HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
109 
heats of the Summer are very much moderated; as, at eight o’clock in the 
morning, a light north-east or north-wpst wind constantly rises, and gives such an 
agreeable freshness to the air, and such a temperature to the hottest season, that 
the whole year appears to be one continual spring or autumn; as it is never too 
cold to forbid the pleasure of bathing. The nights are mild and refreshing. It rains 
but very seldom; at least we never experienced rain but for a few weeks after the 
hurricane, in the months of January and February. Within an hour after the rain 
has fallen, the ground is sufficiently dry to admit of walking. The dews, which are 
abundant, supply the place of showers; and as for thunder, which is sometimes so 
tremendous in various parts of Europe, it is never heard in this tranquil abode. 
<f The island, as it has been already observed, consists of a succession of hills of 
various and pleasing shapes, which are covered with .flourishing trees, whose per¬ 
petual verdure offer the most pleasing scenery; and being seldom embarrassed with 
underwood, form delightful groves; which, while they afford a most refreshing shade, 
break the views, some of which embrace a large extent of ocean, into pleasing and 
magnificent prospects. The vallies that serpentine between the hills possess the 
finest soil in the world : it may be said to be entirely composed of decayed trees 
and leaves, which, being reduced to a kind of compost, are washed by time 
down thesides of the hills to enrich the vallies beneath them: this soil being very 
light, requires little or no culture, and is pregnant with fertility. 
. “ The vallies are shaded with different kinds of palms, the ebony, and various 
other trees, whose branches and foliage do not yield in beauty to those of the finest 
trees in Europe. In the bottom of these vallies there are streams of limpid water, 
which are plentifully supplied from perennial springs in the middle of the island; 
and had the course of these rivulets been expressly directed by the hand of art to 
water this little country, they could not have been contrived with better effect. 
But to their beauty, may be added the utility they afford to the spot, which they at 
once refresh and adorn. Seven water-falls may be seen at the same time tumbling 
down from the rocks into as many basons, and uniting to form one delightful stream. 
“ These waters abound with eels of a very extraordinary size and exquisite taste. 
Some of them were so large, that one was a heavy burthen for two men. As the 
streams are not deep, and perfectly transparent, these monstrous fish, which are seen 
crawling along the bottom, may be easily struck with an harpoon; though there 
was no occasion to employ any other means to take them than the hook; as the 
