Page:History of the French in India.djvu/134

 112 THE RISE OF THE FRENCH POWER IN INDIA. chap, before long in forming out of this unpromising raw J material a civilised community. Under his influence, 1737. some took to planting, some to manufacturing, others to soldiering. La Bourdonnais assisted them in various ways. He imported negroes from Madagascar, and employed these as policemen, as cultivators, and as arti- sans. In a short time the island assumed a new appear- ance. In place of the uncultivated waste of the interior, and the wretched hovels scattered along the coast, he caused to be built substantial private dwelling houses, magazines, arsenals, barracks, fortifications, mills, quays, canals, and aqueducts. Of these last, one in particular is mentioned, built for the purpose of bringing down fresh water to the port and to the hospitals, as having been 3,600 toises (more than four miles and a quarter) in length. But his greatest efforts were directed to the sea-coast. There were, we have seen, two harbours, one on the south-east side of the island, open to the prevail- ing winds, the other on the noth-west side, sheltered from the wind, but only to be entered through a narrow channel. On this he bestowed all his efforts, and he very soon made it fit in every respect for the reception of thirty-five or forty ships. He provided it likewise with wet and dry docks, pontoons, canoes, yards, and timber. It became thus as easy to lay up and repair ships at Port Louis, for so he named the capital, as in any port in Europe. In 1737, eighteen months after his arrival, he was able to launch a brigantine ; the following year, he built two good ships,* and put another of five hundred tons on the stocks. This, however, was but a portion of what he effected in that respect during his viceroyalty. the first attempt at shipbuilding was great deal of timber and nut other in not altogether a success. It is related her place before she was fit for sea." of his first ship, that " after agreat This vessel, the " Insulaire," was lost deal of trouble, time, and expense in in 1746, in the Ganges, on her way building, she was found so heavy in to Chandranagar after the action launching, that they were obliged to with Commodore Peyton.
 * As might have been expected, haul her ashore again, and rip off a