92 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
The following Account of the Isles of France and Bourbon , has been given by 
M. le Gentil. 
<f There are, properly speaking, no diseases in the Isle of France; that is to say, 
in the plantations; for at the north-west port, the scurvy sometimes makes its ap¬ 
pearance. The south-east one, on the contrary, is very wholesome, and persons 
afflicted with scorbutic complaints are sent there in order to be cured. The inha¬ 
bitants however prefer the smaller and less healthy, to the other,'which is among 
the finest harbours in the world. 
‘'The Isle of France may, therefore, be considered as a very happy climate; 
and the Isle of Bourbon seems to be still superior for the salubrity and softness of 
the air : nor have I ever known a place in which affability, social cheerfulness, or 
hospitality, were more prevalent than in the Island of Bourbon. 
“ The lands in the Isle of France bear a larger proportion of annual produce 
than those of France; they do not however lay fallow, nor are they manured. 
They appear very dry, poor, and arid; and the vegetables draw all the nourishment 
from the water and the air. In fact, with a certain quantity of water and propor¬ 
tion of heat, the most sandy soil will become productive; which is proved by those 
small rocky,islands scattered through the seas of the torrid zone, and covered with 
woods of the brightest verdure. The land of the Isle of France is of a dark red, 
and mixed with ferruginous matter. The sand of the ravines and rivers is the sand 
of a mine ; that of the sea-shore is calcareous; and in the year 1770, the Governor, 
who had been persuaded by a private person then inhabiting the island, that he 
would produce crystal glasses equal to those of France, some advances were made 
towards such a manufacture. The object of such a branch of commerce would be 
to supply the Indies. 
The manioc flourishes in the Isle of France, and the finest grow at Pample- 
mousses, and the Long mountain : it remains eighteen, months in the ground before 
it is fit; for use, and then it is as thick as a man’s leg. 
“ The maize is very successful: it requires a considerable quantity of water and 
heat, so; that the season of the north-east wind agrees with it the best. The district 
of Flacqj which is a quarry of rocks, produces the. finest. Such a soil is not favour¬ 
able to corn; the inhabitants, therefore, clear away the smallest stones, and plant 
maize in the places which they occupied, where it is found to luxuriate, and grow 
