In 1764, on the Nouvelle Julie, four captives out of a cargo of 103 deserted. They used a knife to cut their shackles and were able to go on deck around  
midnight, entirely unobserved. ${ }^{1}$ Opportunism was a critical factor in these desertions. Negligence seemingly provided opportunities for desertion, as in 1741, when a Dutch guard fell asleep at the doors of the hut and the captives escaped into the scrub (Journal of the Brak, 19 October 1741. NA, VOC/2585). ${ }^{2}$ The Europeans encouraged local chiefs to recapture the escapees. In 1699, the slave deserter Simahahwohoets was returned to the Dutch by the Sakalava chief (Journal of the Peter and Paul, 2 November 1699. NA, VOC/4043) and, six years later, they recovered a deserter who had escaped by swimming (Journal of the Ter Aa, 16 October 1705. VOC/10812). In 1746, after a small boy escaped, the French 'threatened the chiefs to the effect that, if he were not returned, an adult would be taken by force' (Journal of the Anglesea, 23 August 1746. ANOM, COL, C2/273, p. 110).  
More frequently, financial compensation was paid out. In 1779, the French were required to pay 12 piastres to the local chief for the return of three captives who had deserted from the French receiving station (Letter from Souillac and Foucault to the Minister, Port Louis, 29 November 1779. ANOM, COL, C4/49, p. 278).