SUGAB. 



151 



absent from work from various causes), 135,000,000 lbs. are pro- 

 duced, or about five times the quantity under slavery. The coolies 

 are found to be an intelligent race, who have become inured to 

 the work required, and by whose labor this small island can pro- 

 duce the fifth part of the consumption of the United Kingdom, 

 and that with only about 7U,000 acres under cane cultivation. 

 About 10,000 male immigrants, introduced since 1843, are not 

 now working under engagement, but are following other occupa- 

 tions, and thus become permanent consumers. Some cultivate land 

 on a small scale, on their own account, but very few plant canes, 

 as it requires from eighteen to twenty months before they obtain 

 any return for their labor ; but the most important fact established 

 by this and other official statements is, that only a small number 

 of immigrants leave the colony at the expiration of their indus- 

 trial residence. In the manufacture of sugar from the cane, con- 

 siderable improvement has been eff'ected by the introduction of 

 new methods of boiling and grinding. The vacuum pan and the 

 system of Wetsell are all tending to economise the cost of pro- 

 duction, and to save that loss which for years amounted, in grind- 

 ing alone, to nearly one-third of the juice of the cane. The 

 planters begin to find that they can increase the value of their 

 sugar 30 to 40 per cent, by these improvements, and that their 

 future prosperity depends upon carrying them out. Unfortu- 

 nately, however, here, as in many other of our colonies, a very 

 large number of planters do not yet appreciate the advantages to 

 be obtained by the adoption of improved machinery and manu- 

 facture, or by improved cultivation, and still struggle on under the 

 old system of waste and negligence, which can only result in the 

 ruin and destruction of their property. 



In 1827, the number of sugar estates in operation in Mauritius, 

 were 49 worked by water power, 50 by cattle or horses, and 22 by 

 steam — total 111 ; in 1836, this number had increased to 186, viz. 

 — 64 moved by water power, 10 by horse, and 112 by steam. 

 In 1839, the number was 211, of which 138 were worked by steam 

 power — 70,292 acres were then under cultivation with sugar. 

 There are now about 490 sugar estates, whereof ordy 231 have 

 mills — 42 are worked by water power, the rest by steam. 



The annual Maiu-itius crops, as exported, for the last ten years, 

 have been as foUows. The shipments frequently extend beyond 

 a year, hence a discrepancy sometimes between the year's crop and 

 the year's export : — 



Tons, 



1842— 43 .. .. .. .. 24,400 



1843— 44 .. .. .. .. .. 28,600 



1844— 45 . . . . . . . . . . 37,600 



1845— 46 .. .. .. .. .. 49,100 



1846— 47 .. .. .. .. .. 64,100 



1847— 48 .. .. .. .. .. 59,021 



1848— 49 .. .. .. .. 50,782 



1849— 50 .. .. .. .. 51,811 



1850— 51 .. .. .. .. .. 65,000 



1851— 52 ., .. .. .. .. 65,080 



