The natives, in the mean time, jealous of the gradual encroachments of the French, plotted against them ; but M. Prouis contrived to preserve peace ; to which his marriage with the daughter of a chief, who adopted the dress and manners of her husband's country, materially contributed. His own indolence and misconduct, how ever, produced disorders among those under his com mand. In spite of the abundant supplies and fertility of the district, provisions became scarce, murmurs arose, and the colony revolted against him. He was put in irons, and thrown into prison, where he remained six months, when a French ship bringing supplies released him in July 1646. But his indiscretion was not cured; for a second mutiny arose from similar causes. It was, however, soon quelled, and the mutineers sent out of the settlement. About the same time, the Dutch governor of Mauritius landed at Fort-Dauphin, and importuned M. Prouis to sell him slaves; but having none, he re fused, until, persuaded by one of the settlers, he seized on seventy-three of the natives, in the service of the Fort, and sold them to the Dutch. By this act, he for feited the regard of the islanders, and it was judged ex pedient that he should be recalled.
A more intelligent governor, M. Flacour, was put in the place of Prouis. At his arrival, Dian Ramach, a native chief, claimed the sovereignty of the whole island, though in fact he had a right to rule only the people of Anossi, and some other tribes. M. Flacour penetrated the country to visit him ; and having conciliated his favour, received many amicable presents. On his return, he found that a great mortality had taken place in the colony, and that most of the survivors were sick. The inhabitants, availing themselves of their condition, in cited their neighbours to hostility against the French, who retaliated by invading the inland territories during several successi%e years.
An attempt, that proved unsuccessful, was made by a Rohandrian chief, to surprise Fort-Dauphin. In his re treat, he killed all the straggling Frenchmen, to possess himself of their arms. Not long afterwards, ano,her attack was meditated with 10,000 men, who advanced boldly, and drew up on an eminence ; but several shot from the fort dispersed them. They then sued for peace, but only with the view of laying a snare for the French. Accordingly, an assault by 10,000 blacks in the night was projected, under the command of the chief of the province. It was fortunately anticipated, and the whole army retired. The French then commenced vigorous hostilities, and carried devastation throughout the pro vince, till peace was once more demanded by the Ro bandri and Lahovits; and the whole country, after several chiefs were killed, became tributary to the Fort.
The province of Anossi was next invaded by a neigh bouring chief, who endeavoured to burn two of the principal villages. Having killed many of the natives, pillaged their huts, and destroyed their plantations, he was himself surprised, and his head cut off, and sent to the Fort as a proof of allegiance.
In the year 1655, Fort-Dauphin was accidentally burnt in firing a salute for the reception of a new governor, and was not re-established until 1663. During that interval,
the French had lost all influence with the natives of Anossi, and the affairs of the colony wore an unpromis ing aspect. Some radical defects in its rules and consti tution constantly opposed that influence, which a colony of intelligent Europeans ought to have possessed with the inhabitants of such a country. By the skill and ex ertions, however, of Le Vacher, (more commonly called La Case,) a native of Rochelle, employed by the go vernor, it again began to flourish. He married the daughter of a Rochandrian chief, who became ena moured of him, and who, on the death of her father, was declared sovereign of the tribe. Thenceforward he retired among the natives, among whom he endeavour ed to promote the interests of his country. He recon ciled the hostile chiefs to them, provided them with provisions, and found means to victual a small fleet be longing to the East India Company. The imprudence of the French still became conspicuous ; their govern ment was weakened by internal divisions, and themselves enfeebled by the effects of the climate. In these cir cumstances, tranquillity was of short duration. The Anossi were loaded with contributions, which, added to the indiscreet zeal of a missionary, in endeavouring to force a change of their ancient customs, produced a bloody war. The governor ravaged the province, killed the inhabitants, not even sparing women and children, and burnt their villages. One attack by 700 French and 600 natives was unsuccessful; they were repulsed by a warlike chief; and the governor, humiliated by his defeat, resolved to abandon the settlement. His depar ture was followed by the death of La Case, and also by that of M. Chamargon, whom he had first superseded, and who now remained in his place. Another command ant, aware of the impossibility of maintaining the colony united, amidst the constant troubles and disputes that prevailed, embarked for Surat with his family. But scarcely had the vessel prepared to sail, when the exas perated natives rose on the French who remained be hind, and massacred them.
In the year 1725, a new settlement, on improved prin ciples, was projected by M. Robert, to be established in Anossi. It was supposed to be an advantageous place for traffic; that Fort-Dauphin could be preserved at a very small expense ; and that the numerous products of the province could not fail to be of infinite utility to the mother country ; whence, although the plan was not then put in execution, M. Modave, in 1768, again took possession of the government. But his success was not equal to the public expectation. Different causes were assigned for this, of which the best founded is said to have been a defect in the constitution or the settlement, opposing those commercial principles which could alone ensure the subsistence of a profitable trade. Nothing important in the subsequent history of this province is known.—See Dapper's Description D'4frique, p. 429 433. (c)