The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin Island

On July 31, 1761 , the Utile , a flute of the French East India Company, was shipwrecked on the island while carrying 160 slaves from Madagascar destined for Mauritius. There are many victims. The crew then leaves 80 slaves who survived the shipwreck on the island and returns to Madagascar in a makeshift boat, promising to come and look for them. This promise was never kept. Due to high winds, the island was carefully avoided at the time. Access is very difficult by sea: the island can only be reached by light boats when the trade winds weaken (April-May-October-November) ., November 29, 1776, that the Chevalier de Tromelin will recover eight surviving slaves: seven women and an eight-month-old child . The French flag was planted on the island, baptized “Tromelin” in homage to this knight.
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