16
In 1691, François Leguat, a Frenchman, went
to Rodrigues. He settled with his friends at the
mouth of Grande Rivière near Port Mathurin.
They built some huts with the trunks and leaves
of the latanier palm. They grew vegetables for
food. Food was in abundance.
They ate vegetables, fruits, eggs, birds and
seafood. They even made arrack from latanier
palms to drink.
They spent their time cultivating their gardens,
maintaining their huts, shing, hunting and
playing different games.
François Leguat kept a diary in which he
wrote about and drew animals and plants
found on the island.
One interesting bird was the Solitaire.
As its name indicates, this bird did not like
company. It became extinct like the dodo.
In the beginning, Leguat and his friends were
happy on the island. The environment was
pleasant. The climate was mild. Nobody fell ill.
But they were worried. No ships came to bring
goods for them. No other people came to settle.
They nally left the island in 1693.
1.7 The First Settlers in Rodrigues
Source: A. Grihault
pic. 14 the SOLITAIRE
ACTIVITY 1.7
Refer to the picture
(Pic.15) and gure (Fig.2).
Answer the questions
given on next page.
fig. 2 Plan of Leguat’s Settlement
Source: A.Grihault
pic. 15 PALM LEAF
ACTIVITY 1.7 continued
1. a) Why did François Leguat and his friends settle at the mouth of Grande Rivière?
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b) Circle some latanier palms shown on Figure 2.
c) Name two uses of the latanier palm.
d) What else can you see around the huts?
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2.When François Leguat was in Rodrigues, food was in abundance.
Name some food items.
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3.François Leguat wrote in his diary during his stay:
‘Not one of us was sick during the two years we remained there.’
Can you say why?
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4.Write two sentences to explain why François Leguat and his friends left Rodrigues in 1693.
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