80 — 
pecially in a tropical climate. Almost every pedestrian will 
stop at the stream to cool his feet, animals wade through the 
water and drink, &c. It is quite useless to stop and prevent 
all this, by passing laws which can never be enforced, for to 
put a stop to defilements of this nature would be impossible 
without almost as many Police Constables as there are inha- 
bitants. The very attempt at interference seems cruel, these 
streams are provided by nature for the benefit of all ; any in- 
terference with the reasonable use of the privilege, can only 
be at the expense of cleanliness health and comfort. 
We do not hear in other countries of prohibitions against 
bathing or washing in rivers. The reason is that when it is 
found that such pollutions have become (in consequence of 
increase of population) too common to allow of the water be- 
ing made use of for domestic purposes, another and an inde- 
pendent source of supply is sought for, and provided. The 
same course must evidently be followed in our own case. 
In Mauritius, the water for domestic purposes, must be sup- 
plied in populous parts of the Island, by means of canals or 
pipes, in connexion with reservoirs, as already described. 
Wells cari only be made use of to a limited extent, on account 
of the geological formation of the Island. 
The following conclusions seem to be established by what 
has been said : — 
1st. That forests are not indispensable to the maintenance 
of water supply. 
2nd. That it would be impolitic to attempt, and impracti- 
cable to secure tbe permanence of any great extent of forest 
in Mauritius. 
3rd. That the density of the population in many parts of 
the Island requires that means be adopted for supplying pure 
water, independently of the rivers and streams. 
These conclusions point to the establishment of reservoirs, 
and the extension of the Canal system, as the necessary and 
simple means of avoiding both present and prospective diffi- 
culties. 
Protective laws mightbc applied with vigour to preserve 
from waste or pollution the water of the reservoirs and ca- 
nals; but there would then be no need to prevent proprietors 
