If the fand banks in the north-eaft be included, the figure of the ifland is the fruftrum of a cone, the nearly even bafe of which running from north-eaft-by-north to fouth-weft-by-weft, measures 40 English miles; from this bafe to the oppofite fhore the breadth is 25 English miles. TR. (From Memoires de l'Academie Françoife, anno 1754, p. 118.)

The Ifle of France is 30 leagues diftant north-eaft,by-eaft from the Ile of Reunion, now again called the Ifle of Bourbon. This with the Ifle of France are now fubject to the British crown. TR.

M. le Gentil, in the Mem. de l'Acad. Françoife contradicts this from minute examination of the ifland, and fhews to demonftration that its low parts are an aggregation of pulverized madriperes, coral, and vegetable earth. TR.

The moft lofty mountain of the Ifle of France, Morne Brabant, is but 424 toifes in height, while the Salaffes of the Ifland of Bourbon are reckoned of an elevation of from 14 to 1600 toifes.

Winds.

Winds, Hurricanes.] The predominant winds in the Ifle of France are thofe from the east-fouth-eaft, the fouth-eaft, and fouth-fouth-eaft, the moft falutary and grateful that can blow in thefe parts. Thofe from the north and the weft, and efpecially from the north-weft, bring rain with them, and almoft conftantly accompany the hurricanes that lay waste the colony at intervals; but which hurricanes are faid to be far more rare than formerly fince the land has been cleared extenfively of trees. Among the moft famous hurricanes of modern years thofe are cited of 1786 and 1789. The first took place on the 15th of December 1786: the fea on this occafion rofe three feet eight inches above the height of the highest tides; the barometer funk 12,3 lines, within the fpace of four-and-twenty hours; there fell 73 lines of rain, independent of thunder and lightning, which were nearly inceffant throughout the whole of this terrible ftorm; a meteor was remarked, refembling a globe of fire, following the direction of the wind, then from the north-weft, and difappeared behind the mountains of Moka. This meteor was confiderably elevated in the atmosphere, and feemed nearly half the fize of the moon.

The fecond hurricane, ftill more difaftrous than this, took place on the fame day and month, that is to fay, the 15th December 1789: its duration was about twenty-three hours, during which the barometer funk 14,9 lines; the mercury was fo much agitated in the tube that its ofcillations extended through the fpace of two lines. Flashes of a pale light were evolved from its furface that filled the whole vacuum of the tube. The fea prefented a horrid appearance, and the waves dafhed with fuch impetuofity that many veffels were thrown upon the rocks, and fome even foundered at their moorings in the port. The diftricts of Moka, Flak, the Pamplemouffes, and La Riviere du Rempart, were, in particular, terribly ravaged by the hurricane, during which there fell 104 lines of rain.

Notwithstanding this momentary ruin, the confequence of hurricanes, experience feems to prove them of real benefit to the country, by the foil acquiring new vigour from their periodical return, and by the atmosphere being rendered more falubrious by them: thus Nature, even in her wanderings, difplays her liberality, and renders evil itself an inftrument of benefaction!

Earthquakes.] Earthquakes are extremely unfrequent in the Ifle of France; they ftill are not wholly unknown. In the morning of the 4th Auguft 1786, two pretty ftrong fhocks were experienced, which however were productive of no injury.

Thunder.] Thunder, without being frequent, is yet not uncommon; as in our climates, it is rarely heard except in the hotter months, that is tofay, October, November, December, and January. The mean of nine years' obfervations gives fifteen days in each year for its occurrence.

Hail.] Hail is a phenomenon extraordinary in the ifland, but of which fome examples are cited: on the 10th December 1799 fome fell in the plains of Moka.

Rain.] Rains are generally very frequent, and exceedingly copious. At the north-west port the number of rainy days are annually from 105 to 140; they are still more numerous in the plains of Moka; in the year 7 (1798) they amounted to 198; in the year 8 (1799) to 193; which, in either cafe gives more than half the days of the year as rainy days.

Rivers.] This frequency of rain, the height of the mountains, the forefts which crown their fummits, and the bafaltic nature of the foil, which prevents any deep penetration of the water, must be confidered the principal caufes of the multiplicity of rivers, which, independent of rivulets, fources, and torrents without number,