ACCOUNT OF THE ISLE OF FRANCE. 
557 
The proportion of slaves to white, and free people of 
colour, will be fully ten to one. Some have stated the num- 
ber of slaves to be seventy, others eighty thousand; it would 
appear, however, that these numbers are greatly exaggerated, 
and that fifty thousand may be considered as nearer the 
mark. Most of the slaves appear to be natives of Mada- 
gascar and Mosambique : the greater proportion are from 
the former island, and are generally considered more vala- 
able, on account of their activity, quickness of apprehension, 
and ready turn of mind in acquiring the French language ; 
they are also more easily taught trades, &c. The African 
slaves being more passive, are generally employed on planta- 
tions, and not unfrequently substituted in the place of beasts 
of burthen. All the merchandize landed at the Isle of 
France is put into large waggons or drays, to which are 
yoked from twelve to fourteen negroes, and they drag these 
waggons, heavily laden, to various magazines or stores sta- 
tioned in different parts of Port Louis. It has been stated 
that there are more than five hundred slaves who are set 
apart for, and are daily employed in, this degrading work. 
The greater pai t of the produce of the island is also trans- 
ported in this manner from the plantations in the interior to 
the principal port; and the attention and pity of the stranger 
are frequently arrested, to witness the distressing scene of 
females indiscriminately yoked with male slaves, to huge 
waggons, subject to the unmerciful control of a negro driver. 
The situation of a slave, in this quarter of the globe, is 
more humiliating and oppressive than in any other with 
which I am acquainted. The French are particularly nice 
in their distinctions ; for instance, no male or female slave, 
black or white, is permitted to wear shoes; and it is from 
the strict adherence to this petty law, that a free black or 
white person is distinguished from a slave. The French 
generally keep all people of colour at considerable distance, 
and treat them with decided contempt. Free blacks and peo- 
ple of colour are not permitted to reside in the centre of the 
town; they are obliged to take up then- residence at one of 
the extremities of Port Louis ; and those parts are distin- 
guished by the appellation of Malabar, or in other words. 
Black Town. 
It is hardly to be expected, that people cherishing such 
prejudices, can feel desirous of soothing the condition of 
those unfortunate slaves who are under their control. Indeed 
this wretched appearance of the great bulk of the slaves, 
