{ 



AT MAURITIUS. 523 



storms — winds charged with opposite kinds of elec- 

 tricity and blowing in opposite directions — appeared 

 to account satisfactorily for the occurrence of hurri- 

 canes in the Pacific, where there are no conti- 

 nents or chains of mountains to produce them and 

 guide their courses. 



As so much has been already written about this 

 interesting island, the Mauritius, and as, moreover, 

 space forbids, 1 do not here make use of the mass 

 of information with which Mr. Thorn has kindly 

 furnished me, respecting its history and resources, 

 and the subject of Coolie labour ; but on some 

 future occasion I may be able to lay it before the 

 public. 



During my stay at Port Louis I received much 

 hospitality, particularly from the family of Colonel 

 Staveley, Commander of the Forces, which I take 

 this opportunity of acknowledging. 



We sailed from the Mauritius on the lOth of 

 June, and on the following day passed about 

 20 miles south-east of the Island of Bourbon. It 

 resembles a large cone emerging from the water ; 

 and its features are strikingly different from those of 

 the Mauritius ; the outline is not softened by lux- 

 uriant vegetation, but is sudden and steep and mas- 

 sive. Southerly and westerly winds brought us in 

 sight of Madagascar on the 16th, and on the same 

 evening, aided by a southerly current of 2 knots an 

 hour, we were just able to weather its S. E. extreme. 

 The features of this great island that were pre- 

 sented to our view approached the Alpine, and from 



