif-fary. I caufed my men to be fupplied with clothes, as thofe which had been fent me had proved exceedingly defective. January the iff, 1774. Having received a packet from Madagafcar, by which I learned, that the fupplies delivered delivered by the Poftillion were fo fmall, that my detachment had fcarcely three months eatables, and that my pre-fence was highly neceffary, becaufe fome of the chiefs had already began to commit hoftilities ; I addrefTed myfelf to Meff. De Ternay and Maillart, entreating them to lurnifh me with a veffel as early as pofiible, to carry me to my place* of deftination. But as thofe gentlemen replied, that they could not procure me one in the courfe of the month, all thofe which were at their difpofal being employed in the fervice of the colony, I determined to. freight a veffel myfelf, to carry fuccours and a reinforcement of men to my detachment. But I was prevented from doing this, by the promife of Mr. De Ternay, who affured me, that I fhould have the veffel I demanded before the expiration of January. I therefore prepared my corps for their departure; but upon the report, that fixty-three men were in the hofpital, I determined to leave them under the orders of Mr. Maring, my Lieutenant Colonel, under the conduct of Captain de Sanglier, until their perfect recovery, when they were to be tranfported to Madagafcar without delay. I learned, at the fame time, that part of my troops were feduced by the other regiments; that fome of my volunteers had already deferted, and that the difadvantageous obfervations on our expedition had been urged with fuch malice and fuccefs, that part of my officers had pretended ficknefs, with a view to delay their departure for Madagafcar. I underftood, likewife, that the chiefs of the iftc of France had fent emiffaries to Madagafcar to the Kins Hyavi, and other chiefs, to warn them that I was come to deprive them of their liberty, and that I had no other intention: intention than to impofe the yoke of ilavery upon the whole ifland. In this unhappy fituation, being apprehenfive that his Majefty's fervice might greatly fuffer from fo horrible a prejudice, I harangued my troops, and particularly my officers, who, conquered by the force of reafoning and their own fentiments of honour, returned to their duty, and chearfully difpofed themfelves to follow me. I then publifhed my departure for Madagafcar, and caufed it to be proclaimed, that all volunteers, particularly workmen, who might be difpofed to accompany me, fhould come and propofe their conditions. This produced a coniiderable number of applications ; but not knowing whether they were free, and being defirous of avoiding the flighteft offence, I addrefTed myfelf to Meflf. De Ternay and Maillart. The firft replied, that he could not give permiffion to any one to leave the ifland ; and Mr. Maillart faid, and publickly repeated the aflertion, that he would openly op-pofc any perfon's departure who might chufe to follow me to Madagafcar, becaufe it would be fending them to the butchery. For he faid, he had received information, that feveral bodies of armed iflanders waited for me, in readinefs to attack my forces. This Intendant carried affairs to fuch an height, as to endeavour to feduce one of my chief officers, and to prevail on him to fend him a full account of my operations at all opportunities. Thus it was that this chief exerted himfelf in carrying the Minifter's orders into effea. On the 2 2d, I profited by the departure of his Majefty's flute La Triquaire to fend my packets to the Court. The following days I was bufied in embarking the effecTs of my 2 troop ; troop ; and Mr. Maillart having affured me, that he would take care to deliver all the articles he had orders to furnifh for Madagafcar, I became eafy. My vifits being made and returned, I gave an entertainment on the 2d of February on the occafion of the birth of my fon, at the Great River; after which I commanded my troops to repair to the harbour with colours flying. They immediately went on board, and I had the long-expected pleafure of fetting fail for Madagafcar at fix in the evening. On the 5 th, the North winds obliged us to anchor at Bourbon, whence we departed on the 7th, and at laft we arrived at the bay of Antongil, where we anchored on the 14th of the fame month. As the facTrs which I have related have no other connection with what follows, than by the various unhappy confe-quences they have produced, which originated in the want of difpofition, or as I may fay, original jealoufies of the chiefs of the ifle of France, they may be confidered only as preliminary to the hiftory of the eftablifhment I have formed at Madagafcar. Vol. II. A FULL A FULL ACCOUNT of PARTICULARS RELATING TO THE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT at MADAGASCAR, Entrufted to M. the Count de Benyowsky : from his Arrival on the Ifland on the 14th of February, 1774. AS foon as the Des Forges had come to anchor, I fent the fmall boat on fhore, to bring the earlicft news of the fituation of my detachment, and the difpofition of the iflanders. The fhore was lined with chiefs, who ex-prefTed the greateft fatisfa&ion at feeing me; a circum-ftance which gave me no fmall pleafure. But thefe agreeable ideas were much diminifhed, upon entering the paliflide which enclofcd my men, and which, for want of effects to pay the blacks, they had been obliged to con-ftruct themfelves. This hard work, at their firft landing in an extremely hot country, had exhaufted and reduced them to the moft deplorable ftate. The commanding officer and furgcon were both ill, without affiftance or medicines, and under the neceffity of keeping a continual guard day and night againft the natives, who had made an an irruption upon my feeble detachment with a number of armed men: and notwith {landing their weaknefs, they had defended themfelves with fuch firmnefs, that they took feven prifoners from a chief named Raoul; but whom, by a flroke of policy, they had thought proper to fend back without any ranfom. All thefe circumftances, which I had learned by the accounts of Mr. Saunier and the Sieur de la Boulaye, volunteers in my corps, had almoft entirely exhaufted the detachment. My firft care was to ufe every exertion to give them all the afliftance their unhappy fituation required. They had no ftorehoufe, barracks, nor hofpital, nor even a lodging to receive me under cover from the open air. Thefe different buildings could not be conflrucaed in a fhort time, except by the iflanders themfelves. I therefore thought it proper to neglect no means of inducing them to enter into the interefts of the eftablifhment; and to gain their confidence, I caufed the greateft number of them to meet together, to whom I distributed prefents, and had the fatisfactioii to purchafe feveral of the huts of the country, which ferved to lodge my officers and troops, until the in-difpenfable buildings could be got forward. A hut was erected in hafte, to ferve for my lodging, and the work went on with fuch fpirit, that I was able to difembark the troops I had brought with me the following day. They came on fhore with all the pomp and in the bell order pofiible, with a view to infpire the iflanders with refpect. While thefe things were performing to the beft of my wifhes, I turned my thoughts to the difcharge of the cargo. For this purpofe, I demanded of Mr. de Saint 2 Felix, Felix, commander of the Des Forges, the invoice of the effects he had in his charge. But great was my aftonifh-ment to fee that, notwithftanding the proteftations and brilliant promifes of Mr. Maillart, the veffel contained little or no liquor, nor articles of trade, and that the greateft part of the fhip's cargo confifted of coals, an article then of the fmalleft importance. In this critical fituation I was forced to purchafe the wine, brandy, merchandize, and medicines the Captain offered to fell me; and upon his refufing to take a letter of exchange upon the King, as I could by no means difpenfe with the goods, I gave him a bill on my own account for the fum of fourteen thoufand five hundred livres. The day after, February the 17th, having demanded workmen to affift in the works, Mr. de Saint Felix refufed them, alledging an order of the chiefs of the ifle of France; but as he did not fhew me this order after I had fummoned him fo to do, I made ufe of the authority his Majefty had been pleafèd to entruft me with. February the 19th, I fent advice to all the chiefs of the province of Antimaroa to repair on the iff of March to Louifbourg, that I might inform them of the intentions of his Majefty refpecting the eftablifhment I was to form at Madagafcar, and to engage them as much as pofiible in our intereft. At the fame time I gave orders to mount the artillery, and to fecure ourfelves from furprize. Upwards of two hundred natives were voluntarily employed in carrying earth to raife the ground above the level of the river, and to begin to fill the neighbouring fwamp. On the 23d,hisMajefty,s frigate L'Oifeau, commanded by aLieutenant, and hisMajefty's veffel Le Rolland, commanded by Mr. Kerguclin, having anchored in the road, with two hundred of their people fick, I gave them every affiftance in my power ; and more particularly an abundant fupply of refrefhments, by means of which their health was fpeedily reftorcd. On the 25th of the fame month, his Majefty's packet Le Dauphin, commanded by Mr. Feron, an attendant on the expedition of Mr. Kerguelin, anchored likewife in the road. March the ift, 1774- Having received information, that all the chiefs of the province of Antimaroa were on their way to Louilbourg, where I had appointed to hold a conference, I gave new orders, to guard againft any fur-prize y and the following day I received them without our enclofure, accompanied with fome of my officers, and a detachment of thirty men. Thefe chiefs were twenty-eight in number, and were efcorted by about two thoufand armed blacks, who formed a circle, at the entrance of which I feated myfelf ; and informed them by my interpreter, that the intentions of the King of France being to favour and take under his protection the inhabitants of Madagafcar, in which he was actuated by a knowledge of their attachment to the French nation, he had refolved to form an eftablilhment, to defend them againft their enemies ; and to keep warehoufes, at which they would at all times find, at cheap rates, fuch merchandizes as they might want ; namely, cloth, liquors, powder, balls, gun flints, &c, which fhould be furnifhed to them in exchange for the productions of their country, and in particular rice, which they could not cultivate too largely ; and that return for the advantages his Majefty was difpofed to heap on them, I required only the three following conditions : The firft was, that they (hould enter into a treaty of friendfhip and alliance with me, and grant me land to fix my eftablifhments ; and that they ihould permit the iflanders to fell lands to fuch of the French nation as fhould be difpofed to fettle among them. The fécond was, that they fhould allow me to eftablifh in the inland part of the country, near the fource of the river of Tingballc, hofpitals and ftore-houfes upon a proper fpot of ground. And laftly, in the third place, that they fhould engage to defend the property of the eftablifhment. My interpreter had fcarcely ended, before they all fet up fhouts of joy ; and faid, they could not doubt the good intentions of the King, as he had fent fhips and troops to them, in preference to the other provinces, to fupport them againft their enemies ; that they acknowledged him from thenceforth as their friend, and ihould confent to cede to me the land upon which I had began to form my eftablifhment, provided I entered into an oath not to conftruct. fortrefies. With refpedr. to the land I required up the country, they faid they would confider of it ; but that they required an oath, by which I fhould acknowledge that I had no right over them, and would confine myfelf to the fimple title of their friend, in which quality I fhould affift them againft their enemies. Having acceded to the propofitions, we celebrated the oath to ratify our union. This ceremony, which they call Cabarre, was feconded by an entertainment, in which they drank a cafk of brandy I diftributed among them. 4 My My friends then returned to their own villages, where they celebrated new feftivals, in teftimony of their joy at having gained the friendfhip of the King of France. On the 3d, I difpatched the Poftillion, commanded by the Sieur Saunier, and attached to my expedition, with orders to repair to Foul Point, and diflodge the individuals who were endeavouring to prejudice the natives againft my eftablifhment ; and to affure Flyavi, the King and Grand Chief of the province, of my friendfhip, as well as to make prefents to him, and to engage him to demand my affiftance againft the Fariavas, with whom he was at war. This appeared to me the moft certain method of obtaining permiffion to eftablifh a poft at Foul Point. On the 9th, his Majefty's packet Le Dauphin, failed for the ifle of France, after receiving from me a fupply of brandy and rice, of which fhe was in the greateft want. On the information of my people, that the blacks in fpite of their oaths, infulted the fentinels in the night, and the Sieur Senan, ftore-keeper, having at the fame time made complaint, that the magazines had been robbed, I gave notice to the chiefs, that if any natives fhould approach the pofts in the night, without anfwering the fentinel, as had been agreed, I fhould be forced to fire upon them. They only replied to my interpreters, that if I killed one black, they would in return kill ten whites. The fame evening a black armed with his fagaye, having with others come near a fentinel, placed before a magazine, and in-ftead of anfwering having thrown a fagaye at him, the fentinels fired upon them, flew one, and wounded two others. This action, though juft, appeared to the natives a juft caufe of complaint and retaliation ; which I took care care to prevent, by removing them to the diftance of our out-pofts. To fucceed in this without expofmg my people I propofed to four chiefs, to fell me their villages, which furrounded Louifbourg. They confented, and evacuated them as foon as they were paid ; and I gave immediate orders for demolishing them. In this manner I became mafter of the whole point of land, and my people were lefs expofed to opportunities of debauchery. On the nth inftant, I fent on board his Màjefty's fhips Le Rolland and L'Oifeau thirty oxen. The blacks, though they had retired, and were fatisfied by the payment for their villages, did not abandon their delign of ruining the eftablifhment. I was informed by a free negrefs, that they had agreed to poifon us all, beginning with myfelf, by means of the provifions they might fell us. In confequence of this, I forbad the purchafing any thing from the natives, until they had themfelves firft eaten of it. This proof coft one of them his life ; for by failing fome fruit he offered to fale, he fuddenly fell down lifelcfs. His accomplices being informed of this tragical event, which difclofed their plot, fled up the river,, where they laboured to flop the paffage by felling trees acrofs it. They likewife fired upon a detachment I fent to reconnoitre them. The following day, a chief named Siloulout, under pretence of coming to render homage, requefted an interview near a wood. This extraordinary demand, together with his refufal to come to the Government, leading me to fufpect fome treachery, I fent out to watch his movements, and foon learned, that in confequence of an 2 oath oath he had entered into with the Saphirobay, to affafli-nate me, he waited for my coming with about three hundred armed blacks ; and that a much more coniiderable number were concealed in the wood. To fruftrate this bafe attempt, I fent out two field pieces, preceded by fifty volunteers, commanded by two officers, who marched up to the enemy with fuch fpirit, that this great multitude of blacks were ftruck with fear. Some retreated into the marfhes, and the reft went on board their boats, whence they made 'the moft violent difcharge of their pieces, but without effect. This obliged me to point my field pieces at them. The firft ball overfet one of their largeft boats, and killed feveral men. Two days after this event, I was informed by a female negro fpy, that the chiefs Saphirobay and Siloulout, had formed with Raoul the project of a league with the neighbouring provinces, to deftroy the eftablifhment effectually. In order to avoid the effects of fo dangerous a confpiracy, I gave orders to my Major to march at eleven at night, with a detachment of fixty volunteers, and proceed in the boats of Le Rolland and L'Oifeau, direct to the enemies camp, which was about three leagues diftant. The troops landed at three in the morning, and immediately attacked them, and drove them into the wood ; after which they reduced their village to afhes, and deftroyed their works. This ftroke reftored the tranquillity of the eftabliihment ; and I went myfelf with my Major and Engineer, to examine an elevated ifland named D'Aiguillon, which is only one league diftant from. Louifbourg. Here I gave orders for conftructing an oven, an hofpital, and a redout Vol. II. R for for defending a botanical garden at the foot of the mountain of Difcovery. On the 2ill, his Majefty's two veflels, Le Rolland and Le Des Forges, fet fail ; the firft for France, and the latter for the Ifle of France. Mr. Kerguelin left behind him twelve men attacked with the fcurvy. On the 24th, fix neighbouring provinces, who were overjoyed at the cataftrophe of the chiefs Raoul, Silou-lout, and their other mortal enemies, deputed envoys to me, to propofe an oath of friendfhip, and to make prefents ; in return for which, as well as to attach them to our interefts, I caufed brandy to be diftributed among them in proportion to their number, which was confider-able. On the 26th, Saphirobay fent prefents, and requefted peace. I informed them, that alter the attempts they had made againft the eftablifhment, it was pardon and not peace which they ought to require ; and that I would not pardon them, fo long as they acknowledged as their chief Raoul, whofe infamous behaviour had been mani-fefted in attempts againft the fettlement ; and laftly, that they fhould begin by clearing the river, and leaving us the free liberty of navigating it. They retired with promifes to comply with my demands ; but the following day we had evident proof to the contrary, for the river was covered with trees loaded with fruit. I gave orders to examine what it was, and immediately found, that the Saphirobay had covered the river with tanguin, which is the ftrongeft poifon they are acquainted with, and with which they intended to poifon the river, which was the only water we ufed. I was therefore obliged for the pre- 4 fcrvatioa fervation of my troops, to caufe the river to be cleared, and to fend a party of natives, engaged and commanded by a party of volunteers, to encamp and cut down and burn all the trees of this kind, which were in the neighbourhood of the river. This precaution, though expen-five, was of the laft neceffity, to deliver us from certain deftruction. On the 30th, I repaired to Manambia, where I discovered an ore of copper on a mountain. I gave advice of this difcovery to the Minifter, having firft prohibited any one from touching it. April the ift, 1774. Several chiefs of Angontzi came to offer their friendfhip, with a promife of conforming to all the articles which had been propofed in the former Cabars ; and at the fame time requefting as a favour, that a trade might be eftablifhed in their country. This induced me to fend a Commis with four volunteers, and a quantity of merchandize. In the night, between the ift and 2d, having vifited the pofts myfelf, I perceived that feven volunteers, with their arms and baggage, were miffing. Thefe circumftances led me to fufpect that they had deferted, and the accounts I received the following day convinced me of the truth of my fufpicions. In this juncture I could make no ufe of my troops, on account of their imperfect knowledge of the place. I therefore fent a number of Blacks after the deferters, commanded by the officers of my own corps. This precaution was the more neceffary, as I had already received information, that more than fifty other volunteers, with two officers among their number, had agreed to follow the feven deferters, To prevent this fécond R 2 evil, evil, I put the whole troop under arms, and after having reviewed them, and caufed them to ground their arms, I commanded them to the right about, and marched them off without their arms, which were all carried into my apartment. I immediately caufed the criminals to be feized and bound; and the feven deferters having been brought back that evening, were queftioned at a council of war, in which one of the confpirators was condemned to run the gauntlet, and thirty-three volunteers were condemned to the works. Their defign appeared to be that of forming a league with the inlanders for the deftruction of the eftablifhment, and favour their fubfequent efcape in fome private veffel. On the 6th, his Majefty's packet the Poftillion, which I had forwTarded on the 3d of March for Foul Point, returned, and gave me an account, that the chief Hiavi, notwith-ftanding all that had been (aid by private merchants againft the eftablifhment, was earneftly defirous of my friendfhip, and begged me to eftablifh a poft near him. He affured me, that he was ready to conftruct a palifade according to my demands, and that he would contribute every thing in his power, or in the power of the chiefs, under his orders, to the good of the eftablifhment. The chiefs of St. Mary came the following day to requeft and ftipulate a treaty of peace and friendfhip, and to enter into mutual oaths. They, at the fame time, begged me to eftablifh a poft on their ifland, and begged I would forget the maffacre they had formerly committed againft the French ; to which, they faid, they were driven by the cruelty and tyranny of the French themfelves. I was convinced of the truth of their account, and therefore promifed to forget all that had 1 paffed. paffed. We therefore entered into mutual oaths, and I engaged to fend a perfon to open a trade of brandy and effects, for whofe lafety the chiefs fhould anfwer upon their own lives. On the 9th, the interrogatories, confrontations, and circumftances, relative to the plot which had given employment to a council of war on the 5 th of the fame month, afforded occafion for a fécond council, in which the principal mover was condemned to run the gauntlet, another was flogged, and thofë who were lefs criminal were condemned to punifhments adequate to their deferts. On the 10th, his Majefty's packet the Poftillion being in want of careening, and having no provifion of pitch and tar, they were fupplied by a gum of the country, named by the iflanders ditti moenti, which appeared to be of excellent ufe in thofe kinds of work. On the 17th, I difpatched his Majefty's veffel the Grand Bourbon with a detachment of a Captain, one Lieutenant, two Serjeants, a Drum, and eighteen Soldiers, to Foul Point, with prefents for Hiavi, the chief of that province, who had deputed his brother to me to enter into an oath of friendfhip in his name. On the 20th, the Saphirobay, who, in order to regain my favour, had driven Siloulout out of their territories and degraded their chief Raoul, came to the number of twenty-two great chiefs and more than two thoufand unarmed iflanders ; and after feveral teftimonials of the moft lively repentance, and a renewal of their oaths, I prefented them with brandy and prefents, which they received with marks of the greateft fatisfaftion and reiterated promifes, that they would immediately bring their commodities, modities, the price of which had been regulated in the Cabars. The following day the chief Raoul came to demand pardon, and permiffion to eftablifh himfelf in his country ; which I granted, on condition that he fhould not affume the title of prince. On the 23d, judging it to be of the greateft importance to make myfelf acquainted with the internal part of the country, where, from the account of the iflanders, there were very fine plains and rivers favourable to communication ; I fent the Sieur Saunier, Lieutenant of a frigate, up the river of Tingballe, to make enquiries. He returned from his expedition on the 26th, and informed me, that the river was navigable ten leagues from its mouth, and ran to the North V/eft into the country ; that before it arrives at its fource it is divided into two branches, each navigable for about ten leagues. He added, that this river was bordered with very fine plains in good cultivation, and mountains covered with the moft beautiful timber, which might be eafily and at a little expence brought down to the fettlement by water. I was greatly plcafed with this difcovery, as I already knew that the rivers opened three very advantageous places of trade, one to the Weft of the ifland of Bombatok, the other to the North of Cape D'Ambre, and the third to the Eaft of Angontzi, of which all the rivers of communication difcharge themfelves into that of Tingballe. I therefore propofed to extend the eftabliihment and cultivation into thefe different provinces, as foon as I fhould have received more important affiftance than thofe which I had hitherto obtained from the ifle of France. On On the 27th, the Grand Bourbon was obliged to return into the harbour, and take provifions for the detachment at Foul Point. The chiefs of the Southern provinces came with prefents to enter into the oath of friendfhip, and begged me to fend one of my officers to dwell among them, and eftablifh a trade. I fent an interpreter, with orders to make himfelf acquainted with thefe feveral provinces, fome of which are more than one hundred leagues diftant from the chief place ; and in the mean time I fufpended my further orders. On the 28th, in the evening, being informed of the death of Mr. Senan, ftorekeeper of the eftablifhment, I gave inftructions to my Major to affix feals on his cheft and all the magazines, and place fentinels upon them. My juft fears of his bad conduct were confirmed the following evening, when we came to take an inventory of the general ftores, and every part of the adminiftration which had been intrufted to him. The whole was in fuch bad order, that all his regifters, as well of entries as deliveries, were entirely blank. On the 29th, to haften the advantageous communication, which I propofed to eftablifh by land as far as the Weftern coaft ; a communication absolutely neceflary to °pen a trade with the coaft of Africa, and particularly with the province of Bombatok, which is extremely abundant in cattle and cotton ; I fent Mr. Mayeur, an interpreter, with a Serjeant and one hundred and fifty Blacks, Which were furniihed by the allied chiefs, with inftructions to make different eftablifhments in his march ; the firft at the fource of the river Tingballe, at the entry of a wood* wood, and the other at the coming out ; to conftruct a fort oppofite Angonave, the firft village of the Seclaves, dependant on Bombatok; to difcover and clear the fhorteft road towards the Weftern coaft; to enter into treaties of friendfhip with the chiefs of the interior part of the country; to convince them of the real advantages they might obtain from their commerce with the Whites ; to difcover the moft favourable branches of trade; to obferve their forces, their inclinations, manners, and the climate of the country ; to eftablifh pofts of reft for fuch efcorts as might hereafter tranfport merchandize, and where they may de-pofit their effects ; and laftly, to forget nothing which might contribute to the good of the eftablifhment, and to give me advice of every thing they fhould do in the execution of their commiffion. But more efpecially, to exert themfelves to clear the roads which were moft eafy to be paffed through woods and over mountains. The Sieur Mayeur having received thefe inftructions and the neceffary provifions, began his march with all his people. On the 30th, his Majefty's Corvette le Neceflaire, commanded by the Sieur Cordé, arrived with the Chevalier de Sanglier, Captain in my troop, with twenty volunteers, fome clerks or writers, and certain individuals, who propofed to eftablifh themfelves on the ifland. The pofition in which we then found ourfelves, was fo much the more deplorable, as feveral of my officers were either abfent with detachments, or fick ; the magazines were ill provided, and ftill worfe adminiftered ; the hof-pitals furnifhed with very few medicines, and we had no furgeon able to affift the volunteers, who were enervated by the indifpenfable works and the heat of the climate. I had had been obliged to employ them in the fortifications and in filling up the marines. The military fervice of the night, which our proper fafety required, fucceeded to the fatigues of the day. Every moment I waited with impatience for the performance of Mr. Maillart1 s promifes, but we were forgotten, or rather forfaken. The firft days of the month of May were fo critical, and my troops v/ere fo worn out with difeafe, that for want of a furgeon I was myfelf obliged to give them that affiftance which my own feelings and attachment to the fervice could not but impel me to adminiftcr. But I was foon reduced myfelf to the fame unhappy fituation ; I withftood the attacks of the fever for a whole week, and the intolerable head-ach with which it was attended. But at laft, being unable any longer to refift, I gave orders for carrying me to the ifland D'Aiguillon for air, and to reft myfelf a little after my fatigue. His Majefty's veflel the Grand Bourbon fet fail on the ift, to carry my troops to their deftination. For this purpofc I intrufted the command of my corps to Mr. Marin, Lieutenant Colonel, and that of the place to Mr. Marigni, my Major, and departed with my family. The change of air gave me fome relief, and put me in a fituation to look after my family, which was likewife attacked by the fever. For want of a furgeon I myfelf bled my fpoufe with a trembling hand, and fortunately the effecl: was anfwerable to my wifhes, and reftorcd her to health. On the 14th, the''Grand Bourbon returned a fécond time, on pretence of wanting water, though Mr. Marigni, gave me an account of a vifit that he made on board the Veffel, which fhewed that fhe was provided with water for Vol. IL S more more than two months. I was then convinced, by the manœuvres of the officer who commanded the veffel, that he had particular reafons for his conduct, founded on inftructions from the ifle of France: but my health not permitting me to take the neceffary informations refpecting it, I determined to diffemble ; and having learned, at the fame time, that the Lieutenant Colonel and Major of my corps were continually difagreeing, I embarked with my family, and returned to the main land, where my firft care was to inform the chiefs not to come armed ; and I gave orders to my Major to watch more than ever againft a furprize. On the 18th, his Majefty's veffel the Grand Bourbon fet fail for the third time. My convalcfcence having required fome care on my part, I deferred my operations till the firft of June. I found great affiftance in the care of Mr. Defmafures, Mafter of the Bouquinville, who, in the height of my illnefs, entered the port. Our fituation affected him fo much, that he offered his fcrvices to Mr. De Marigni, who accepted them with the greateft pleafure ; but I learned, with the utmoft grief, that notwithstanding the attention of the Surgeon Major, there died, during my illnefs, Mr. Marin, Lieutenant Colonel of my corps, and fifteen volunteers. This confiderable lofs, and the well-founded apprehen-fions of its encreafing, obliged me to affemble my officers, to whom I propofed to fend into the country, to enquire after a more healthy fpot, to which we would immediately tranfport ourfelves. This propofition was unanimoufly approved ; and in confequence of their decifion, Mr. De Marigni departed the next morning, with a detachment,, on the river of Tingballe, in fearch of an elevated fpot. This This day the chiefs of the neighbouring provinces came to teftify their joy at the eftabliihment of my health, and celebrated a public rejoicing, in which mufket fhot were not fpared. On the 8th, Mr. Marigni returned from his excurfion, and informed me, that he had obferved feveral fine plains up the river, at three or four leagues diftance from the eftablifhment ; but that this diftance having appeared to him too near the marfhes on the fea-fide, he continued to afcend the river as far as nine leagues, or thereabouts, from its mouth, where he flopped at a place named by the iflanders the Plain of Health ; which appeared to him the moft proper to tranfport the eftablifliment, becaufe it was extensive and well fheltered, and was commanded by a mountain of the moft advantageous kind for conftructing a fort, which might fire over the river and a great extent of ground. This difcovery was very agreeable to me, and I immediately fent a fmall detachment, commanded by an officer, to encamp and make trial of the air ; and upoil the good report they made, I fent the Sieur Corbi with a fuflicient number of workmen to conftruct, as fpeedily as pofiible, habitations for us, and an hofpital for the convalescents. On the 9th, the third appearance of the Grand Bourbon, with my detachment, having fully convinced me of the motives which actuated the Captain of that veflel, who, during three months, had not thought proper to leave the road, I difembarkcd the troops which were on board that veffel, and gave orders to Mr. Saunier, commander of the Poftillion, to hold himfelf in readinefs to fail for Foul Point. S 2 On On the 12th, upon the report of Mr. Pruneau, employed in the adminiftration and performing the office of flore- keeper, that feveral different thefts had been committed in the King s ftore-houfes, I caufed the moft accurate enquiries to be made ; but as they were fruitlefs, and I had violent fufpicion of the clerks themfelves, 1 charged ohe of my Majors to fuperintend their conduct. On the 2 2d, having received news from the Sieur Meyeur, that he had fuccccded in opening a way to the Weftward as far as the province Antanguin, and that the chiefs of that province would not permit him to proceed. I immediately fent the Sieur Corbi with a detachment of fixteen volunteers, commanded by a Serjeant, and twenty-four free Blacks likewife armed, to affift and fécond him in his operations. On the 23 d, the village of Sianie having taken fire, which was not above a mufket fhot diftant from our eftablifhment, and whofe effects we could not avoid but by pulling down twenty of our houfes, I judged it of the greateft importance to caufe that chief to fix his dwelling on the other fide of the river, and I obtained his confent, by purchafing thofe huts which the fire had fpared. On the 28th, his Majefty's veffels the Grand Bourbon and the Poftillion, being on the point of fetting fail, the firft for the ifle of France, and the fécond for Foul Point ; and having demanded provifions for their people, I caufed all the remaining felt provifions and brandy which were in the magazines, and had been fupplied from the ifle of France, to be delivered to them; and upon the reprefenta-tions of Mr. De Marigni, that it was indifpenfibly neceffary to fend Sack fome volunteers, I gave orders to that effets A effect ; and at the fame time I thought it proper to fend back one of my officers, with letters addreffed jointly to Meffrs. De Ternay and Maillart, containing a ftatement of demands of things, which the eftablifhment could not difpenfe with ; and among others, filtering ftones, medicines, forgeons, and fome blacks, accuftomcd to the fervice of the hofpitals, together with perfons capable of overlooking the prefervation of his Majefty's ftore-houfes, and alfo flour and liquors. At the fame time I demanded of thofe gentlemen, articles of trade ; and affured them, that if I received thofe articles, I fhould foon be in a fituation to procure them nine hundred thoufand pounds of white rice, and three thoufand oxen ; and that it was ■ of the greater!: importance to the fervice, that they fhould fend me two galliots for the exportation and importation of rice and merchandize from the chief to the out-fettle-ments, as well as to carry my detachments, which had hitherto been obliged to repair to the place of their def-tination by land, acrofs marfhes, which had greatly contributed to their deftrudtion. To thefe demands, I added that of a reimburfement of the fum of ninety-fix thoufand one hundred and fixty-fix livres, which I had myfelf advanced to the treafury of Madagafcar, upon the requi-fition of the officers of the adminiftration ; which fum had been employed in purchafing various kinds of merchandize, with eatables, drink, and medicines, of which the general magazine was entirely deftitute : and, laftly, 1 obferved to Mr. De Ternay, that the deplorable fituation of my troops fcarcely permitted them to perform the ordinary fervices ; for which reafon I requefted him to order me a fupply of men, and to permit the officer, whom I fent I fent directly for that purpofe to the ifle of France, to raife foldiers, workmen, and engage with fuch inhabitants as might be willing to come with them. July, 1774. The Grand Bourbon fet lail, and Ï fiw her depart with the hope, that my preifing reprefenta-tions would impel the gentlemen in the adminiftration of the ifle of France, to take thofe meafures which were indifpenfibly neceflary, in fo urgent and grievous a fituation as ours ; and that I fhould in a fhort time fee the fupplies arrive, which had been fo often promifed. But a determination had been made to abandon the efta-lifhment, as will be fhortly feen. The fame day I fent his Majefty's brig the Poftillion to Foul Point ; and gave precife orders to the Sieur Seunier, commander of this veflel, to bring all the private veflels he might find in the harbours of St. Mary and Foul Point, and to make the moft accurate enquiries into the conduct of individuals. Our ftate of extreme weaknefs infpired feveral chiefs, who were debauched by the Saclaves, with the defign to break their oath of friendfhip and attachment. But I was happily advifed of this by the other chiefs, who were greatly attached to my perfon ; and notwithftanding the weak ftate of my people, they behaved with fo much fir m nefs, as to break the meafures of thefe treacherous chiefs, whom during the night they forced in a camp they had eftablifhed in a wood, and completely routed them. Mr. De Marigni, my Major, whofe former fervices had merited the Crois of St. Louis, and who had always fe-■conded me in my operations, was at this time attacked with with the diforder of the country. His illnefs became every day worfe ; and I had the more reafon to be appre-henhve for the fafety of this brave officer, as he had ex-haulted himfelf by continual exertions. My fon likewife was attacked. While I was thus oppreffed with the mortifying reflections, into which their unhappy fituation threw me, I received information, that two workmen, the one a carpenter, and the other an armourer, had deferted ; and that they had been feen in the boat of the Grand Bourbon, before fhe fet fail. I immediately fent to fearch that veflel, but they were fo well concealed, that it was impoflible to find them. Juftly irritated by the vile proceeding of the Captain of this veffel, who though in his Majefty's fervice, had dared to deprive this infant eftablifhment of fuch neceflary workmen, (as I was by his means without an armourer, and incapable of carrying on the works) I immediately gave advice to the chiefs of the ifle of France, and determined to inform the Minifter of this proceeding by the eavlieft opportunity. My health, which had been unfettled for a long time, now began for fome days to experience the moft dreadful attacks. My only fon Charles Maurice Louis Auguftus,, Baron de Benyowfky, died of the country diforder on the nth of this month, at feven in the morning:, to my ex-treme regret ; and on the 1 2th, Mr. De Marigni, my Major, for whofe life I had been fo greatly apprehenlive, died at ten in the morning. He was equally lamented by myfelf, and all the officers of my corps. My fever became every day more violent, and forced me at laft, to repair to the Plain of Health. ' The palifade of Louifbourg being conftruâed of flight wood, and being too extenfive to be guarded guarded by the few remaining hands, I had built a fort, which I named Fort Louis. It was conftructed of the beft wood of the country, with a triple palifade, ftrengthened without by a Hoping of turf, and having a very folid banquette, which favoured the fire or our murdering pieces. •It was befides fortified by advanced works. I left the command of this fort to Mr. De Vienne, Firft Lieutenant, with fifty-fix men, and fubaltern officers, and directed my courfe towards the Plain of Health, with thirty convalefcents ; where I arrived on the 20th of the month, and eftablifhed a market for the purchafe of rice, cattle, and wood \ all which took place according to my defire. In a few days I began to recover, as did likewife feveral of the volunteers, though lodged in huts, made after the manner of the country, and not fufficiently clofe to keep out the rain. On the 23d, I heard by report, that the brigantine Le Bouquinville had fet fail. I had purchafed of this veffel, for the urgent necefiities of the colony, effects amounting to upwards of forty thoufand livres, lor which I gave my bill to the Captain on the Trcafury of the ifle of France. During the reft of the month I was employed in caufing habitations to be conftructed and the ground to be cleared. Auguft the 5th, 1784, the Seclaves fent deputies to requeft the eftablifhment of a trade among them ; but they refufed permiffion to build fortreffes. This requeft of theirs being contrary to my views, I refufed to comply with it. On the 13th, hisMajefty's brig the Poftillion returned into the harbour, and the Sieur Saunier, the commander, gave me an account, that on paffing near St. Mary, he had found the Sieur Savournin trading contrary to the re-2 peated peatcd prohibitions which had been communicated to him; and having at laft thought proper to fpeak in degrading terms of the fettlement and its origin, he had feized him in the King's name, and brought him to the bay ; that he had likewife found the Sieur Oliver making preparations to trade at Foul Point ; but that this laft had followed him to give an account of his operations, and to juftify himfelf by pleading his ignorance of the prohibition. The common letter of the chiefs of the iile of France informed me, that having been made acquainted with the preffing wants of the eftabliihment at Madagafcar, they had freighted the private veflel La Flore, to convey ftores to us. The general good, therefore, required, that this velfel fhould repair immediately to the chief fettlement to unload, and receive in exchange, as the chiefs of the ifle of France likewife noticed, a quantity of rice of equal value to the effects flie might bring. I was informed on the contrary, from Meffrs. Savournin and Fayufe, Captains, that they had not two tons on board for his Majefty's ftores in that ifland ; that the veffel was not freighted on account of his Majefty ; and that on the contrary, a written bargain had been concluded with Mr. Maillart, that they fhould go to Fort Dauphin, and remain there to take in fupplies for the ifle of France ; and in confequence, that he could not take in rice, notwithstanding my fummons for him to take in his loading. Juftly furprized at the proceedings of the adminiftra-tors of the ifle of France, who by this conduct, gave me reafon to believe, that they were laying a fnare for me, I forbad the Sieur Savournin, in his Majefty's name, to trade to the Southward, upon which he propofed to pay annually Vol. II. T to to the Ring, the fum of one hundred thoufand livres, for the exclufive right of trading from the point of the bay-to Foul Point. This proposition having appeared to me to be advantageous, and for the good of the fervice, I executed an act agreeably to thefe conditions. On the 15th, the natives of Navan, headed by the robber Siloulout, came in the night to the number of about two hundred men, with the intention of robbing the rice grounds ; but having been furprized by the fentinel they fled. The following day I fent an interpreter to them, to advife them to live in peace with us ; and not to repeat any fuch attempts, if they wifhed to avoid cxpofing themfelves to my juft vengeance. They anfwered my interpreter with their mufkets, and three of the workmen who accompanied him were flain, and fix wounded. Upon receiving this account, I fent a detachment of thirty-fix volunteers, commanded by pyoper officers, with orders to attack them in the night, and put all the blacks of Navan to the fword. But the chiefs attached to my party, not thinking it proper that I fhould employ whites, took charge of the expedition, which they fet about with fever* hundred men, well armed. To fupport them, I ordered Captain De Sanglier to follow them with a detachment. During thefe tranfactions, the Sieur Oliver, who had fully juftified himfelf, and whom I had forbidden to trade in any of the offices of the eftablifhment, perceiving that his voyage would be very chargeable,, if he was forced to carry his cargo back to the ifle of France, and being like-wife acquainted with our prefling neceflities, occasioned by the want of fupplies, propofed to fell his veffel to the King, with thirty-four blacks, and fome effects, which I 1 gave gave orders for the purchafe of, upon the valuations which were made by the ftore-keepers, and others employed in this fervice, namely : The veffel ~ - 30,000 livres* The Haves - - 10,200 The effects * - 1,600 41,80a On the 2ift, the Sieur Savournin, and the Surgeon-Major, having informed me, that there were feveral men on board the veffel attacked with a contagious diforder, I gave orders for them to be conveyed to the ifle D'Aiguillon, to perform quarantine. This illnefs proved to be the fmall-pox. On the 23d, the Chevalier Sanglier, Captain commanding the detachment I had fent againft the blacks of Navan, returned to Louifbourg, and informed me, that the boat which carried his troops having been overfet, had retarded his operations ; but that notwithftanding this accident, the troops of the allied chiefs had fucceeded in forcing their principal village, according to my orders, though it was well defended by forts, palifades, and deep ditches ; and that the neft of thefe robbers had become the prey of the flames. The following day, feveral chiefs of various provinces, declared in their Cabar, that they would on this account, conflder the Navans as traitors and perjured men; in confequence of which, they declared them flaves. The latter, T 2 on on hearing this news, took refuge in the Northern parts of the ifland. On the 2d of September, perceiving that my fituation became daily more critical, and being continually harraffed by the intrigues of the chiefs of the ifle of France, who fent emiffaries to Madagaicar to prejudice the natives againft me; and having every reafon to fear, that our weak fituation might encourage them in the defign they had long taken up of exterminating us, I thought it of the greateft confequence to obtain from our allies a fupply of men to defend us in cafe of need. I therefore ftipulated them, that they fhould conftantly keep up a force of one thoufand two hundred armed men. This nation have a cuftom equally cruel and ftrange, which they have obferved from time immemorial. Any child who is born with natural defects, or even on certain days, which they confider as unlucky, is facrificed at its birth. Moft commonly they drown them ; and I had an opportunity of being a witnefs to this cruel cuftom, in de-fcending the river in my way to the plain at Louifbourg. It happened fortunately, that on the day of my departure I had an opportunity of faving the lives of three of thefe unfortunate children, which they were carrying with the intention of drowning. I caufed them to be conveyed to Fort Louis ; and having given directions for fum-moning a grand Cabar, I caufed all the chiefs to enter into an oath, that they would not in future practife any fuch act of cruelty. I considered this as the happieft day of my life, from the abolition of this execrable cuftom, which was the effect either of religion, or fome more deteftabie prejudice. 4 On On the 4th, I was advifed by one of the chiefs of An-tambon, that the chiefs Mahertom, Raboet, Campan, and Saphirobay, had entered into a combination to afïinate me. I immediately fent an interpreter to thefe chiefs, to enquire into their intentions. Mahertom denied that he had entered into the confpiracy, but Raboet, having avowed that he was the eighth perfon who took the oath, the blacks could with difficulty reftrain themfelves from rulhing on him, and putting him to death. On the 5th, Fort Auguftus, which I had caufed to be conftructed on the mountain of the plain I before fpoke of, being finifhed, I fent fixteen men to guard it, until further orders from the Court ; and I diftributed among them fix pieces of ground in the environs, for the commencement of a vigorous cultivation. On the 7th, upon the report of the commanding officer, that very considerable thefts had been made out of the royal magazines, of which the ftoi-ekeeper had not given any account, I caufed the latter to be arrefted, and proceeded to interrogate two perfons of the name of Picard and Julien, who had been accufed of felling the ftores to the natives. The refult of this proceeding evinced, that thefe two men, who by the negligence of the ftorekeeper had almoft the entire management of the effects, had appropriated a considerable part to their own ufe. They were thereupon fent off, namely, Julien to France in the Poftillion, and Picard to the ifle of France, with information of the proceedings againft them; and the effects which were found in the hands of these two criminals were returned to* the ftorekeeper. On On the 8th, the Saclaves came to fell two hundred and fifty oxen, which I was very ready to purchafe, as I was convinced of the great advantage of carrying on a reciprocal commerce between the fettlement and that rich province. On the 12th, Deputies arrived from Hiavi, grand chief of Foul Point, with one hundred and twenty armed men, who informed me, that the object of their coming was to fupport me againft the Saphirobay, who had entered into a fecret alliance with the blacks of the Southern part of the ifiand. They informed me, that their fmall party would be reinforced by a much more coniiderable number. The Saphirobay being informed of this proceeding, prepared to abandon their country ; but when my interpreters informed them, that their pardon depended only on their repentance, and the confirmation of the oath which I had required of them, to difcontinue the horrible cuftom of deftroying their new born infants, in the cafes before-mentioned, they all repaired to Louifbourg on the 13 th, with their wives, who, being convinced by my reafoning, entered with the greateft fatisfaction into the oath of never facrificing their infants in future, as they had formerly been accuftomed to do. Such an interefting engagement was naturally fuc-ceeded by a grand entertainment ; and I thought it becoming the honour of the nation to contribute toit, for which reafon I gave orders for the diftribution of brandy and other prefents. On the 14th, feveral chiefs of St. Mary, and other allied provinces, fent deputies, with near fix hundred men, to warn me, that the Saphirobai were troublefome and treacherous treacherous people ; and that, notwithstanding their repeated oaths, they continued to engage the Southern provinces in their party to exterminate us ; and that they came with their forces to fupport me againft them. The position in which I found myfelf after this advertifement, led me to the following reflections : I was but too well acquainted with the treacherous difpofition of the Saphirobai ; and their puniihment would be merely an act of justice : but in making war upon them, I expofed my men, who are of fuch value in this country j besides which, in deftroying this nation, I Ihould put an end to the cultivation of the ground ; and the indifpohtion of the ifle of France, or rather of its chiefs, gave me the greater! reafon to fear, that we ihould not long receive from them even the moft indifpenfible fupplies. It would therefore be evidently a great disadvantage to the eftabliihment, to drive away a people, who being furnifhed with the moft effen-tial articles of fubfiftcnce and trade, were the only fupport Upon which I could depend. From thefe reflections I thought it of the greatest advantage to gain the Southern, provinces by prefents, to restrain the Saphirobai by flattering promifes ; and to engage the Sambarives to come and take poffeffion of the lands of the Saphirobai, in cafe the latter fhould force me by their treachery, to drive them out of their province. On the 15th, I convened a general afiembly, where the oaths of fidelity were renewed ; and it was at the fame time agreed, that every chiel who hereafter fhould hold a fecret meeting, fhould be driven from his village, his fends fhould be confifcated to the eftablifhment, and his Wily reduced to flavery. That all thofe who fhould not affift affift the eftabliihment in cafe of an attack, fhould lofe their lands, and that the Saphirobai fhould pay twenty oxen as a fatisfaction, which was immediately done. At the end of the Cabar, all the women of feveral provinces appeared, who were defirous of renewing, and cauling the chiefs to renew the oath, that they Ihould never deftroy their children, upon any pretence whatfo-ever, and they ftrongly intreated me to fend for my fpoufe, who on account of her ill health, had been obliged to go to the ifle of France for the change ; in order, as they faid, to dépolit in her hands an oath, which in the nature of things, regarded women more particularly, fince it tended to the prefervation of their immediate offspring. They affured me, that their demands being conformable to their laws, they hoped foon to fee my fpoufe. This requeft appeared to me fo natural, and fo conformable to the views which I had propofed of gaining their confidence, that I began to think very ferioufly of fending for Madame Benyowfky, even at the rifk of her health. On the 19th, I fent the interpreter Defcotti, to the Sambarives, to engage that great province to attach themfelves entirely to us ; and I returned to the plain, where nothing remarkable had happened fince my departure. On the 20th, a private veffel, named the Belle Artier, . commanded by the Sieur Auger, arrived in the harbour, with an order from Mr. Maillart, for three hundred thoufand pounds of white rice, for the fubfiftance of the ifle of France \ but having learned from the Captain, that this rice was on his own account, and that he had purchafed it of Mr. Maillart, at the rate of fixteen livres the hundred weight, with the intention of carrying it for fale to the Cape Cape of Good Hope. I refufed to deliver it to him, as I could fell it for twenty-two on the fpot ; and as the Sieur Auger begged me to give him the value in naves, I agreed very willingly, becaufe by that means, I fhould clear myfelf of my Haves, of whom I had a number in a fituation where they could cafily defert. By the fame veffel I received a letter from Meffrs. De Ternay and Maillart, in which I faw with the greatest pleafure, that thofe gentlemen had fent to Madagafcar a ftore-keeper, and people to be employed in the admini-ftration, together with the Sieur Des Affiffes, to perform the office of fupercargo ; and that the latter was coming in the veffel La Belle Poule, which was expected to arrive very foon at Louifbourg with ftores. I therefore gave orders for making an inventory, in the prefence of the Sieur Aumon, ftore-keeper, and his people, of all the effects in the King's magazines, and directed that they fhould be put into his hands. The day after the arrival of thefe new officers, I was informed, that, not content with the common women, the young men had entered into all the huts of the blacks, and attempted, fword in hand, to force the hulbands to abandon their wives to them. The complaints which at the fame time were brought by the chiefs of the Saphirobai, having juftified this report, I fent a guard to fearch for thefe people, who arretted them, and they were thrown into prifon. But as our new furgeons were among them, and thefe were abfolutely neceffary for the fervice of the hofpitals, I was obliged to fet them at liberty, as well as the clerks of the administration, who had fallen into the fame impru- Vol. II. U dent dent behaviour ; and from whofe mifconduct I had great reafon to fear, that fome abufes would take place in the ftore-houfes, particularly in the account of receipts and difburfements. But as Mr. Maillart in his laft letter, had conjured me to place entire confidence in the perfons he had nominated, I agreed to his demand, though I could not but be convinced, that the choice he had before made at firft of a fupercargo, had been attended with coniiderable lofs of the King's ftores. On the 24th, I put my packets for the Court into the hands of the Sieur Saunier, Commander of his Majefty's brig the Poftillion, with my inftructions, and twenty-five blacks, addrefTed to the Sieur Percheron, agent of the iflands of France and Bourbon, to be remitted to the Sieur Auger at the Cape, in payment of the three hundred thoufand pounds of rice,* and he fet fail for France the next day. On the 28 th, in confequence of the packets I received from the Sieur La Boulaye, officer in my corps, whom I had fent to the ifle of France to raife men, which were wanting in the eftablifhment ; by which I underftood, that he had fucceeded after many difficulties,1 in engaging feveral workmen, and that he waited only for a favourable opportunity of forwarding them to Madagafcar. I judged it of the greateft importance to haften their paf-fage ; for which purpofe I difpatched his Majcfty's veffel La Coureur, commanded by the Sieur Defmouffeaux, officer of the blue, in whofe hands I put difpatches for * After the word rice (ris) in the M S. follow the words, Je k cherchai en jueme temps des e/claves fortes No, 16, which I have not attempted to translate. W.N. a Meflfs. Mefîrs. De Ternay and Maillart ; in which I informed the latter of the behaviour of the clerks he had fent, and ftrongly preffed Mr. De Ternay for a fupply of men to reinforce my troops, in order that I might be able to carry my eftablifhments into the country of the Seclaves. On the 30th, a private brig, La Flore, commanded by the Sieur Fayeufe, failed out of the harbour with one hundred and fixty million pounds of rice, which he had received in exchange for fea fait, which was placed in his Majefty's ftore-houfe. On the ift of October, 1774, the interpreter whom I had fent to Manahar, fent information, that he had fuc-ceeded very well in the million I had intrufted to his care ; that the Sambarives had nothing more at heart than to fe-cure our friendfhip ; that they were ready to quit their mountains to come and inhabit the lands of the Saphirobai, where they could fupply the eftablifhment with four thoufand men in time of war. But that as the interpreter had not fpoken to them but in his own name, purfuant to my orders, they were then about to fend feveral of their chiefs as deputies to me, to conclude this affair, of fuch great importance to themfelves, fince it fecured them my friendfhip, and placed them under my fafeguard. I was greatly pleafed with this good news, as I found myfelf by that means in a fituation to fupport a war againft the Saphirobai, which was almoft inevitable ; and I immediately eftablifhed a poft with that friendly nation, to fecure their attachment. On the 2d, I repaired to the plain, where I knew that Meffrs. Mayeur and Corbi, whom I had fent upon difcove-ries to the Weftward, were to make their rendezvous. U 2 As As I afcended the river, I received great fatisfaction in feeing feveral places lined with inhabitants, who made repeated difchargcs of their mufquets, and cried out in their language, Long live our father. On my arrival at the plain, I learned from the Sieurs Corbi and Mayeur, that in pafling through the interior parts of the ifland, which was extremely rich in oxen, cotton, ebony, and gum guttse, they had1 found all the inhabitants very much difpofed to join my interefts -y but that the knowledge they had of the fmall number of my forces, did not permit them to turn their backs on the Arabians, who had long frequented their coaft, and had acquired a certain empire over them, as well by the quantity of merchandize they brought, as by the forces they could oppofe againft them. But that they waited, in order to unite with me, only for the moment in which they could face the Arabs. Upon this report, I fhould have been defirous of making a new expedition into the country, more efpccially as thefe two officers added, that the road of communication required only a common fhare of labour, to make it practicable by land : But the want of afliftance on the part of the ifle of France, obliged me to fufpend this important operation. The Sieurs Mayeur and Corbi, had pur-chafed eight hundred oxen, in the two or three days . journey they had made. On the 7th, hi confequence of the arrival of his Majefty's frigate the Belle Poule, commanded by the Chevalier Grenier, I left the plain and returned to Louifbourg. On my arrival at Mahetompe, I learned from Mr, Sanglier, Commandant in my abfence, that Mr. Des Affines, the fupercargOj fupercargo, had arrived in the Belle Poule, with the affiliants. I immediately repaired to Louifbourg, to receive him in his quality of fupercargo, and the Sieur Aumont, as ftorekeeper. The packets of Meffrs. De Ternay and Maillart informed me, that the Sieur Des Affiffes had received from the trea-fury of the ifland, a fum more than fufficient to anfwer the appointments of my corps for a year. I therefore required pay for my troop for fix months ; but inftead of fatisfying my demand, he replied, that he had not only received no fum at the ifle of France, but on the contrary had advanced out of his own pocket, fums for the purchase of the moft neceffary articles for the eftablifhment. I therefore again adopted the expedient of applying to the purfe of my friends to replenifh the treafury, upon the demand of the fupercargo and treasurer, with a fum which might pay the troops for the fix months which were due. Some days after his arrival, the Sieur Des Affiffes convened feveral chiefs unknown to me, to whom he delivered a cafk of brandy, and affured them that he was come to fupport them againft me, in cafe I fhould do them any injury ; and that they might from thenceforth confider him as their protector, becaufe he was come to Madagafcar for that purpofe, and to fuperintend my conduct. This criminal proceeding in a perfon fubordinate to me, was doubt-lefs deferring of exemplary punifhment ; but, as the transaction related to myfelf perfonally, I was content with reprimanding him in a very ferious manner, on his abfurd conduct. He appeared to be affected with my remon-ftrances. But a few days afterwards, I had reafon to be convinced convinced that he was, in more than one refpect, the creature of Mr. Maillart. The continual chagrin and difquiet which I fuffered, deftroyed my health, and reduced me to fuch an extremity, that the furgeons defpaired of my life. In the height of my illnefs, the Sieur Des AiTifTes requefted my officers to meet at his habitation ; and on their refufal, he waited upon them, and declared that he had particular orders from Mr. Maillart to feize all my effects and papers, in cafe my life was in danger ; and that in confequence of the evident danger in which I then was, he requefted them to aihft him in carrying his orders into effedt. The reply of my officers confifted of a threat of vengeance, if he fhould ever dare in future to make fuch a propofal to them. At the moment, however, in which the Sieur Des AfTiflfes condemned me to death, a favourable crifis diffi-pated my diforder, by a fpontaneous evacuation of bile, and placed me entirely out of danger. Great indeed was my furprize, when my officers came to exprefs their joy on my convalefcence ; and when I heard at the fame time, from their report, of the conduct, which this chief ftorekeeper had adopted with refpect to me, I immediately fent for him, and reproached him for his conduct. Confounded as he was at the difclofure of his proceedings, he avowed, in the prefence of my officers, that all which he had hitherto done, had been founded on particular inftructions of Mr. Maillart. He at the fame time put into my hands thefe inftructions, which might more properly be called a defamatory libel, of which I immediately fent a copy to the Minifter, addrefling my packet to him by the Chevalier Grenier, Grenier, Commander of his Majefty's frigate the Belle Poule. On the 20th, the Sieur Des Affiffes requefted me to lign a verbal procefs, declaring, that feveral considerable thefts had been committed in his Majefty's ftorehoufes ; and in particular, that feventeen calks of wine had leaked * out fince his arrival. I contented myfelf with replying, that I did not know what it'was to affix my fignature as authority for mifconduct ; that I was by no means ignorant of the exorbitant confumption of wine by himfelf and his people, while my officers could not have a fingle bottle ; and that with regard to the effects which had been ftolen, I was well informed of his conduct with the woqpn, and that he was too well acquainted with the thieves to> think of forwarding any proceedings againft them. This reply confounded him, and obliged him to retire without attempting to make any anfwer. This mifconduct on the part of the adminiftration, was fo much the more infamous, not only becaufe the magazines fuffered ; but as the articles of trade coft thefe gentlemen nothing more than the trouble of drawing out a verbal procefs, they every day purchafed articles at an exorbitant price ; infomuch that it became neceflary to pay three livres lor articles, which before their arrival might have been had for ten fols. I therefore gave orders^ that all the provifions which the blacks were defirous of felling, fhould be expofed in the market ; and at the fame time forbad the purchafe of them at a higher rate than the price fettled at the preceeding Cabars. The Sieur Des Affiffes, notwithftanding this new pro-uibitidh, which was fo conformable to found policy, was the the firft to infringe it, by directing all the provifions which the blacks brought to the Bazar, to be conveyed to him ; but the officer of the guard did his duty, and the Sieur Des Affiffes was puniffied, by the confifcation of what he had pur chafed. We were ftill but weakly fortified ; and the houfes which had been conftructed according to the manner of the country, began to decay. I thought it neceffary therefore to work, both on the fortifications and on the construction of other habitations. I caufed to be drawn up, or rather I drew up myfelf a plan, plate 19, fig. 2. for the construction of a fort ; a houfe for the Governor, built with boards, and one hundred and thirty log houfes. I was not a little furprized to hear the Sieur Des Affiffes, animated by the difpofition of Mr. Maillart, openly exclaim againft thefe indifpenfible labours. He afferted, that he knew no chief but Mr. Maillart ; and that his orders were contrary to thefe augmentations. He not only ex-preffed his defire, that they fhould not take place, but threatened likewife, that he would inform the blacks that he would not pay any of them who might be employed. This abfurd behaviour extorted no other emotion but companion ; and as from that moment I considered this intendant as a designing perfon, though incapable of executing a project fo badly conceived, I caufed feveral chiefs to be affembled, in order to propofe this enterprize to them, being determined to apply again to the purfe of my friends, to pay their falaries, in cafe the Sieur Des Affiffes perfevered in his refufal to pay them. Their reply confirmed me in the opinion I had conceived of that gentleman. They all afferted, that they would not work, becaufe becaufe the Sieur Des Affiffes had affured them, that I had only a very fhort time to remain at Madagafcar ; but that he would not pay them if they worked for the eftablifhment by my orders. I difmiffed this weak fet of men immediately with indignation. Such was the execution of the brilliant promifes of the Intendant of the ifle of France, even by a man whom he had nominated his fub-delegate. My troops were exhausted by continual labour and fatigue, and the officers were threatened to be deprived of the fruit of their labour, by the information which the ftorekeeper gave them, that they fhould foon be difmiffed by a new commander, whom he affured them would be fubftituted in my place in a fhort time. The iflanders were thus prejudiced againft the eftablifhment, by the public calumnies of thofe whofe duty it was to contribute moft to their union. The individuals com-pofmg the eftablifhment, being extenuated by continual fatigue, and feeing themfelves abandoned and betrayed at every ftep they took ; the troops in want of cloathing, badly lodged, and very imperfectly fortified.—Such was our moft critical fituation; and the more efpecially it was to be regretted, as it was the work of perfons charged with orders to give every poffible affiftance to an eftablifhment which was founded on the moft extensive views. On the 2d of November, the Sieur Des Affiffes, confiant! y animated by the fpirit of Mr. Maillart, aflembled at his houfe all the clerks and people employed in the administration, and in their prefence drew out a verbal procefs, importing, that the particular inftructions of the Intendant of the ifle of France, which he had through fear put into my hands, were written by himfelf, and that Mr. Vol. IL X Maillart i Mr. Maillart had no {hare in them ; but that circumftances having obliged him to draw out this falfe piece, he avowed its want of foundation. I was immediately informed of this vile proceeding, and went without delay to the rafcal, with my Major ; and having ordered him to communicate his papers, the original of the private inftrucitions, figned by Mr. Maillart, was found, and admitted by the im-poftor. The reft of the month was employed in fuch works as the volunteers of my corps were capable of, and in which the convalefcents were fo zealous as to join us. The other abfurd circumftances of the conduct of MefTrs. Des Affiffes and his people, which were always founded on the particular and verbal inftruâions of Mr. Maillart, being only a repetition of thofe with which he had begun on his firft landing, I think it unneceffary to repeat them, but fhall only obferve, that in order to excite the iflanders to work who were difgufted by the pernicious converfation of the principal ftorekeeper, I employed my own black domeftics, and thofe whom I employed in my houfe, as I chofe rather to deprive myfelf of their perfonal fer vices, than omit any occafion of contributing to the good of the eftablifhment. The firft part of the month of December, was employed in the ufual works; but on the nth, I faw with the greateft fatisfa&ion, the arrival of his Majefty's brig Le Coureur, with my fpoufe, whofe prefence was fo neceffary for the abolifhment of the cruel cuftom of deftroying of the children born on days which were reckoned unlucky, or which were in fome refpects imperfect. The fame veffel brought the Sieur de la Boullaye, whom I had fent to the 2 ifle ifle of France, on the urgent bufinefs of the colony, with orders to engage, with the confent of Mr. De Ternay, the proper workmen to forward the buildings, which we could not difpenfe with. He informed me, that he had brought with him thirteen workmen, fix fbldiers, and two paffengers, in the number of which was the Marquis D'Albergotti De Vezas, Chevalier of St. Louis, and ancient Captain of infantry, who came to offer his fervices ; which, however, I could not accept without having received the confent of the Minifter. His long {landing in the fervice, and his misfortunes, which had fo much refemblance to my own fituation, attached me to this officer, to whom I offered a lodging and my table, which he accepted. On the 13 th, the women of lèverai provinces, being informed of the arrival of my fpoufe, came to take the oath before her, that they would never facriflce any child hereafter to their criminal cuftoms ; and it was further agreed, that thofe who fhould break their oath, fhould be made flaves, and exported out of the country ; and that the children which were born with any defect, which, according to their cuftoms, might have formerly been the caufe of putting them to death, fhould in future be fent to the eftablifhment, to be brought up at our charge, without its being in the power of the parents to reclaim them. This oath was fucceeded by a feftival, in teftimony of the general fatisfacfion. After terminating this bufinefs fo important to the eftablifhment, and fo advantageous to humanity, I directed my views to the perfect knowledge of the Northern coaft of the ifland ; in confequence of which, I fent the Sieur Mayeur, with eighty armed blacks to fupport him in his X 2 march, march, with orders to go in the Periagua, and examine all the harbours, bays, and rivers on that coaft, and engage the principal chiefs of the provinces in our interefts ; at the fame time that he fhould excite them by prefents, if neceffary, to take part againft the Seclaves, whofe enemies I knew they had always been ; and to finifh. his million, by acquiring an accurate knowledge of the ifland Noffebe ; after which he was directed to return by land to Louifbourg, to give an account of his obfervations. At the fame time I gave orders to part of my troops to proceed upon difcovery of the rivers and plains, which were in the vicinity of the chief fettlement ; and directed the "Sieur Garaut de Beaupreau, chief engineer of the ifland, to embark in his Majefty's brig Le Coureur, to make a plan of the Southern coaft, as far as Fort Dauphin. I likewife fent three Periaguas to found the Bay of Anton-gil, both on the Eaftern and Weftern fhores. On the 19th, perceiving that the Sieur Des Affiffes, the principal ftorekeeper, perfifted in not lending any afliftance in the Works elfential to the eftablifhment ; and that he perfevered in exciting the province of the Saphirobai againft me ; to the chiefs of which he had infinuated, that by declaring themfelves againft me, they would do a thing very agreeable to the government of the ifle of France, I thought it neceflary, at laft, to take an effectual refolution. 'In confequence ol which, I affembled the officers of the corps to explain to them our circumftances, and the conduct of the Sieur Des Aflifles, and requefted their advice reflecting what they might think proper to be done in the cafe. Their opinion was agreeable to my own : I therefore gave orders to put him under an arreft, which was done done the fame hour. But as it was neceflary in the mean time, to keep up a regular account, I nominated Mr. Aumont to fupply his place. The report of the difgrace of the principal ftore-keeper, deftroyed the hopes of the Saphirobai chiefs y and they came to the number of feven, on the 21ft, with fix hundred workmen, to be employed in the works I had determined to conftruct. Thefe chiefs engaged befides with me, to fupply the fettlement with fix thoufand pieces of wood, and four thoufand madriers, or planks. This prof-peel of the return of the iflanders to our intereft, tended greatly to diflipate my apprehenfions. On the 24th, the two detachments which I had fent upon difcovcry, returned from their expeditions ; and the officers in command gave me an exact, account in the form of an itinerary, or journal, from which I was affured, that this immenfe country abounded with the moft beautiful plains, watered with rivers ; and that colonifts only were wanting to turn them to the greateft advantage. Sugar, cotton, indigo, coffee, tobacco, and all other productions, were found in abundance. On the 2 2d, the brig Le Coureur being ready to fet fail, I gave orders to the Sieur Defmouffeaux, with an interpreter and a detachment, to embark, to make difcove-ries on the Southern part of the ifland. The fame day I fent Mr. Perthuis, Lieutenant, with Mr. Rofiere, and a detachment of fix foldiers, and one hundred and eighty armed natives of the country, to make the fame expedition by land. The The latter days of this year offered nothing remarkable ; the whole corps was employed in the works, which I had diftributed among them in feveral gangs. On the 29th, the Surgeon Major informed me, that the. Sieur Des Affiffes, by his irregular conduct, had contracted a diforder, which his advanced age ought to have fecured him from. Being adtuated by compaffion for his fituation, I fent Mr. De Sanglier to him, to exhort him to a more regular conduct ; and at the fame time I offered to re-eftablifh him in his charge, on condition that he fhould declare publickly, and in a Cabar of the natives of the country, which I would convene for that purpofe, that all which he had faid and done, was by the direction of a party in the ifle of France, whofe government was jealous of the flourifhing ftate to which Madagafcar would arrive under my conduct ; and that he had followed this mode of proceeding, only to gain the favour of Mr. Maillart, who was exceedingly jealous of every good office which could be performed in favour of Madagafcar. On the return of Mr. De Sanglier, I was furprized to hear that Mr. Des Affiffes had accepted my proposition ; and that he was truly forry for every thing that he had done, contrary to my intentions ; and laftly, that he would accept his charge, and promifed to conduct himfelf in future, with moderation. The voluntary return of fo dangerous a perfon, gave me great fatisfaction ; and I immediately fent him an order to continue in the fervice. This domeftic pacification was not, however, fufhcient to calm my apprehensions, as the afflicting view of the ftate of the eftablifhment, perfecuted by the ifle of France, and and abandoned by Europe, continually prefented itfelf to my mind. January the ift, if75' Having convened the Saphirobai chiefs, the fubmiflion of the principal Intendant was made before them ; and I had the fatisfaélion to fee, that many of the chiefs looked on him with contempt. At the breaking up of the Cabar, the chief Raoul afked to fpeak with me in fecret ; and informed me, that the Cimanongou chief of the Seclaves, of the province of Antongin, had joined with the King of Bojana to declare war againft me ; that this chief Cimanongou, had fent envoys to the Saphirobai, to invite them to join him againft the eftablifhment ; and that feveral of them were difpofed to accede to his proportion, though others were determined to adhere to their refolution of keeping their engagements with me. This important advice required precaution on my part; for it was certain that the Seclaves were able to bring an army into the field of forty thoufand fighting men. But as it would have been dangerous to have fhewn my apprehensions, I diffembled, and caufed the public works to be carried on with greater fpirit. On the 7th, I received letters from the Sieur Mayeur, dated from Angontzi, in which he gave me an advantageous defcription of that province. Its rich productions and abundance of cattle, furpafled my expectation; for which reafon I determined, notwithftanding my ap-prehenfions of the Seclaves, to fend a detachment to eftablifh polls. The details which Mr. Mayeur gave me of the difpofition of the chiefs of this province, led me to hope, that I might engage them to affift me in cafe of need ïôo Memoirs and travels of need. Mr. Mayeur informed me in his letter, that he durft not venture to continue his progrefs without reinforcements. I therefore gave immediate orders to Serjeant Longueteau, to follow him with two hundred and fifty armed natives ; and to remain fubjeel: to his orders. The* following days were employed on the fortifications, and filling up the quay, which I had raifed upon the fhore within the bay. On the 12th, I received deputies from the Sambarives and Antimaroa, who offered me five thoufand men, to fupport a war againft the Seclaves. On the 28 th, about midnight, I was alarmed at hearing three fhot fired on the banks of the river. I gave immediate orders to the picquet guard to repair to the fpot, but the detachment returned without having made any difcovery. This alarm produced no other confequence, than that of affrighting Mr. Des Affiffes, the intendant, who ran intirely naked into the fort. This day I received information, that the navigation of the boats, coming down the fiver of Tingballe, and from Ranoumena, had become dangerous, on account of the different ambufcades which the ill difpofed natives had placed to fire on •them. I gave orders, therefore, to open a communication by land, and for this work I engaged the Rohaiidrian Sauce, to fend me four thoufand men. From the 19th to the 28th, the fettlement was employed on making the above mentioned communication by land. On the 30th, I received an account from the poftsof Foul Point, Maffoualla, Mananhar, Tamatava, and Angontzi, that articles of trade were abundant, but that the ftore- 1 houfes houfes were empty. This information induced me to pur-chafe the entire cargo of the brig La Jolhe Bourbonoife, amounting to fixty-eight thoufand livres, which I dif-burfed out of my own pocket upon the treafurer's receipt. The fame day I received letters from the adminiftrators of the ifle of France, which tended to convince me of tin; intrigues and cabals which they employed, to deprive me of the confidence of the Minifter, and to excite the enmity of the natives againft me. I received more certain information on this fubject from the Marquis D'Albergotti, ancient Captain in the fervice of France, who was persecuted by the government of the ifle of France, and had retired to Madagafcar under my protection. February the i ft. I received information, that Maher-tornp, a chief eftablilhed near our principal fettlement, had engaged with the Seclaves to affafiinate me. As foon .as I was affured of this by fufficient evidence, I went to him unexpectedly with feveral chiefs, to remonftrate with him on his treachery. He acknowledged his crime, and intreated forgivenefs for having failed in his engagements ; but his fubjects declared, that they would not have any further concern with fo perfidious a man. So that he was profcribed, and banifhed by his own people. On the 2d, Mr. Corbi, one of my moft confidential officers, in concert with the interpreter, informed me, that the old negrefs, Sufanna, whom I had brought from the ifle of France, and who in her early youth had been fold to the French, and had lived upwards of fifty years at the ifle of France, had reported, that her companion the daughter of Rohaiidrian Ampanfacabé Ramini La-rizon, having likewife been made prifoner, was fold to the. Vol. II. Y foreigners ; foreigners ; and that fhe had certain marks that 1 was her fon. This officer reprefented likewife to me, that in confequence of her report, the Sambarive nation had held feveral Cabars, to declare me the heir of Ramini, and, confequently, proprietor of the province of Mananhar, and fucceffor to the title of Ampanfacabé, or fupreme chief of the nation ; a title which fince the death of Ramini Larizon, had been extinct. This information appeared to me of the greateft confequence ; and I determined to take the advantage of it, to conduct that brave and generous nation to a civilized ftate, and the eftablifhment of a folid and permanent government. Its fituation, its population, the fertility and excellency of its foil and climate, with a variety of other circumftances, confpired to induce me to lay a foundation for the eftablifhment of a power, founded upon national liberty. But as I had no perfon to whom I could intruft the fecret of my mind, I lamented to myfelf at the reflection how blind the Minifter of Verfailles was to the true interefts of France. I therefore contented myfelf with giving particular inftructions to Mr. Corbi, reflecting the anfwers he fhould make to fuch of the natives, as might queftion him on this fubject. On the fame day I interrogated Sufanna, on the report fhe had fpread concerning my birth. The good old woman threw hcrfelf at my knees, and excufed herfelf by con-fefling, that fhe had acted intirely upon a conviction of the truth. For fhe faid, that fhe had known my mother, whofe phyfiognomy refembled mine ; and that fhe had herfelf been infpired in a dream by the Zahanhar, to publifh the fecret. Her manner of fpeaking convinced me, that 2 fhe fhe really believed what fhe faid ; I therefore embraced her, and told her, that I had reafons for keeping the fecret refpecting my birth j but that, neverthelefs, if fhe had any confidential friends, fhe might acquaint them with it. At thefe words fhe arofe, kiffed my hands, and declared, that the Sambarive nation was informed of the circum-ftance, and that the Rohaiidrian Raffangour waited only for a favourable moment, to acknowledge the blood of Ramini. The time from the third to the fixth, was employed in digging a canal of communication between the river and the harbour. This was perfected in four days, though it was fifteen hundred toifes in length. But as I employed for this purpofe near fix thoufand natives of the country, the whole was performed with the greateft eafè. On the 7th, the chief Ciewi, of the Sambarive nation, came to prefent two hundred young men of his nation, to ferve me in quality of volunteers. I accepted the offer of this brave people, and gave orders immediately for forming them into a regular company. The officers La Tour, La Boullaye, and Evally, were charged with the difcipline of this new troop, of which I appointed the fon of Ro-handrian Raffangour, commander. On the 8th, Mr. Des Affiffes, the intendant, repre-fented to me, that he was defirous of refigning his employment, and retiring to the ifle of France. I agreed to his demand with fo much the more fatisfaction, as he was of no ufe to me. But as it was neceffary that his accounts fhould be firft made up, I allowed him fourteen days for that purpofe* Y 2 On On the 9th, 1 received an account from an interpreter of the name of D'Ecolle, that an old man in the province M tnânhar, had fpread prophecies concerning a general change of government in the ifland ; and that he had afferted, that the defcendant of Ramini would rebuild the town of Palmire. He added, that thefe predictions had occaiioncd a tumult among the people, who being informed that the Sambarives had declared me to be a defcendant of the line of Ramini, required their chiefs to fend an embaffy to me, to enquire into the fact ; and in cafe it fhould prove true, to bring me with them, and affure me of the fubmiffion of their province. From this refolution, the Rohandrians Anacandrins, and Voadziri, had nominated chiefs, who were immediately to begin their journey by fea. On the 10th, I made an excurfion to the plain, and to fort Auguftus, to haften the works of the fortifications. On the nth, Mr. Mayeur, chief interpreter, informed me, that two Saphirobai chiels had arrived, and demanded an audience. As foon as they were introduced, they declared, that being informed that I had concluded a treaty with the Sambarives, their enemies, they had determined to employ all their powers in preventing the confequences of fuch an alliance, which, in effect, was an infringement of all the oaths I had entered into with them ; and that, in a word, they would rather declare in favour of the Seclaves, than become connected with the Sambarive nation. They ended by reprefenting, that my behaviour to Mahertomp had been violent y and that they had thought it proper to receive him into the Cabar, notwithftanding the i fentencc fcntence againft him. Juftly irritated at this declaration, I made no other anfwer, than by an expreffion of indignation, and commanding them immediately to withdraw. The fame day Raoul Rohandrian of the Saphirobai, who had informed me of the cabals of the Seclaves, came with excufes refpecting the proceedings of his nation, at the inftigation of old Maheitomp ; and affured me, that for his part he was ready to repeat his oath of fidelity and attachment to my per fon ; and he put his fon into my hands as a hoftage. After having treated him with the greateft attention, I requefted that he would let me know the true reafon of the opposition of the Saphirobai chiefs ; and lie told me, that the anceftors of Mahertomp, and of Rohandrian Onglahe, had been concerned in the maffacrc of the family of Ramini Larizon, after which they had affumed the Sovereignty of feveral diftricts, to the prejudice of the Sambarive nation, who being at that moment affined that they had found a defcendant of the blood of Ramini, reclaimed, as his right, the different districts feparated from the provinces of Antimaroa. Upon this information, I afked, whether his intereft were not likewife to declare againft the Sambarives ; and he replied, that it was not ; giving at the fame time as a reafon, that he was defcended from the race of Safe Hibra-him, whofe family had fettled in the place where he dwelt, under the protection of Ramin Ampanfacabé, and that he at prefent was reckoned of the clafs of the Saphirobai, only becaufe he was defirous of preferving his poffeffions. I then questioned him, whether he had any knowledge of the heir of Ramini, whom the Sambarives announced ; but but as he anfwered, that he knew not a word on that subject, I thought it unnecefTary to queftion him further ; and affured him of the confiant friendfhip which I ihould always preferve for him and his whole family. Contented with my declaration, he affured me, that he was defirous of supporting the eftabliihment with all his force. But he intreated me to consider, that in cafe the eftablifhment fhould be given up, what would be his situation when expofed alone to the mercy of a body of enraged chiefs, who would not fail to facrifice him and all his family to their refentment. This reafoning appeared juft ; and with a view to give him perfect fat is faction, I declared that my only requeft was, that he would remain neuter. On the 12 th, the engineer who had been employed on the work of the road leading to the plain, and towards Ranoumena, informed me that the whole was fhiiftied ; and I determined to infpect this work myfelf the following day. This day I received an account that the Saphirobai had affembled in troops. On the 13th, I went on horfeback from Louilbourg to the plain, where I was aftonifhcd to find the road finifhed in fo fhort a time. It was four toifes broad, fix French leagues in length, and had a ditch on each fide to carry off the waters. I thought it particularly became me to reward the people who had performed this work ; I therefore gave them each a yard of blue cloth, and a bottle of brandy. To fecure the communication of this road, I gave orders immediately to raife a redoubt on the height of Mananbia, on which I built houfes for twenty-four men. From the 14th to the 16th, I was employed visiting the polls dependant on Louifbourg; and I distributed feveral feveral pieces of ground to the Europeans at the plain of Health, and at the plain of Fort St. John, on the bank of the great river. All thefe grounds naturally produced fugar, cotton, indigo, tobacco, and Tacamahaca wood. On the 17th, having returned to Louifbourg, I gave orders for continuing the building, and increafmg the town ; after which, on the 18 th, I embarked in the country boats for Angontzi. This voyage employed eight days, and I took the opportunity of vifiting all the chiefs efta-blifhed on the coaft, who expreffed the moft. fincere attachment to me. Upon my arrival at Angontzi, I was charmed with the fituation which my engineer had chofen to eftablifh the fettlement ; my wifhes on this occafion for an acceiiion of force to take advantage of the gifts which nature fo prodigally held out, were great ; but, alas, the hour of their accomplifhment was not at hand, and it was in vain that the beauty of the fituation, the goodnefs of the foil, together with the mild and affable character of the inhabitants, led me to form projects I was unable to accom-plifh. The Rohandrian of Angontzi affembled a Cabar on the 27th, in which I received in perfon the oath of attachment and alliance of that nation. The reft of the month paffed in entertainments, which were given by the chiefs. March the 2d, i775> having received advice by land, that a number of the deputies of the Southern provinces had repaired to Louifbourg, where they waited for me with impatience ; and that the Saphirobai had burnt a village belonging to Manonganon, I determined immediately to return ; and as the road by land, though difficult, was the fhorteft, I determined to go that way. The chief of Angontzi,. Angontzi, being informed of my decifion, ordered his litter for me, with fix hundred armed men for a guard. I feized an inftant before my departure, to reprefent the advantages that would refult from a road being made between Angontzi and Louifbourg, he promifed fix thoufand men for this work, provided the people of Antimaroa would fame number. On the 6th, after a rather tedious journey, I arrived at laft at Louiibourg, where I was agreeably furprized to find that the marfh at the entrance of the town was intirely filled up, I was indebted for this work to the good will of the lame friends who had made the road to the plain. This day I received the reports concerning the different parts of the fervice of the eftabliihment, with which I was perfectly well fatisfied, and convinced that nothing had flood ftill during my abfence. Mr. Sanglier, who had commanded in my abfence, likewife informed me, that the deputies of five of the Southern provinces, had demanded a conference in Cabar; and that there were likewife fix private chiefs, who had made the fame requeft. In confequence of this, I ordered preparations to be made for holding a Cabar on the following day. On the 7th, after having refted myfelf, I conferred with Meffrs. Mayeur and Corbi, refpedting the different interefts which had induced the deputies and the chiefs to have recourfe to me ; and after having received the neceflary information, 1 caufed the Cabar to be affembled, at which the deputies were admitted one after the other. The firft was from the province of Mananhar ; the fécond from Ta-mataya ; the third from the ifland of St. Mary ; the fourth from Manauzar ; and the fifth from Matatava. After After the deputies, I received the chiefs ; and as their interefts were one and the fame, I entered into one common oath with them : and when I had made prefents to them in return for thofe they had brought, I difmhTed them, becaufe the affairs they were charged with required their fpeedy return into their refpective provinces. On the 8th, Mr. Gareau de Boifpreaux, engineer in chief, propofed to me to erect a light-houfe on the ifle D'Aiguillon, and to erect a flag-ftaff on the point of land, at the entrance of the river. He likewife requefted that the people who had been employed by him before, might continue to ferve him. I agreed to his requeft, and gave him the neceffary orders and powers. On the 9th, having received a vifit from the chief Raoul, I propofed to him to employ his fubject.s in making a road towards Angontzi ; and alter a long conference, I prevailed on him to promife four thoufand men for the fervice : Manonganon and Mandinque, two other chiefs, promifed likewife two thoufand men. Being thus affured of fumcient afliftance, I gave charge of the work to M. de Boifpreaux, the engineer, and his affiftant, M. de Rofieres. The plan was made the fame day, and M. de Rofieres departed for Angontzi, to begin the operations on that fide ; while Mr. Gareau de Boifpreaux began on the Louifbourg fide. This road was not to be of lefs extent than twenty-eight French leagues. On the 1 oth, having learned that the Sieur Des Amfîes, before his departure, had taken a large quantity of merchandize out of the ftorehoufes, and had distributed them among the Saphirobai, with a view to excite them to rife Vol. IL Z againft againft me, I fent Mr. Certain to them with a declaration, that the faid Des Affines had ftolen the effects out of his Majefty's ftores, and that I fhould confider them as confederates in the theft, and act accordingly. On the 13th, two Saphirobai chiefs arrived, and brought bach great part of the merchandize which I had reclaimed ; but they declared, that I ought not to attribute their proceeding to fear, but only to their open and honeft character. The value of the effects diftributed, with a view to deftroy the fettlement, amounted to more than twenty-three thoufand livres : an exorbitant fum, considering that he had refufed the fum of fifteen thoufand livres for the neceffary works, and constructing houfes in the town. On the 15 th, a lignai was difplayed on the mountain Manghabey, on the ifle d'Aiguillon, that two veflels of two mails were in fight. They anchored in the harbour at eleven o'clock. The firft was a brig of his Majesty's, commanded by the Sieur Joubert, Lieutenant of a frigate ; and the fécond was the Coureur, which brought back the engineers I had fent to explore the Southern provinces, and furvey the coaft. Captain Joubert, having prefented his letter, figned by the Governor of the ifle of France, and Mr. De Ternay the Intendant, I perceived that he had been fent merely as a fpy upon my operations. For the Captain depofed, that his orders were to bring back to the ifle of France, the remains of my troops ; and that he had been difpatched upon the report that the natives had aflaffinated me, and cut off the greatest part of my people, the remainder having taken refuge at Manghabey. The Captain, finding that this ftory had been invented merely to gratify the chiefs chiefs of the ifle of France, declared that he was ready to return according to his positive orders fo to do, if he found me alive. This proceeding on the part of thofe whofe duty it was to fupport me, put me out of all patience. I gave orders to the Captain to depart inftantly, as his chiefs had fent him only to infult the eftablifhment. About two in the evening, a fignal was made, that two other veflels were in fight ; and at fix his Majefty's fri gate the Belle Poule, commanded by the Chevalier De Grenier, Lieutenant, anchored in the harbour. The Commander required provifions and ftores for his veflel, which I caufed to be delivered. This officer teftified the moft lively regret to find, that the chiefs of the ifle of France were fo ftrongly prejudiced againft die fettlement at Madagafcar, and he took charge of my difpatches for the Court of France. ï was employed till the 2 2d, in drawing out my accounts, of which the following is a general ftate-ment : Z 2 Sums Sums advanced for the Eftablifhment at Madagafcar 1772 and 1773. Livres s. d. For levying the Regiment of Benyowfky, - its tranfport to Madagafcar, and the fupplies of articles of trade 1774 and 1775, until the 20th of March Bills of Exchange drawn to the amount of 113000 103 34.2649 12 5 141432 o o Total received - 455650 2 8 Expenditures. For the troops during the years 1772, i773> 1774» 1775 For the Marine. To his Majefty'si veffel s the Poftillion and Coureur - ) - * ^ For the Settlement. Building the Governor's houfe, roads, ? , 0 1c se a f 315910 11 8 canals, fortifications, &c. - 3 Supplies to the ifle of France in flaves 161412 o o --- —---* in rice - 84000 o o Provifions to feveral of his Majefty'si veffels - - - - } *XM 11 II4IO48 12 7 Deduct the fums advanced - 455650 2 8 585398 9 11 And alfo the fums advanced by myfelf » 245000 o o * Neat profit produced by the Admini- 7 0 a, \ 34O798 ft ration - - - ot i'; 9 11 This fum, which is the difference between the receipts and dîfburfements, is not neat profit. The reiult of the above account is, that the fettlement cod This clear account ought to have produced a good effect on the mind of the Minifter. For as it was fhewn that no more than the fum of liv. 455650 had been advanced, and that the fingle object of the maintenance of the troops and veffels at fea, amounted to liv. 538296, he might ealily perceive the immenfe advantages that might in a fhort time be expected from Madagafcar. On the 23d, the Belle Poule fet fail, and on the fame day I received advice by a courier from Foul Point, that the Fariavas and Betalimenes, had declared war upon Hyavi, and that hoftilities had already commenced. The commanding officer at Foul Point preffed me for orders, whether he fhould affift Hyavi or not. In confequence of this news, I determined to repair to Foul Point myfelf, in order to pacify the people. On the 24th, after giving orders relative to the fervice at the chief eftablifhment, I eftabliftied a camp of eighty foldiers and two thoufand natives, to fecure the fettlement againft any furprize on the part of the Seclaves, and Saphirobai ; and then departed for Foul Point, accompanied by two officers and fix hundred warriors of the Sambarive nation. As I paffed by Mananhar, I v/a^ joined by the troop of Sauce, and the people of Antimakol,. and -found myfelf at the head of near five thoufand armed men. coft the French, liv. 455650 1 S} and liv. 245000, which make together £700650 2 8. This is not equal to the whole charge, or ^'854212 18 But the fettlement paid the difference, £153562 15 4. and alfo fupplied the ifle of France, and the King's fhips, with £286835 n 7h This, laft fum only is the return, and if taken from the whole fum advanced, will leave livres 413814 10, or the lofs fuftained by the French government, by the efrecl of this undertaking during the above time. Note of the editor. On It . . On the 27th, my army was reinforced by the troop of Ambarante, and I arrived on the ift of April at Foul Point. I found the brig Le Coureur already here at anchor, with my artillery and ammunition. This day I eftablilhed my camp near Tametavi, and in the evening I fent for Hyavi, to enquire of him refpecTing the caufe of the war. As he could give me no good reafon, I defered explaining myfelf, until I had heard from the other party ; to whofe camp I fent that very night, to engage the chiefs to come and fpeak with me. On the 2d, I received deputies from the Betalimenes, and Fariavas, who declared to me, that the two nations would abide by my decilion, in the hopes that I would liften only to the dictates of that juftice, which the fpirit of God would infpire me with. They then declared, that Hyavi was the author of the war, by forbidding the Betalimenes and Fariavas to frequent the market at Foul Point ; that he had confiscated the cattle, flaves, and provifions of the merchants of their nation, which they had brought for fale to the fettlement ; and, laftly, that the foldiers of Hyavi had furprized one of their villages, and taken away feveral young women, whom they had fold to the French merchants. Being thus informed of the caufe of the war, I difmiffed the deputies with fome prefents, after I had promifed to fettle the whole difputc to their fatisfaction, provided they allowed me the neceffary time for that pur-pofe. They engaged to do this, and returned to their camp very well fatisfied, at having found me difpofed in 1 their their favour. For Hyavi had fprcad a report, that I was coming to affift him. The next ftep I took was, to invite Hyavi to my quarters, when I reproached him for his conducl, and the licence he had given his fubje&s to difturb his neighbours. I fpoke fo urgently to him, that he confeffed himfelf to blame ; but at the fame time begged 1 would ad in fuch a manner, as not to degrade him in the eyes of his enemies. I engaged to regulate my proceedings according to his de-lire, on condition that he fhould fubmit to fuch terms as I fhould impofe, both on him and the Betalimenes and Fariavas. After I had thus obtained the promife of both parties, I gave orders for holding the Cabar on the 3d, to which Hyavi and his chiefs, and alfo the Betalimenes and Fariavas were invited. On the 2d, at day-break, I put my troops under arms, and ranged them in order of battle. About fix, the Be-talemines and Fariavas arrived, to the number or eight or ten thoufand armed men ; and a fhort time after came Hyavi with his people. So that the number of men under arms, who were prefent that day, amounted to near twenty-two thoufand. At eight the Cabar began, and as I was defirous of avoiding all particular debates, I propofed to both parties, to form that day a treaty of alliance and friendfhip, which I would guarantee, together with the nations of the Sambarives and Saphirobai ; and farther I propofed, that they fhould enter into the following engagements : 1. That trade ihould in future be free between the three nations, without the reclamation of any particular right, (or import). 2. That 2. That Hyavi fhould give up, or caufe to be given up, the perfons who had lately been furprized and carried off by his foldiers ; and that for every one of them who could not be found, he fhould return two of his own fubject s. 3. That the Betalimenes and Fariavas, fhould not in future, receive amongft them any fugitive fubjecfs of Hyavi and that they fhould compel all thofe, who during the laft three months, had taken refuge amongft them, to return two flaves each for his perfon. 4. That the Betalimenes, Fariavas, and the fubjects of Hyavi, fhould furnifh a fufficient number of workmen, to open a road of communication for the general advantage of trade along the coaft, from Foul Point to Bohitfmenes. And in confideration that this laft article was one of the moft effential for their mutual interefts, I declared my intention of appointing feveral of my officers to fuperintend the work. After a continual debate of three hours, which every inftant threatened to end in a general engagement, they at laft became calm, and agreed to the firft article ; and with regard to the fécond and third, they concluded that all paft inquiries fhould be buried in oblivion, without any reclamation being admitted on either fide \ and that in future, both nations fhould either give up the fugitives from the other, or at leaft drive them out of their dominions. With refpect to the fourth article, they agreed to fend five thoufand men to work on the road propofed to be made. Thefe conditions thus fettled, were ratified by an oath, in which the chiefs who came with me joined as witneffes witneffes and guarantees. Hyavi then caufed fifty oxen to be killed, as did likewife the Betalimenes and Fariavas, and they were cut up and diftributed among the troops. On the 4th, the Betalimenes being defirous of teftify-ing their gratitude, prefented my troops with five hundred oxen. The Fariavas did the fame, and Hyavi gave five hundred oxen and fifty ilaves. The cattle were divided among my followers ; but I gave the flaves their liberty, on condition that they fhould eftablifh themfelves near one of my fettlements, and pay-a tenth of the produce of their lands. Having thus happily concluded upon a peace to the fatisfaclion of all parties, I determined to return to Louifbourg ; and delayed my departure only till I had received the honours, which the belligerent parties were defirous of fhewing me. At the conclufion of the feftival, the Fariavas gave my troops forty flaves and two hundred oxen, and Hyavi on his part, gave two thoufand piaftres. On the nth, I arrived happily at Louifbourg, where Ï found affairs in a good train. On the 12th, my chief interpreter having informed me of the approaching arrival of envoys from the King of Boyana, at the fame time apprized me, that the chiefs of the Saphirobai and Antamboi, had fent deputies to the faid envoys, to engage them in their interefts againft the fettlement. I received a farther confirmation of this news from an old woman, a native of the country, who informed me befides, that the Saphirobai had gained the chief of the embaffy of the Seclaves by prefents ; and that the latter had ensued, under the fonction of an oath, to feek means of breaking off the négociation ; and to Vol. IL A a find find fufficicnt reafons to engage his nation in their party. I was perfectly affured of the truth of this information, from other blacks attached to the fettlement, who had been prefent at the making of the oath. Finding myfelf thus engaged in the moft critical fituation, I took the refolution of fending the brig La Flore, to the ifle of France, to demand a fupply of arms and ammunition ; and by the fame conveyance I fent back my family, with the greateft part of my houfhold, in order to carry on my operations againft the Seclaves with the greater activity. The veflel was difpatched without delay to the ifle of France, with the Chevalier de Sanglier, Captain in my troop, in order to prefs the adminiftration of that colony, to forward the neceffary fupplies with the utmoft fpeed. On the 21 ft, the chief Raoul came to me, to requeft a fupply of men, becaufe the Saphirobai chiefs, with the Seclaves, had determined to deftroy him, on account of his refufal to enter into the combination againft the fettlement. The account I received from this chief, of the different preparations the confederates had made to attack the fettlement, left me no doubt of the near approach of a war, which there was no means of avoiding. But as I did not expect fuccours in any fhort time, and all my force was reduced to the effects which might arife from firmnefs and courage, I thought it proper ftill to keep up my hopes. On the 13th, I went in the night to the Plain of Health, that the enemy might not be informed of my abfence ; and immediately on my arrival, I put that poft into a ftate of defence, It was guarded by twenty-nine foldiers, and 2 five five hundred natives, whom I could depend upon. The command was in the hands of M. de Mallendre, Captain, and M. de la Boullaye, Lieutenant. For a greater fecu-rity, I caufed palifades to be fet on that fide of the wood, through which the enemy might make an attack, by paf-fing near the foot of the mountain, fheltered from the cannon of the fort. On the river fide, I likewife cut down all the trees and underwood, that the artillery might command as far as Cape de Zafaiche. After having thus put this important fort in a ftate of defence, I embarked in my boats to return to Louiibourg. As I palled by the territory of Mahertompe, I difcovered a camp of the enemy, who fired feveral fhot at my boats ; but the diftance being too great for them to reach us, I arrived fafely at Louifbourg, where I found every thing in good order. On the 28th, I was informed of the arrival of envoys from the Sambarives of the Eaft and Weft. They demanded a conference, to the exclufion of other nations ; and at the fame time allured me, that if I liftened favourably to them, and granted them my friendfhip, they would foon deliver me from all my enemies. Such a pro-pofal could not but be very agreeable to me. I therefore gave orders for making the due preparations for holding our meeting. On the 20th, the Cabar or affembly was held, at which were prefent on the part of the fettlement, the Count de Benyowfky, Commander ; Meffrs. Perthuis, De la Boullaye, and Rofier, Lieutenants ; Unbanowfky, Engineer ; Befle, Interpreter ; and on the part of the Sambarives, the Prince Raffangour of that nation. The propofitions of the Sambarives were delivered in the following fpeech. A a 2 " The " The nation of the Sambarives, the people of God, eftablifhed in the provinces Mananhar and Maffoualla, have feen with grief, that the fettlement of Louifbourg has entered into treaties of friendfhip and alliance with other nations, in preference, and to the exclulion of theirs ; and that at prefent, all thofe nations have united together againft their benefactors, and have even invited our people to join with them againft the white men. But as the Sambarives have always walked in the paths of juftice, our nation has refufed their offers, preferring the friendfhip of the chief of the white men, to every inducement of relationfhip or alliance, which might exift between ourfelves and his enemies. In confequence of this difpofition, the Sambarive nation offer to afiift the fettlement with live thoufand men, to be employed againft its enemies ; and hope, by this action, that they fhall be thought worthy of an alliance, the value of which they are well convinced of." After having heard this harangue, I replied, that I had always been defirous of their alliance, but that the remote-nefs of their province had not hitherto permitted me to treat with them direélly. I affured them, that the offer of fupplies infpired me with an high opinion of their fen-timents ; and that I Ihould accept this mark of friendfhip with the greateft pleafure, as it would juftify the unbounded confidence I was determined to place in the Sambarive nation, refpectable for the blood of Ramini. The envoys then confulted together for a ihort time, and agreed to enter into the ufual oath of allegiance. The reft of the day was employed in rejoicing ; and in the evening my interpreter informed me, that the Sambarives ♦ t rives had difappeared. This news gave me fome concern ; becaufe as the oath of alliance had been taken, they ought to have apprized me of their departure. June the iff, 1775- At four in the morning, my interpreter announced the arrival of the Saphirobai chiefs, who had formed a league with the Seclaves ; and likewife informed me, that they had about three thoufand armed men with them, by means of whom he was affured they meditated a furprize. An hour afterwards, the chief Raoul came to demand an afylum for himfelf and family, at the fame time that he acquainted me, that he had been plundered by the confederates, and had only time to fave the lives of himfelf and family ; that part of his people had been made prifoners by the enemy, and all his goods were deftroyed by the flames. The unfortunate fate of this chief affe&ed me much, and I begged him to retire with his family into the fort. This chief, in the infancy of the eftabliihment, had been conquered and driven out of his province by my allies, becaufe he oppofed the building of a fortrefs ; and in the prefent inftance he fuffered for his, attachment to me. At nine o'clock, the Seclaves and Saphirobai appeared at the diftance of about a cannon fhot. Their troops confifted of more than three thoufand men. They fent deputies to requeft me to come to their camp to hear their complaints. This expreflion rather difconcerted me, as their complaints were backed by an armed force. But at laft, not to give them reafon to imagine that I was awed by their appearance, I put my troops in order to defend the fort, and went to the place of meeting. On my arrival, I ordered my interpreter to attend to their propofals and i complaints* complaints. The confederates then demanded, that I fhould withdraw my troops from the interior parts of the ifland, efpccially from the poft at the plain of Health • and that I Ihould difpenfe them from the oath by which they had furrendered to me the banks of the river Tingballe, becaufe they laid they had been furprized by the promife 1 had made them of a fecure trade, which fhould afford them the fame advantages they had enjoyed with private traders, and of which they had been deprived fince the arrival of the military. They concluded their harangue by obferv-ing, that their interefts did not admit of the troops being allowed a fettlement ; and they added that private traders, upon coming amongft them, had always paid a duty, of which they had been deprived fince the eftablifhment of the fettlement ; and more particularly they declared, that formerly every merchant, and even King's veffel, on its arrival, faluted the chiefs with two guns, a refpcclful cuftom which I had malicioufly abolifhed. After having calmly liftened to their fpeech, and finding myfelf in a very critical fituation, I replied, that they would do well to confider what they were about ; that as they had furrendered to us the lands we were in poffeffion of, they could not reclaim them without violating their oath. Befides which, having entered into an alliance v. 1th the fettlement, every violent proceeding on their part would authorize me to employ my troops in punifhing them; fo .that I could not make them any fatisfaction without pofitive orders. That the demolition of the fort, and withdrawing of the troops from the internal parts of the ifland, were things impoffible to be agreed to ; that with regard to the honours, I would give orders to the officers . of of the {hipping to do as they had formerly done ; but that with regard to their pretended right to a duty on fhip?, which entered their ports, it was ridiculous, becaufe it had never been heard that friends and allies received thofe who came only to trade, from any other motives than to ferve themfelves. My fpeech aftonifhed the people ; but fome of the chiefs cried out, let us come to bufinefs, and took notice that they could not have a better opportunity, as they had one in their hands, and could oblige me to do that by force which I refufed to do from good will. In the mean time, I found myfelf furrounded on all fides, and fhould certainly have paffed a quarter of an hour very difagreeably, if the Commander * at the head of fifty blacks, had not haffened to my afiiftance. His fpirited attack obliged a party of the enemy to oppofe him, while another detachment having attacked the fort, and fuffered a vigorous repulfe, threw their troops into confufion. This gave me an opportunity of making my efcape. I faw only two chiefs who oppofed my paffage. I parried their ftrokes, upon which they cried out, he is a forcerer, we are un*-done. Taking advantage of their ftupidity, I rallied the troop of my Commander, among whom I found feveral of my officers and foldiers, who feeing me furrounded, had facrificed themfelves to affift me. The Commandant of the fort likewife, feeing me clear of the enemy, pointed the cannon, and prepared to. fire, which he had forborn to do before, leaft I fhould become the victim of his fire. The enemy foon perceived my efcape ; and for fear of the artil-le. y, haflily retired towards the wood, firing a few fhot as they retreated. * Name not legible. On On my arrival at the fort, I faw my troops again with much fatisfactioii, as I could not give too much praife to them for their attention to orders. It may here be objected that I did not act prudently, in putting myfelf in this manner in the hands of the enemy, as it was in my power to have prevented their approach, by making ufe of my cannon. In anfwer to which, I muft obferve in my j uftification, 1. That in order to' be at liberty to act againft a nation, which it is intended to civilize, it is neceflary to be in pofTeliion of facts that prove them the aggreffors. 2. A chief cannot difpenfe with attending to complaints. If I had refufed to comply with a requeft which carried fo much the appearance of juftice, the party of the complaining nation might have found means of infpiring others with ambiguous fentiments, and my conduct would have afforded them authority for fo doing. 3. If unfortunately in a Cabar or affembly, I had made ufe of cannon, which would have produced a maffacre, the other neighbouring nations, being ill informed of the circumftances, would always have fufpected that I had premeditated the ftroke ; and that the affembly had been convened for no other purpofe than to exterminate them. An event of this nature, however founded in juftice, would have been fufficient to have alienated the minds of every one for a fhort time ; but by avoiding it, my conduct was productive of real advantage. The neighbouring people, informed of the conduct of the Saphirobai and Seclaves, and of the moderation with which I had repelled them, could not delay to join our caufe. The war we were about to enter into, would be juftified before it could be criti- cifed. cifed. For this reafon likewife it was, that I determined to make offers of peace to our enemies, which they refufed, and by that means cleared us of all reproach. On the 3d, the interpreters, whom I had fent to the Saphirobai, with offers of peace, returned with the information, that the confederates had haughtily refufed every propofal of accommodation, and had fent a party of a thoufand men to take the poft at the plain of Health. The next day I received news, that the enemy had been re-pulfed at fort Auguftus, and at the plain. On the 5th, the chief Sancé arrived with one thoufand men, to affift the fettlement againft the confederates. This chief was defcended from a pirate named Zan. In the night of the fame day, I was apprized of the arrival of thirty boats of the country, bringing fix hundred armed warriors from the province of Rantabe. On the 6 th, a detachment I had fent to reconnoitre the enemy returned, and informed me, that the An tambour nation, allied to the Saphirobai, had eftablifhed a camp in the plain, and waited only for the junction of the Saphirobai and Seclaves to attack the poft. And that on the other hand the Saphirobai and the Seclaves had formed three camps, between the poft at the plain and the chief fettlement, to cut off the communication. The fame day I was informed of the arrival of fifteen thoufand armed men, of the Sambarive nation, who came to afiift the eftablifhment, and requefted to be fent againft the enemy without delay. On the 10th, the Sambarives being all joined by the Mulatto chiefs, compofed a body of upwards of fix thoufand men, with which I took the field. The campaign Vol, IL B b promifed promifed to be laborious, on account of the ncccffity of climbing rocks and mountains, and palling over marfhy lands, which threatened to deprive me of the advantage of my cannon. Having at laft approached the enemy's camp, who were eftablifhed in the plain of Mahertomp, I fent Meffrs. L'Ar-mina and certain officers of my corps, with fifty volunteers, and two thoufand blacks, with orders to attack the enemy's poft at fun-fet. Soon afterwards we heard feveral repeated difcharges, which obliged me to march to fupport my detachment, who had not been able to diflodgc the enemy from the advantageous fituation they were encamped in. But the firing ceafing all at once, I fuppofed the parties had feparated. To arrive at a certainty, I fent two volunteers, who reported, that they had obferved two camps at a little diftance from each other, and that each were bufied in forming entrenchments. After this information, I fent Lieutenant la Tour, of my corps, to make a circuit to the other fide of the enemy's camp, where he was ordered to remain concealed till midnight ; after which time he was to rufh impetuoufly upon them, and at the inftant of our attack to fire on them from the other fide. My officer performed his orders with great exactnefs ; and I heard feveral reports of pateraroes at two in the morning, at which inftant, as I was ready to march, I proceeded ftrait to the enemy ; but inftead of enemies, I met the Sambarives on the road, who, having heard the reports of the large pieces, fuppofed that I had attacked the enemy. Being thus united by accident to the whole of my forces, I entered the plain of Mahertomp, where we found no enemies, but in their place, my officer, with his detachment. He informed me, that, purfuant to my orders, he had brifkly brifkly attacked the enemy's camp, who, upon hearing the repeated difcharge of cannon, imagined the attack to be fupported by our whole army, and had made their efcape, fome by fwimming, and the reft into the woods. My detachment collected upwards of two hundred mufkets, which the fugitives had left in their hafte. Forty prifoners were taken by my people. Having in this manner become mafter of the plain of Mahertomp, which is really the moft agreeable fpoj, and the richeft part of the whole province of Antimaroa, occupying a fpace of fix leagues along the banks of the river of Tingballe, and more than thirteen in depth, perfectly well cultivated and inhabited throughout, I judged it proper to cftablilri a poft to preferve it, and to fecure SC communication between it, and the chief fettlement, and the plain of Health. As I had fix thoufand blacks under my command, I fet them to work without delay on this project ; and while I thus employed my people, I determined to fend back the prifoners with propofals of peace, to convince them of our good intentions. But thefe infatuated people ftill refufed to accede to my propofition. On the 12th, the redoubt was finifhed at the plain of Mahertomp, in which I left twelve volunteers, commanded by an officer, and defended by four cannon, which I had caufed to be brought from Louifbourg, I then proceeded with my whole army to the plain of Health, where on my arrival I learned that the enemy, to the number of feven or eight thoufand, was encamped at no more than two leagues diftance from us ; and that their camp was well entrenched and palifaded. This flopped my progrefs, until I could receive four field pieces from Louifbourg, But the chiefs B b 2 f of of my allies being defirous of proving their valour, without waiting the arrival of the artillery, went and attacked the enemy unknown to me. They made feveral fruitlefs af-faults, and being at laft repelled, they retired as far as to the foot of the mountain, with the enemy clofe at their backs. My four pieces of cannon being at laft arrived, I marched myfelf, with thirty volunteers and two hundred difciplined natives, in the pay of the fettlement. We departed in the night unknown to our allies, and at day-break, after having erected two batteries, I began a very hot fire on the enemy. In the fpace of half an hour, one fide of their pa-lifade being entirely deftroyed, they abandoned their firft entrenchment, and filed off behind a kind of redoubt, from which they were likewife diflodged. At laft they haftened, in the utmoft confufion, to a branch of the river of Ranoumena, which was out of the reach of my cannon. But my allies, being informed that I was engaged with the enemy, ran up, and feeing the camp taken, quickly paffed the river, attacked and drove them without refift-ance. This whole bufinefs was performed with only two volunteers wounded, who were my cook and fervant. The lofs of the Sambarives confifted of eleven men, and of the enemy about fixty-five. The Sambarives purfued them for fome days, as far as their frontier ; but I remained at the plain of Health. On the 21 ft, after having refrefhed my people, I raifed my camp at the plain, in order to be nearer the fécond divifion of the enemy, who had retired into the morafs of Ampan-gou, upon an ifland of about fix leagues in circumference, and furrounded with water. On On the 2 2d, I arrived at the plain of Mahertomp, where I pitched my camp at the foot of the new redoubt. Five days were employed in difeovering the pafTage through the morafs, and in reconnoitring the pofition of the enemy. On the 27th, I raifed my camp at the plain of Mahertomp, and after having paffed the river of Tingballe, I arrived at the entrance of the morafs, from whence we diftinctly faw the enemy's camp, at the diftance of about a league and half, and confifting of four thoufand men. On the 28 th, we received a check at the entrance of the river Ranoufoutchy, which the enemy were obftinately determined to defend. The Seclaves loft fo many men, that they quitted their allies, whole forces were confiderably weakened by this event. On the 29th, feveral ikirmifhes took place between our people and the enemy. This night four volunteers, who had been fent to collect wood for the ufe of the camp, palled the morafs, and thought proper to amufe themfelves by attacking the enemy, to whofe tents they fet fire. July the ift, 1775. Continual rains increafed the waters of Ampangou to fuch an height, that our camp . was overflowed, and we were obliged to retreat above a league. Our enemies, attributing our retreat to another caufe, took courage and attempted to harrafs us. From the 2d to the 8th it rained continually, which gave.the enemy time to furround their camp with a ditch and palifade. On the 9th, I received advice, that a party of about three thoufand of the enemy had rallied fince the defeat of the the Antambours, and had joined the oppofite camp ; and that another party were very troublefome in the neighbourhood of Louiibourg. On this day I heard of the arrival of a veffel. On the ioth, the officer commanding the redoubt at the plain of Mahertomp, which I had named Fort St. John, wrote to me, that reports were current to the effe6t, that the enemy was defirous of forming a treaty of peace with me, to the prejudice of the Sambarives and other nations in alliance, who already began to murmur, more efpecially as I did not attack the enemy, though they did not con-fider the obftaclès occafioned by the overflowing of the waters. On the 13 th, the enemy being in want of provifions in their camp, out of which they dared not fally for fear of my party, began to repent of their warfare. In confequence of this information, I fent feveral boats loaded with rice and bananas, with fome brandy ; and let them underftand, that I was fo far from being defirous of exterminating them, that I would leave them a clear paffage to retreat, whenever they thought proper, on condition of their laying down their arms. Accordingly, I withdrew two polls which guarded the paffxge from the ifland to the firm land. This ftep was attended with much fuccefs ; for the enemy perceiving themfelves every day more dif-treffed by famine, began to retire in troops, and feveral came to me. Thefe I received kindly; and after giving them fome provifions, I fuffered them to go where they pleafed. On the 14th, I received information from Louifbourg of the arrival of the private fhip the Conquérant, commanded manded by the Sieur Olivier, from the ifle of France, which brought difpatches from the government of that colony ; wherein I was informed, that the Chevalier de Sanglier, Captain of my corps, whom I had fent to demand fupplies, had received an abfolute refufah This disagreeable news gave me the greateft concern ; but as it was a ftep of prudence to encourage my people, I gave out, that this fhip would be followed by two of his Majefty's packets, with a fupply of one hundred men ; and I fuc-ceeded in deftroying, in fome meafure, the confternation of my officers. From the 15 th to the 19th, I was informed that the enemy had entered into a treacherous correfpondence with part of our allies. I therefore fet my confidential Ipies at work to make difcoveries. On the 20th in the morning, a detachment, which had been fent out of the camp to obferve the enemy, discovered two blacks making their efcape ; the elder of whom faid to the other, " Run and tell them, that no dépendance can be placed on thofe whom they fuppofed to be their friends, and that I am taken." This black, being brought before me, confeffed that he had been fent to feduce part of our allies ; but that not having fuc-ceeded, they had been defirous of informing their countrymen, that we intended to attack them. Upon this depofition, I immediately caufed a meeting of feveral ehiefs to be held, who condemned him to death. I con-fented to their decree with greater willingnefs, becaufe the man was found to be the fame, who in the infancy of the fettlement had engaged to fet fort Louis on fire. His Sentence was immediately carried into execution. 4 . On On the 24th, the commanding officer of fort St. John reported, that a foldier of the name of La Gonivier, lately arrived from the ifle of France, had made feveral mutinous propofals, by affuring the troops that they were abandoned, and that the ifle of France was fo far from fending any fupplies, that on the contrary, its chiefs fought every occafion to deftroy us. Being defirous of verifying the fact myfelf, I gave directions to the officer to take no notice ; and with a view to watch the man more narrowly, I ordered him into my own camp. In the night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, hearing a noife, I came out of my tent, and faw the foldier, La Gonivier, make feveral ftrokes with a fabre at the officer of the guard, at the fame time that I diftinctly heard him fay, " That the time would foon come, when the foldiers fhould command the officers at Madagafcar." I therefore called the guard, which ran and endeavoured to take the mutineer. The man in defpair rufhed on them, and wounded two, crying out, Cl Come on, my friends." This call at firft led me to fufpect a plot. I obferved, however, from all the motions of the volunteers, that they remained com-pofed and fteady in their duty, by clofing upon the mutineer, who fled towards the wood, but was brought down by a ball. This unexpected event, which tended to difconcert our black allies, induced me to haften his execution. I therefore called a council of my officers without delay, but the criminal expired of his wound before his trial came on. On the 28th, the enemy remaining ftill in a fmall number on their pofts, which they were obftinately determined not to quit, being encouraged by the promife of thirty thirty thoufand men on the part of the Seclaves, I determined to attack them. But as I had no intention of caufing a malfacre, I advifcd them of our approach by feveral difcharges of cannon. On the 26th, 27th, and 28th, our black allies pur-fucd the enemy; who retired to the Northern parts of the ifland, as far as the frontiers of Antimananhar. Auguft the ift. The Sieur Bourde, to whom the Minifter had granted the whale fifhery on the coaft of Madagafcar, not having fucceeded in his enterprize, requefted my permiffion to purchafe rice, in order to indemnify him for his want of fuccefs. I willingly agreed to his requeft, as the eftabliihment being deftitute of merchandize, could not carry 011 any commerce itielf. I granted the lame permiffion to the Sieur Olivier, who brought a veffel from the ifle of France. Auguft the 3d, being delivered from our enemies, and the province of Antimaroa being without cultivation, I propofed to the Sambarives, to replace the Saphirobai, who had been driven out of their province. My propofition was joyfully accepted, and they immediately agreed to pay me an annual acknowledgment for the protection of the eftabliihment. On the 4th, a general meeting being held for the divifion of the conquered lands of the enemy, I gave the right branch of the river of Tingballe to the Sambarives, and kept the left branch for the eftablifhment. Several parties of the Saphirobai detefting the offences they had committed againft the eftablifhment, now came to requeft forgivenefs. The kind and affable manner fn which I received them, foon caufed them to forget their loffes, and to condemn their chiefs, who had facrificed their people Vol. II. C c to to their own private interefts. From thefe fugitives I like-wife learned, that the Saphirobai were forced to wander in the woods, and fubfift upon roots, becaufe the chiefs of the other provinces refufed them an afylum. I determined, therefore, to take advantage of this circumftance, to fhew the uprightnefs of my intentions \ and for this purpofe, on the following day, I fent commiffioners to the neighbouring chiefs, to defire them to affift the Saphirobai with the neceffaries of life, and to receive them freely, provided they renounced their purpofe of continuing the war. This ftep could not but be productive of manifeft advantage. On the 5 th, another embarrafTment prefented itfelfi The fubfiftance of the troops of our allies became chargeable to the eftablifhment, and I determined to difmifs them. But this, according to the cuftom of the ifland, could not be done without recompeniing them by prefents. The 6th, 7th, and 8 th, were employed in the diftri-bution of the prefents ; and I had the fatisfaûion to fee the different nations with their chiefs, return contented with my manner of proceeding. On the gth, I was attacked by a fever. On the 1 oth, being no longer employed by the war, I directed my attention entirely to procure the comforts of life for the eftablifhment, on a good footing. Being convinced of the inconveniences to which my people were, expofed, in houfes conftructed with leaves, after the manner of the country, I determined to conftruct the whole of wood. My troops, with two thoufand hired blacks, fhould have been employed in building new apartments for the Governor, with an hofpital, barracks, and ftore-houfes, and and two hundred other blacks in building fixty houfes, to form the town ; and during the building, the troop of Sance, compofed of twelve hundred men, fhould have laboured in filling the morafs. But it was unfortunate, that I was then without the means, otherwife Louifbourg would foon have changed its appearance. On the 16th, my diforder increafed, and I felt an uni-verfal weaknefs, which obliged me to place the command in the hands of Captain Mallendre, referving to myfelf, however, the communication of all affairs of importance. My illnefs, however, became continually worfe, fo that I was not confulted on any bufinefs whatever. On the 20th, I was fomewhat better, and received information of the death of the Sieur Garreau. On the ill of September, this brave and intelligent officer was carried to the tomb, to the regret of the whole corps. The place of engineer which he poifefled, being rendered vacant by his death, I gave orders to the Sieur Roller, the fcholar of the Sieur Garreau, to perform that office. On the 21 ft, the officers of my corps waited upon me, and requefted, that I would give them orders relative to the intention of the Court, with refpecl: to the eftablifhment at Madagafcar ; that in cafe my illnefs fhould prevent my being in a fituation to attend to the colony, they might act conformably to the good of the fervice ; but finding myfelf weaker that day than ordinary, I requefted them to meet at my houfe on the 2 2d. On the 2 2d, the fever left me, and I found myfelf fomewhat ftronger. This day the meeting was held, for the C c 2 refult refait of which, fee the piece, L. X. at the end of this memoir, by which the council was adjourned to the 25 th. On the 25th, the council met by adjournment, and I received information, that eight wooden houfes were finifh-cd, in which the troops were lodged. October the ift. The Sieur Olivier, mafter of a private veffel from the ifle of France, by whofe means the fubfiftance of the eftablifhment had been provided for, fet fail with a cargo of fix hundred and fifty thoufand pounds of rice ; the Sieur Bourde likewife took in a cargo of eight hundred and fifty thoufand pounds of rice. This fupply of provifions muft have been very acceptable ; and if the ifle of France had fupplied our ftore-houfes with merchandize, a prodigious quantity might have been had, which the iflanders wafted for want of fale ; and there is reafon to apprehend, that this want will diminifh their indu ftr y next feafon. On the 2d, the Sambarive chiefs requefted permiftion to erect flag ftaffs on their territory, to diftinguiih the chiefs from each other. I agreed to their requeft, and at the fame time diftributed to each chief a white flag, with different ftripes of red and blue, to diftinguiih their degrees. The fame day the Saphirobai chiefs, who had always remained attached to the government, requefted per-miflion to build a town, under the protection of fort Louis, in order to defend them from the incurfions of their adverfaries. I agreed to their requeft with pleafure, as it afforded a means of attaining my purpofe, which was to people the province as much as pofiible, on account of its vicinity to the chief fettlement, where the confump- tion muft naturally be more coniiderable, than in any other part of the ifland. On the 3d, I began to perceive a return of my ftrength, and I found the hofpital entirely empty ; a circumftance which fhews, that my troops at this time were ftronger than ever. I do not, however, here fpeak of that vigour which is natural to Europeans in their own country, but which they lofe in hot climates. On the 4th, Hiavi, chief of the province of Mahave-lou, demanded my affiftance againft the Fariavas and Betalimenes, who had declared war againft him. As this chief had always acted in the interefts of the Europeans, I determined to affift him ; and for that purpofe, detached feven volunteers with a Tubal tern officer, to Foul Point, to act according to the orders of the commander at that out-fettlement. I was convinced before hand, that the mere report of my having taken part with Hiavi, would put an end to the war. On the 6th, the hofpital, with all the adjoining buildings, were at laft finifhed in a folid manner ; but, fortunately, we were at this time in a fituation to keep them vacant. From the 7th to the 12th, I made an excurlion, to vifit the diftrict which had been furrendered to the Sambarives, on the banks of the river Tingballe. The lands were excellent, but the territory annexed to the eftablifhment by the late conqueft, were greatly fuperior. What immenfe riches might be derived from a diftrict of land, twenty-two leagues in length, upon the coaft of a navigable river ? This excursion entirely reftored my health. 1 On On the 13 th, I gave orders to cover the poft of fort St. John, by a broad ditch and double palifade, with a covered way, and to build feveral houfes in wood, for the accommodation of fuch as might flop there, in their way to the plain of Health. On the 14th, I received a courier from the Sieur Mayeur, interpreter, and Mr. Corbi, officer of my corps, the latter of whom I had fent in boats round the Northern parts of the ifland, while the former went by land along the fhore, in order to examine all the bays, harbours, and rivers, the inhabitants, their numbers, forces, induftry, productions, and mutual interefts. I ordered them to continue their journey, until they arrived at the territories of Lambouin, a chief who affumed the title of King of the North. My intention was to engage this chief in our interefts, and to purchafe of him the ifland Nolfebc, fituated to the N. W. of the ifland of Madagafcar, in 130 1 5' S. latitude, and 45° 6' longitude from Paris. Thefe two officers fent me their journals of the coaft. They informed me, that they had joined company in the territories of the chief Lambouin, by whom they were amicably received ; that this chief being aftonifhed at the renown of the white men, had determined before their arrival, to fend ambafladors to me, to form a treaty with the eftabliihment, and that profiting by his good difpofition, they had caufed him to enter into an oath of friendfhip ; that they had purchafed the ifland Noffebe of him ; and that having in this manner attained the purpofes of their million, they waited only for my orders to return. Being thus affured of the attachment of Lambouin, whofe intereft it was to fecure himfelf againft the vexations of of the Seclaves, I could depend on a refpectable ally, 'capable of furnifhing fifteen or twenty thoufand men. From the 15th to the 20th, being in perfect tranquillity, and my troops being recovered from their fatigue, I recommenced the works, and employed them in building a place of refidence for the Governor. On the 21 ft, I received information that feveral bands of the Saphirobai fugitives had approached the eftablifhment, where they had burned feveral houfes of the Sambarives ; upon which I immediately detached twelve volunteers, commanded by an officer, and fupported by fix: hundred blacks, to clear the woods and their avenues. On the 2 2d, my detachment returned in the evening with three prifoners, whom they had taken, after furprizing a party of thefe black robbers. On the 23 d, I received a packet from my officer, who commanded at Foul Point, in which he informed me, that the enemies of Hiavi had made offers of peace, on condition that the commander of that poft fhould be appointed judge, to determine the differences which might arife between them and Hiavi ; but that the latter, not having thought proper to confent, my officer engaged to bring Hiavi to reafon, provided he might have per million to ufe threats, in cafe he obftinately continued to refufe his compliance. As this manœuvre promifed to gain an entire people to my interefts, and I was well aware of the prudence of my officer, I returned precife orders to him in confequence. October the 24th. The end of the month now approaching, without the arrival of any news from Europe, and the return of the Chevalier dé Sanglier, whom I had 2 fent fent for fupplies to the ifle of France, being likewife retarded, produced the moft afflicting reflections in my mind ; and I had no other refource than my firmnefs againft the unhappy fate which purfued me. I confldered the approach of the bad feafon, during which, if the fupplies ihould continue to be with-held (as it would be out of my power to form eftablifhments in the interior parts of the country), I had every reafon to expect that the fettlement would be again plunged into the moft critical fituation. The troops feeing none of the fupplies arrive, upon which their hopes had been hitherto fupported, muft of courfe confider themfelves as abandoned ; and that with fo much the more certainty, as the reports fpread in the ifle of France, concerning the reduction of my troops, had been divulged at Madagafcar, notwithftanding all my precautions. The courage of my officers,who had adopted the firm refolution of doing their duty, by encouraging their men, was the only circumftancc which fupported me, and gave me reafon to prefume that I might ftill refift the preffure of misfortune. But who could anfwer for the continuance of my force, which muft every day become, lefs effectual ? What an unhappy fituation it is for a Commander in Chief, who, after having refilled the intemperature of hot climates, fuffered dangerous difeafes, and undergone . infinite fatigue ;—who, after having feen his troops di-minifhed one-third, finds himfelf under the neceflity of hieing every circumftance, without lofing the advantages he has gained, but on the contrary, preferving them againft hidden revolutions ; and who, inftead of the fupplies he has requefted, is expofed to the jealoufy and calumnies of perfons in place, who were ordered by the Government Government to afford him every affiftance !—A promifè was made me, that I fhould receive every year fupplies, and a reinforcement of one hundred and twenty men ; and that in the mean time the ifle of France fhould fupport me in every preffing exigency ; and in a word, that nothing fhould be wanting for the fuccefs of my million. But, alas, two whole years were gone, and I ftill remained without fupplies. If they were ftill delayed, I faw that the fatal inftant would not fail to arrive, in which the fruits of all my labour, care, and fatigue would vanifh, and France be for ever deprived of the power of regaining the confidence of the natives. Such were the reflections that opprcffed me, and on an occafion like this, the pen can never delcribe the fufferings of the mind- From the 25 th, to the end of the month, I employed my time in vifiting the pofts, which I found every where in perfect order. But I found fadnefs and depreffion in every countenance ; a fadnefs which certainly did not arife from a fpirit of mutiny. I knew my troops too well to fufpect it. But I could be at no lofs for the caufe. Destitute of linen, of clothes, or covering, I beheld them difheartened, and had no external refource to relieve them, and reftore their fpirits. November the ift, 1775. Activity and refolution were never more neceffary. I collected a number of the native women, whom I employed in making cloth, and ten volunteers were felected to perform the occupation of taylors, in clothing my poor fellows. I fucceeded in tanning {kins, and being provided with Shoemakers, the pro-fpedt of again poffefling fliocs, began to be more chearing than before. Nothing therefore remained, but to divert Vol, II. D d my my men. For this purpofe I exercifed them in firing at at a mark, and gave a prize to fuch as diftinguifhed themfelves. This exercife tended to render them more fervice-able, and was at the fame time an object of entertainment. In confequence of this determination, I put a flop to the ordinary works, and began the exercifes. On the 4th, I was informed of the arrival of the Saphirobai chief Effonlahé, who was fent by his nation to demand an audience. I referred him to the next day, in order to give time to the Sambarive chiefs to come together, and be prefent at the delivery of the propofitions of this envoy. On the 5th, the affembly being met, the envoy of the Saphirobai entered. His head was fhaven, as a mark of fubmifhon, and proflrating himfelf on the ground, he .pronounced thefe words . u I, the unfortunate chief of the race of the Saphirobai Antimaroa, throw myfelf at the feet of the juftice and mercy of the great Chief, to implore his grace, in the name of my whole nation, which requefts permiffion to fend deputies to expiate its fault. I am come before to offer my life if it be neceffary. Conqueror, in us thou mayefl no longer behold an enemy, but the remains of an unhappy people, who are obedient and fubmiffive to thy laws." After having liflened to his fpeech, I replied as follows : u I have beheld with forrow the irregularities of the Saphirobai chiefs. I call your own nation to witnefs, with what tendernefs I have conducted myfelf, with a view to maintain an alliance and avoid a war, whofe confequences could not fail to end in your deflruction. And thou, chief Effonlahé, who now fpeakeft with me, fay, waft thou not not three times charged to carry offers of peace to thy countrymen ? Am I to blame that my offers produced three refufals ? Judge then this day, who has acted wrong; and who it is that has deferved the chaftifement of heaven. The oaths of fidelity, by which we were united before this unhappy war, have been fported with by you. You have broken your engagements with us. You have dared to infringe a compact made in the prefence of the great God. It is he who has punifhed you, and purfues you with his vengeance.—But I am charged never to refufe the offers of friendfhip made by the people of Madagafcar. It is my duty to protect the unfortunate, and to render juftice where it is due, at the price of my blood, and that of my companions. It is by virtue of thefe orders that I grant forgivenefs to the nation of the Saphirobai. They may without fear fend any of their chiefs to me during the courfe of the enfuing month, to regulate the common interefts of both nations." The envoy of the Saphirobai, contented with my anfwer, repeated his prayers, thanked me, and retired. The Sambarive chiefs, who were prefent at the affembly, informed me of their appréhendons, that as 1 had pardoned the Saphirobai, I Ihould reftore them their entire province, and confequently, that they fhould be forced to abandon their eftablifhment. But when they had received an affurance from me, that that part of the province which had been granted to them, fhould remain in their poffeffion, by virtue of the treaty concluded with the Saphirobai, they became contented. From the 6th of November, to the 13 th, Ï was con-ftantly employed in exercifing my troops ; and their D d 2 cloathing cloathing being at laft ready, was diftributed among them. On the 14th, a courier from Foul Point, accompanied with two chiefs, fubject to Hiavi, arrived. My officers informed me, that Hiavi had at laft confented to my requeft, and that peace was concluded on ; but that on the other hand, the chiefs who were fubjedt to Hiavi, were meditating a revolt againft him, as they could no longer bear his opprefhon. The two chiefs who arrived with my courier, gave me an account of this, and affured me, that the people who were fubject to Hiavi, were perfectly willing to fubmit to the fettlement, provided I would declare againft their Sovereign. I might perhaps have liftened to this proportion at another time ; but in the lituation I then ftood, it would not have been prudent to have engaged myfelf in an affair of fuch a nature, as might have produced very ferious confequences. I therefore contented myfelf with promiling to thefe two chiefs, that I would bring Hiavi to reafon, and in the mean time I forbad them to make any attempt againft him, until I had afcertaincd the fa