An account of the island of Mauritius, and its dependencies

Late Official Resident

Sujets

• Mauritius

Informations

• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 19
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 10 Mo

Extrait

UC-NRLF
DSD$B Sfi
m
o
00
oL
/
(S.K.IJaftn-.
^]-.
S^k^J^C^---^^^.^^GIFT OF
JANE K.SATHERDigitized by the Internet Archive
in 2007 with funding from
Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/accountofislandoOOIaterich:
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
ISLAND OF MAURITIUS,
IBei^entrenrte^S^
BY A LATE OFFICIAL RESIDENT.
LONDON
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.
1842.London;
jones, printer, hosierj. 27, lane, west smithfieln.TO
The Right Honourable
LORD STANLEY,
Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs,
&c. &c. &c.
,
THIS
ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND OF MAURITIUS AND ITS
DEPENDENCIES, COMPILED FROM THE BEST
AUTHORITIES AND OBSERVATION,
FROM THE DISCOVERY TO THE PRESENT PERIOD,
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
BY
HIS lordship's
MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
LATE SUPERINTENDING SPECUL MAGISTRATE, AND
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, FOR THE PLAINES
WILHEMS, SECTION, OF PLAINES
;
WILHEMS, AND INA^OKiV,
THE ISLAND OF
MAURITRTs.
470590MY LORD,
Your Lordship having appointed me as a Special
for the Mauritius, I am indebted to thatMagistrate circumstance,
whatever knowledge or information I possess of the Colonyfor ;
and to you, therefore, I respectfully beg leave to dedicate this
account of the Island and its dependencies. It is a well known
British possessions, less isfact, that of all the known of the Mau-
than of any other of our Colonies andritius generally, ; when
National and Commercial consequence of the Island isthe vast
whether in reference to produce or her importantconsidered,
possessionsposition, in relation to our East India and Trade, is a
matter of surprize.
IslandShould this brief account of the and its dependencies
and add towardsmeet your Lordship's approval, the better
interesting possession, my object will beknowledge of this
attained.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
And very humble servant,
THE AUTHOR.
To the Right Honourable the Lord Stanley,
Secretary for the Colonial Department.———
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PASS
Discovery and Situation.—The Dutch the First Set-
tlers.—The Dutch Admiral named the Island
Mauritius.—The Island taken Possession of by
the French.—An Account of the French Settlers.
formally—The Island taken by the Chevalier
Fougery for the French East India Company.—
An English Armament sent against it, surrendered
and ceded to England 9,
CHAPTER II.
Appearance and general Description of the Island.
inSoil.—Difference of Climate the
Herbage or Pasture.-—The most remarkable Trees,
Plants, Fruits, &c 12
CHAPTER III.
The First Planters from the Island of Bourbon.
de laBourdonnais considered the first FounderM.
of the Colony.—Natives of Madagascar.—The
landing of them.—Conduct of a Master of a Ves-
related by Admiral Kempenfelt.—Charactersel as
of the Blacks in Slavery 19,,,.,,,,,•,•,•,•,•,•—
11 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
—Description of Port Louis. ^The Mountains.—Trade
of the Port with Australia, Bombay, Calcutta,
Cape of Good'Hope, British America, Bourdeux,
Marseilles, and Madagascar.^—Public Revenue.
alteration Duty itsThe of the upon Sugar and
effect.—Exports of Sugar.—- ofImports.—Number
Ships, and the Amount of Tonnage that entered
the Ports.—Tides, &c 25,
CHAPTER V.
The Ascent of Captain Lloyd, Lieut. Phillpotts, of the
29th Regiment, and Lieut. Taylor, to the top of
Peter Botte Mountain 33,.,.
CHAPTER VI.
The Government and Military , 44, , ,
CHAPTER VII.
Customs Duties.—Import Duties.—Entrepot Duties.
—Export Duties and Port Charges 45,
CHAPTER Vlll.
Currency.—Weights and Measures 52
CHAPTiER IX.
Remarks on the Climate.—General State of the
Weather throughout the Year.—The South-east
and North-east Winds.—Lunar Rainbows 54
CHAPTER X.
Marine Productions.*~Native Animals.—The great
Bat of Madagascar, Turtle, &c.. Locusts, The
Altropos, or Tete de Mort Butterfly, Caries or
Ant, Lizards, Gourami, Gold Fish ,,, 61