528 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE, [hie of France, $c. 



intricate. It is in latitude 20° 9' % longitude 57° 29' E. The principal 

 town, or as it is sometimes called the Camp, is chiefly composed of wooden 

 houses, which have only a ground floor, on account of the winds and heat ; 

 they are separated from each other, and surrounded with palisades ; the 

 streets are tolerably straight. The Government house is built entirely of 

 stone ; the place of arms and the parade are before the Governors house, 

 and the hospital is at the extreme point of the harbour. The town has no 

 regular fortifications ; but to the left of it, on looking towards the sea, there 

 is an entrenchment of stone. On the same side is Fort Blanc, which de- 

 fends the entrance ; and opposite to it, on the other side, is a battery on a 

 small island, called Tonneliers; and there are several other batteries 

 mounted with heavy cannon. 



The powder magazine is situated on a small island, which is connected 

 with the shore by a causeway, nearly opposite the Government house. This 

 causeway serves also for a quay, and it encloses a part of the great basin for 

 the refitting of vessels, and near it they take in their fresh water with the 

 greatest convenience. Here also is a curious machine, by which vessels are 

 lifted out of the water, so that they are cleaned and repaired with the 

 utmost expedition. 



Since the island has been ceded to the British Government, very consi- 

 derable improvements have been made in the capital, and great commercial 

 conveniences and facibties have been added to the port, consisting of roads, 

 canals, docks, and other marine establishments. 



The harbour of Port Louis is apt to get choked up ; so that vessels, 

 instead of taking in their cargoes in the Trou Fanfaron, have been obliged, 

 with great inconvenience and expence, to lay athwart that called La 

 Chaussee. 



Port Bourbon is the S. E. Port of the island, and situated in lati- 

 tude 20° 22' S. and longitude 57° 41' E. It is not much frequented ; being 

 on the windward side of the island, the trade-wind blowing in renders the 

 navigation out difficult, as the channels are narrow, and formed between 

 reefs. 



Trade. — The trade of this island has much increased since its annex- 

 ation to the British Crown, notwithstanding the heavy duties imposed upon 

 its sugar in England, but which are now reduced. Sugar forms the staple 

 article of produce ; the hurricanes to which the island is subject, having 

 baffled the attempts of the inhabitants to raise cloves, cotton, and coffee, to 

 the growth of which the soil is adapted, and which are of excellent quality. 

 The quantity of sugar produced here, under the French Government, was 

 estimated at five millions of pounds, (Frenrh) ; but since the cultivation of 



