THE MALABAES, AND NATIVES. 267 



One of the suburbs of Port Louis is settled 

 principally by these people, -who live contentedly 

 on their small means when they once regain their 

 liberty. A walk through Malabar town about 

 sunset, when the heat of the day is relieved by 

 the cool evening breezes, will give one a much 

 more favorable idea of the Hindoos than will be 

 gotten from the accounts of their English mas- 

 ters. Here each family gathers about the door 

 of its hut and listens to songs, or the music of the 

 mandolin, the women talking, the men silently 

 smoking their narghilly or hubble-bubble. Maid- 

 ens dance upon the green sward, and little naked 

 children play about the doors. All is a scene of 

 quiet, peaceful enjoyment, which will convince 

 any one that, indolent as these people doubtless 

 are, and intractable as they are said to be on the 

 plantation, when left to themselves they are inof- 

 fensive, and have the elements for making of them 

 good citizens. 



The black natives of the island do not bear so 

 good a character. They are exceedingly lazy, and 

 much inclined to rowdyism and thieving. They 

 are not numerous, at least about Port Louis. The 

 better class of them work as stevedores on board 

 the vessels, or are engaged as porters and labor- 

 ers on shore. An inconsiderable number sail in 

 the country vessels. 



The Chinese, as mentioned in an account of my 

 first visit to this place, are the most thrifty of 

 the lower classes. They are seldom laborers, but 



