OBSERVATIONS 
ON THE 
WATER SUPPLY OF MAURITIUS. 
The subject of Wood and Water has been much written 
and spoken about, but the question does not seem to have 
been yet exhausted. No great variety of opinion has been 
elicited on the subject ; most of those who have the want of a 
better supply of water have made up their minds that the 
Forests must be in one way or other preserved, yet the public 
opinion is far from being decided upon the manner in which 
this should be done, or as to the extent to -which the princi- 
ple which has been so generally admitted, should be carried 
out. 
In this, as in other cases, there are two sides to the ques- 
tion, and besides those who are calling out for more water* 
there are many who are wishing for more sugar. On one side 
of the question are those who connect the destruction of Fc 
ests with the cessation of rain, and on the other side those (who 
perhaps happen to be proprietors of Forest lands fit for culti- 
vation), who are anxious to clear and plant canes, either dis- 
believing or disregarding the popular theory of the connexion 
between the existence of Forests and the fall of rain. 
The object of the following observations, is to bring toge- 
ther some of the considerations bearing upon the question of 
water supply ; in the hope that some help, however slight, 
may be thereby given to the determination of the principle 
which should be our guide. 
