_Music, Poetry, Architecture, and other Arts and Sciences of the Indians_ 364 CHAP. XI. _Medicine and Botany of the Indians_ 401 CHAP. XII. _Author’s Voyage to Europe--Some Account of the Island of Ceylon_ 424 CHAP. XIII. _The Author’s Voyage to Europe continued--Short Account of the Isles of France and Bourbon, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Island of Ascension._ 437 ERRATA. Page 28, last line, for _Krishavaram_, read _Krishnavaram_. 56, sixth line from the top, for _Condur_, read _Coudur_. 64, third line from the bottom, for _Tindacalla_, read _Tindacolla_. 125, first line, for _Clagnil_, read _Elagnil_. A VOYAGE TO THE EAST INDIES. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. _Arrival at Puduceri (Pondichery)--Coast of Coromandel--Going on shore--Capuchins--Jesuits--Description of the City--Its trade--Fortifications--White ants--Bitter drops--Error of the heathens in regard to Christianity._ The ship _l’Aimable Nannette_, commanded by Captain Berteaud, in which I sailed from l’Orient, arrived in the road of _Puduceri_[3] on the 25th of July 1776, after a tedious passage of six months and as many days. Our patience was, therefore, almost exhausted; and we longed not a little to set our feet once more upon dry ground. We directed our anxious looks towards the shore over the blue waves, and flattered ourselves with the hopes of reaching it that evening[4]: but, as the duration of the twilight is exceedingly short in India, night suddenly overtook us, disappointed the accomplishment of our wishes, and spread her dusky veil over both sea and land. At sun-rise next morning we saluted the citadel of _Puduceri_ with eleven guns; a compliment which the garrison returned with nine, and at the same time hoisted the French flag.