— 107 — 
3. ISo means being taken for their protection they have 
become extinct in nearly all these islands, and Aldabra is 
now the only locality where the last remains of this animal 
lonn are known to exist in a state of nature. 
1. AYe have been informed that the Government of Mau- 
ritius have granted a concession of Aldabra to parties who in- 
tend to cut the timber on this island. If this project be car- 
ried out, or if otherwise the island be occupied, it is to be 
feared, nay certain, that all the Tortoises remaining in 
this limited area will be destroyed by the workmen em- 
ployed. 
5. AVe would, therefore, earnestly submit it to the con- 
sideration of Your Excellency whether it would not be prac- 
ticable that the Government of Mauritius should cause as 
many of these animals as possible to lie collected before the 
wood cutting parties or others land with the view of their 
being transferred to the Mauritius or the Seyclxelle Islands, 
where they might be deposited in some enclosed ground or 
park belonging to the Government, and protected as property 
of the Colony. 
G. In support of the statements above made and the 
plan now submitted to the Mauritius Government the follow- 
ing passages may be quoted from Grant’s “ History of Mau- 
ritius.” (1801, 4) : 
P. 194. “ AYe (in Mauritius) possess a great abundance 
of both Land and Sea Turtle which are not only a great re- 
source for the supply of our ordinary wants, but serve to bar- 
ter with the crews of ships.” 
P. 100. “ The best production of Kodriguez is the 
