572 



MAUR]TIUS. 



May, 1836. 



intermediate between that of the Galapagos and Tahiti. 

 This is a very exact comparison ; but it will convey a definite 

 idea to few, excepting to those who were on board the Beagle. 

 It is a very pleasant country, but it has not the charms 

 of Tahiti, or the grandeur of a Brazilian landscape. 



The next day T ascended La Pouce, a mountain so called 

 from a thumb-like projection, which rises close behind the 

 town to a height of 2600 feet. M. Lesson, in the voyage 

 of the Coquille, has stated, that the central plain of the 

 island appeared like the basin of a grand crater, and that La 

 Pouce and the other mountains once formed parts of a 

 connected wall. From our elevated position we enjoyed an 

 excellent view over this great mass of volcanic matter. The 

 country on this side of the island appears pretty well cul- 

 tivated, the whole being divided into fields, and studded 

 with farm-houses. I was however assured, that of the whole 

 land not more than half is yet in a productive state ; if such 

 is the case, considering the present great export of sugar, 

 this island, at some future period when thickly peopled, will 

 be of very great value. Since England has taken possession 

 of it, a period of only twenty-five years, the export of sugar 

 is said to have increased seventy-five fold. 



One great cause of this prosperity is due to the excellent 

 roads and means of communication throughout the island. 

 At the present day, in the neighbouring Isle of Bourbon, 

 which remains under the French government, the roads are 

 in the same miserable state as they were only a few years 

 past in this place. The Macadamizing art has, perhaps, 

 been of even greater advantage to the colonies, than to the 

 mother country. Although the French residents must have 

 largely profited by the increased prosperity of their island, 

 yet the English government is far from popular. It is 

 unfortunate that there appears to exist scarcely any inter- 

 course among the higher orders of French and English. 



May 3d. — In the evening Captain Lloyd, the Surveyor- 

 general, so well known from his examination of the Isthmus 

 of Panama, invited Mr. Stokes and myself to his country- 



