Liil IS, ,MAlJl;mU':.^ 



CHAPTER XXI 



MAURITIUS T(J EXGLANII 



Mauritius, l)cautiful appearance of — Great crateriform ring of mountains — Hindoos — 

 St. Helena — History of the changes in the vegetation — Cause of the extinction of 

 land-shells — iVscensioii — Vaiiation in the imported rats — Volcanic bombs — Beds 

 of infusoria — Bahia, Itrazil — Splendour of tropical scenery — Pernambuco — 

 Singular reef — Slavery — Return to England — Retrospect on our voyage. 



April 2'jth. — In the morning \vc pas.sed round the northern 

 end of Mauritiu.s, or the Lsle of France. From this point of 

 view tlie aspect of the ishind equalled the expectations raised 

 by the many well-known descriptions of its beautiful scenery. 

 The sloping plain ol the I'ainplcmotisses, interspersed with 

 houses, and coloured b)' the large fields of sugar-cane of a 

 bright green, composed the fnicground. The brillirtnc)- of the 

 green was the more remarkable, because it is a cnlour which 

 generally is conspicuous onl)' from a very short distance. 

 Towards the centre of tlie island groups of wooded mountains 

 rose out of this Jiighly-cultivated plain ; their suminits, as so 

 cijinmonl)' hapijcns with ancient volcanic rocks, being jagged 



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