85 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
This rocky mountain is i'n the first place covered with a thin crust, which is 
easily removed; but the most singular circumstance of it is, that the upper part is 
covered with a bed of vegetable earth, from two feet and an half to three feet thick, 
which likewise encloses round stones, similar to those already mentioned as covering 
the face of the island. This bed of earth appears to form a rich soil, which affords 
a plentiful nourishment to the beautiful trees that spring from it. 
The top of the mountain of Pouce forms a level, which is steep on every side, and 
is not less than a league and an half in circumference. This piece of ground has a 
very gentle declivity on the side of the Ance Courtois, and then rises insensibly to the 
foot of the Pouce, which possesses a much higher elevation, and is an entire rock. 
This level spot is covered with very fine wood, as has already been noticed. A 
road has been begun on this mountain, to shorten the road from the port to the 
quarter of Moka, which is directly behind it. 
On this flat there are three small and very shallow rivers, which, running over 
the bare rock, fall into the Ance Courtois. Very little labour on the side of the 
port, would render this spot an impregnable situation, which might be defended by 
stones only.—M. de la Bourdonnais, the founder of the Isle of France, had pro¬ 
jected to form it into a redoubt, or secure place of retreat. The small rivulets which 
water it would be an invaluable resource, as an enemy could not turn their course; 
and if the streams should not be sufficiently abundant, reservoirs might be contrived 
to remedy the deficiency. Great care also should be taken of the woods, which 
protect these rivulets from the heat of the sun, and prevent them, probably, from 
being frequently dried up, as they appear to be supplied by the rains and moisture 
of the situations. Besides, if the woods were to be cleared away, there would be 
danger of losing the soil, which, no longer connected and kept together by the 
roots, &c. would slide off into the Ance Courtois. 
The way from the interior part of the harbour to this spot, is through fragments 
of the mountain, confusedly intermingled with large pieces of rock, and across hil¬ 
locks which are formed by them. 
The soil of the Field of Mars, and at the extremity of the harbour, is composed 
of a bed of rich clay mixed with flints; beneath which, it is probable, there are 
the same kind of rocks as are seen in the town, and at the entrance of the plain. 
Two small rivers which traverse this plain, skirting the mountain of La Decou- 
verte, discover that the earth in this part has no solidity, being composed only of 
