Wind easterly force 4 decreasing to 1. Barometer steady. 0730 Anchored off Mahebourg, Mauritius.

0020. Flat Island Light NW by N. altered course SE by S. 0330 altered course on observing Frouquits Light SW by S to S ½ W.

0515. Altered course to SW. 0530. Course W by S.

0645 Passed Frouquits Light House.

0745. Stopped and came to with sandy bottom in 6 ½ fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Magnetic bearings Froquites Light House S74E – Point Chenilles S5W.

 

We entered by the southern channel which is the deepest of the three entrances. In entering and leaving the port you can pass very close to Isle Passe as there is plenty of water but on the other side the water breaks in about 7 fathoms in bad weather and therefore best to avoid it and keep to the Island side of the channel.

The harbour is surrounded with reefs for a great distance outside and rather resembles Victoria harbour Seychelles. There were more formerly buoys  and beacons to mark the channel but they have been washed away and not replaced. On one reef there is an iron rod with a piece of brook lashed to it. This marks the Litte Pattie and in or two other places they have the same sort of mark. Makebourg is the HQ of of the XXth Regiment stationed at the Mauritius. There are no forts appears to be left entirely to the land forces.. Saluted the Governor General with 13 guns.

Directions for leaving the anchorage.

On leaving keep two factory chimneys (just to the right of the town) bearing west until abreast of  Little Pate then keep a point to the north (E by N)  factory chimney’s under Lions Head. NNW. Altered course to E by S with Red cliff kept about ENE. Chimmellis Point bearing SW alter course to SSE and S by E until abreast of Island de Passe and then to clear a shoal of 7 fathoms which sometimes breaks keep to the east about SE by E Light House on Frouquits  Island. Bare north when clear of of this shoal