L60 



SUGAR. 



Mauritius. In the year 1813 the exports of sugar from this 

 island were but 549,465 Ibs., and increasing gradually to 128,476,547 

 Ibs. in 1849, or two-hundred fold in thirty-six years. 



The equalisation of the duties in 1825, and the admission 

 of Mauritius sugars into England on the same footing as those 

 from the "West Indies, had the effect of stimulating the sugar 

 trade of Mauritius, and advancing it to its present remarkable 

 success. Notwithstanding its immense crops, scarcely more than 

 three-fifths of the island is yet under cultivation ; but it has the 

 advantage of a cheap and abundant supply of labor, and much 

 improved machinery has been introduced. The planters first com- 

 menced introducing Coolies in 1835, and were for some time 

 restricted to the single port of Calcutta for their supply. 



The recent advices from Mauritius furnish some interesting in- 

 formation regarding the progress making in the sugar production 

 of that colony. In reference to the cultivation of the cane, it 

 is stated that by the introduction of guano upon several estates 

 in the interior, the production has been very largely increased ; 

 but as the value and economy of manure has not been hitherto 

 sufficiently estimated, its introduction has not been so general 

 as could be desired. The importance of free labor to the cul- 

 tivation of the estates, has now become fully appreciated by the 

 planters ; it being found that an equal amount of work can be 

 obtained by this means from a less number- of hands, and that at 

 lower rates of wages than were current in previous years, the 

 average of which is shown in the following table : 



In 1826, to make from 25 to 30,000,000 Ibs. of sugar, it required 

 30,000 laborers (slaves) ; at the present time, with less than 

 45,000 (from which number fully 5,000 must be deducted as 



