VISIT TO THE COURT OF THE HOVAS. 137 
He is of short stature, spare figure, has grey hair, 
a keen eye, and martial bearing, and at once gives 
one the idea of great bodily and mental vigour; 
and although he has never been beyond the 
borders of his country, he has the manners of a 
polished and well-bred gentleman. He is exceed¬ 
ingly desirous of obtaining information from all 
sources as to the customs and usages of foreign 
countries, and especially as to the way in which 
social and commercial problems, such as educa¬ 
tion and the collection of the revenue, are worked 
out amongst European nations. He complained 
bitterly of the forcible importation of rum into 
the island against his wishes, and of the terrible 
devastation the spirit was working amongst his 
people. The sale of intoxicants by white traders 
was, he said, weakening and debasing the youth 
of the country; and, as far as his Government was 
concerned, it would gladly prohibit the admission 
of a single bottle into the island, but the British 
Government would not allow this. We think it 
rather hard upon these people that they should 
have no control whatever over this matter of 
strictly domestic policy; but as a considerable 
revenue is reaped yearly in the Mauritius from 
this rum-trade, of course there are conflicting 
interests, and the question becomes difficult and 
complicated. And so the same vessels which 
take over the cases of Bibles and parties of 
