Del infierno al edén. El viaje del marino Francisco Muñoz y San Clemente a la isla de Francia en 1787

Abstract

In January 1786 the first two ships from the Philippine’s Company sailed from Cadiz to the Philippines through the Cape of Good Hope under the command of the Navy officer Francisco Muñoz y San Clemente. They open up the new direct commercial route between Cadiz and Manila. During the return trip the captain had to take shelter en Port Louis, Ile de France (Mauritius). After his return to Cadiz he wrote an evocative account of the journey and about his expedition of the French colony, enriched with scientific remarks and his reflections about Philippine politics and trade, very useful for later navigations and for the future running of the Company.