CHAP. III. ATTRACTIVE NOVELTIES AT PORT LOUIS. 53 



signal mountain. The aspect of these several localities indi- 

 cates the widely different classes comprised in the population 

 of Port Louis, and at the same time imparts an agreeable 

 variety to the prospect. 



But it is chiefly on landing that a scene peculiarly novel 

 and striking meets the eye of a stranger from Europe. On 

 the custom-house quay all is activity and bustle, even in the 

 hottest part of the day. Gangs of Coolies are toiling, and 

 sing in a low monotonous tone, as they empty the barges or 

 lighters that lie along the edge of the wharf, and deposit 

 their contents under large sheds on the shore. Weighers are 

 busy at the public scales ; clerks, and custom-house officers, 

 and merchants or traders of India or Europe, Arabs, Parsees, 

 English, French, Mauritian and Chinese, all in their dis- 

 tinctive costumes, may be met with there, some with the 

 high-crowned hat and stiff angular dress of the European, 

 others in the loose flowing white robe and turban of India or 

 Arabia, — most of the former, and some of the latter, seeking 

 protection from the fierce rays of the sun under large um- 

 brellas. 



On the outside of the custom-house premises numbers of 

 muleteers with their carts may be seen during the greater 

 part of the day waiting to be hired, while others within are 

 loading or removing the goods on which the dues have been 

 paid. Most of the labourers about the wharves and ware- 

 houses are either Coolies or Chinamen. The latter appear 

 generally more robust and hardy than the former, yet both 

 are employed in working all day under the scorching sun 

 without appearing to suffer inconvenience. There are upwards 

 of 10,000 Indians in Port Louis, and an equal number of ex- 

 apprentices. In 1851, the whole population of Port Louis 

 was about 50,000, but it has probably much increased since 

 that time. 



The same activity characterises the business parts of the 



E 3 



