evidence: Discover the Glorioso Islands, an archipelago within an archipelago, which consists of Grande Glorieuse to the south and Île du Lys… a true desert island. To be strictly accurate, the archipelago also includes two small islets which neighbour Grande Glorieuse, the aptly named Roches Vertes (Green Rocks) and Île aux Crabes (Crab Island). Four parcels of land protected by a lagoon which dries up at low tide. Some of the mariners who visited the Indies during the 16th century were doubtless aware of the existence of these islands, however, their histories did not begin until Hippolyte Caltaux came across them in 1879. He was the one who named these islands, in homage no doubt to the 1830 revolution which he wanted to honour in the faraway Indian Ocean. Copra from his coconut grove and guano from the Île du Lys was then traded along the trading routes until 1907.