10 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



place, where the interests of the ruling power are large and homogeneous ; since selfishness is a 

 more controlling and a more universally prevalent motive than philanthropy or benevolence, 

 even if it were in all cases benevolent to emancipate. When liberation occurs under different 

 conditions, disaster, and ruin, and a long train of evils ensue to all parties. 



The cultivation of the cane is performed almost wholly by manual labor. A gentleman, six- 

 teen years a resident of the island, states that "he only knows one estate where the plough 

 could be used in the whole of Mauritius." This is owing to the great numbers of loose rocks 

 or boulders lying scattered over the surface, in its original state. At present, these stones 

 have been, by long and tedious labor, collected into rows or dikes, similar to rough stone 

 fencing. And these dikes, in many places, are really surprising to behold, from their number, 

 length, and proximity to one another, as also for the large size of the stones of which they are 

 composed. The rows are three or four feet apart, varying in completeness from a mere line of 

 detached rocks to well-built continuous dikes of two, three, or four feet in height. Their 

 bases being wide, the interval of bare earth between them is very narrow. It is here that the 

 ratoons (cane-cuttings) are planted. The labor of first clearing a field in this manner must be 

 enormous ; but, after being so prepared, such fields are preferred by planters above all others, as 

 requiring less labor to keep the canes free from grass, and as suffering less from droughts; the 

 thick covering of stones keeping the earth cool and moist continually, and also from a belief 

 that the juice from such lands is richer in saccharine matter. A field of this sort, when in 

 growing cane, looks like a bare and barren surface of rocks, the cane being invisible ; but when 

 nearly full-grown, it presents one uniform appearance of waving verdure, not unlike a dense 

 field of our own noble Indian corn. The yield is very considerable; the above authority 

 stating that "5,000 lbs. of sugar is a good average crop." 



I am unable to enter into the details of culture, and perhaps they are not specially interest- 

 ing ; but it may be added, that besides guano, other manures are used, and particularly the 

 ashes of the cane-stalks used as fuel for steam-engines upon the several estates. 



A party from our ship was entertained by the proprietors of one of these estates, and we thus 

 had an opportunity of observing its arrangements. The cane was being carried in wagons, on 

 light, open-framed bodies, drawn by mules. The sugar-house was very extensive. Here 

 the cane was undergoing all the processes, from heavy pressure in the steam-engine to the 

 evaporation of the juice in pans, and its formation into sugar. The engine was a fine one, and 

 was heated by brush-wood, assisted by the pressed desiccated cane-stalks. Fuel appeared to be 

 scarce ; and, in connexion with this, it may be remarked, that far more interest seemed to be taken 

 in the success of Ericsson's caloric engine in Mauritius than in the United States. This fact 

 indicates how alive the parties are to every incident bearing upon their particular interest. 



It cannot be stated whether it is generally the case, but where we were the dwelling of the 

 proprietor was small and unpretending in comparison with the magnitude of the sugar-house 

 and the extent and value of the estate. In it we were received and entertained with an open- 

 handed and generous hospitality, which will be long remembered. 



Mauritius formerly possessed large numbers of neat cattle, probably sufficient for its con- 

 sumption; but recently a fatal epidemic, the cause of which is unknown, has destroyed nearly 

 all of this species of stock. It is now mainly dependent for its beef-cattle upon importations 

 from Madagascar. 



