Voyage et Avantures de Francois Leguat & de ses Compagnons en deux Isles desertes des Indes Orientales

Leguat was a French Huguenot who had fled France to Holland after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. One Marquis du Quesne had first considered Reunion as a possible colony for Huguenots, but after the French took that over, he fitted out a small frigate, L'Hirondelle to reconnoitre the Mascarene islands, and to take possession of whatever island was found unoccupied, for that purpose. In 1690 Leguat and nine male volunteers boarded L'Hirondelle for Reunion which they believed had been abandoned by the French. Instead he and seven companions were marooned on the uninhabited island of Rodrigues. After a year, they built a boat and sailed to Mauritius, where they were imprisoned due to France and Holland being at war. After lengthy imprisonment, the survivors were shipped to Jakarta to stand trial. They were found innocent, and Leguat and two other survivors were returned to England. A classic tale of travel, survival and adversity.

In contemporary calf, but books have been re-backed with parts of the original backstrips laid down rather unsuccessfully. Almost nothing of the gilt and titling remains. However, the textblocks and numerous plates and maps, all folding, are in good condition, except for a little browning here and there. There are numerous ownerships in ink on endpapers and title pages. Although the book is in French, it is the first edition printed in England. An uncommon book in this edition.