Not a great story of Tromelin Island
Could you survive for 15 years on a plate-sized island with nothing but crabs and sand? We are sure you could. Such a story has already happened: in the 18th century dozens of Malagasy slaves were able to live on a piece of uninhabited land in the middle of the ocean and even develop some kind of infrastructure.
Tromelin Island is located in the Indian Ocean, 450 kilometers east of Madagascar. It is just a patch of sand and coral in the middle of nowhere, a depressing sight.
This story took place in those distant times when France was a prosperous colonial empire. Starting from the 16th century, the country expanded its overseas possessions. King Henry IV sent expeditions to Canada, sent parties of colonists there. Cardinal Richelieu organized the construction of the fleet, provided great support to overseas trading companies. The French established their control over vast territories, trade grew; cotton, coffee, cocoa, and spices were brought from the colonies to the metropolis. Louis XIV's minister of finance, Colbert, founded the West India Company for the Atlantic Ocean and the East India Company for the Indian Ocean, and later other companies for overseas trade.
Slaves were brought from Africa to work on the plantations. Africans were traded by merchants from Nantes, Rouen, Bordeaux.
On November 17, 1760 the transport sailing ship "Useful" ("L`Utile") (it belonged to the Royal Navy, then was sold to the East India Company and was intended for trade in the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean) went from France, from the port of Bayonne, to Madagascar. It went for provisions: beef, rice, spices. But “L’Utile” was not destined to return to the home port. On July 31, 1761, the ship was wrecked near the Isle of Sand (as Tromelin was then called), 450 kilometers from Madagascar. There were 122 members of the French crew and, according to various sources, from 100 to 200 Malagasy slaves taken illegally for sale on the island of Ile-de-France on the ship.
Most of the slaves were unable to get out of the hold and perished in the shipwreck because "the hatches were closed," according to logbook entries preserved in the archives of the seaside city of Lorian. Those 60 slaves who were lucky enough to survive, along with 122 crew members, ended up on a desert island. But on what kind of island! In essence, it was a sandbar 1700 meters long and 700 wide, surrounded by coral reefs and overgrown with low shrubs - a convenient nesting place for birds and sea turtles.
The island was in the path of cyclones and was not rich in vegetation: large trees could not withstand the onslaught of strong winds. Fortunately, fresh water was found on the island, which gave hope for survival.
Two months later, the French managed to build a small boat, and they set off, promising the slaves to return for them, but they did not keep their promises. Having reached Ile-de-France, the members of the French crew turned to the local authorities with a request to save the slaves, but they refused. And soon everyone forgot about the slaves.
In 15 years, a French military ship sailed past the island under the leadership of Bernard de Tromelin (this piece of land was named after him). Sailors spotted and rescued the last survivors. There were 7 women and one newborn. They were taken to Mauritius and given freedom.
All this time the slaves survived miraculously. They ate crabs, mollusks and turtles, walked in loincloths made of bird feathers and collected rainwater in copper utensils found on a sunken ship. The Malagasy even built coral houses and a communal oven here. In 2006, an archaeological expedition was sent to Tromelin, which confirmed that once life was in full swing here: the slaves were able to squeeze everything possible out of the island.
Now there is a weather station that monitors the direction of the winds in the Indian Ocean. France and Mauritius are still arguing for the right to own this piece of land. However, it is unlikely that anyone other than archaeologists needs it at all.
