284 MAURITIUS. 



geographical miles across, in the line of its shorter 

 axis. The exterior bounding mountains come into 

 that class of structures called Craters of Elevation, 

 which are supposed to have been formed, not like 

 ordinary craters, but by a great and sudden up- 

 heaval. There appears to me to be insuperable 

 objections to this view : on the other hand, I can 

 hardly believe, in this and some other cases, that 

 these marginal crateriform mountains are merely 

 the basal remnants of immense volcanoes, of which 

 the summits either have been blown oft', or swal- 

 lowed up in subterranean abysses. 



From our elevated position we enjoyed an ex- 

 cellent view over the island. The country on this 

 side appears pretty well cultivated, being divided 

 into fields, and studded with farm-houses. I was, 

 however, assured, that of the whole land, not more 

 than half is yet in a productive state ; if such be 

 the case, considei'ing the present large export of 

 sugar, this island, at some future period, when 

 thickly peopled, will be of great value. Since 

 England has taken possession of it, a period of 

 only twenty-five years, the export of sugar is said 

 to have increased seventy-five fold. One great 

 cause of its prosperity is the excellent state of the 

 roads. In the neighbouring Isle of Bourbon, which 

 remains under the French government, the roads 

 are still in the same miserable state as they were 

 here only a few years ago. Although the French 

 residents must have largely profited by the in- 

 creased prosperity of their island, yet the English 

 government is far from popular. 



3d. — In the evening. Captain Lloyd, the Survey- 

 or-general, so well known from his examination of 

 the Isthmus of Panama, invited Mr. Stokes and 

 myself to his country-house, which is situated on 

 the edge of Wilheim Plains, and about six miles 



