1:52 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS- 
employ hounds in taking them. The inhabitants had already remarked, that each kind 
of animal had its season. That of the hogs and goats began in the month of June, 
and lasted till January. The pigeons descended from the mountains in the month 
of November, and were excellent to the month of May, when they again sought 
their retreats: these animals were indeed equally good throughout the year, but at 
particular seasons they found in the flat countries certain food which served to 
fatten and render them more delicate.” 
Account of the Isle of Bourbon, from the Discovery of it by the Portuguese .* 
<c The Isle of Bourbon was without inhabitants, and consequently without culti¬ 
vation, but the coast abounded in fish j and land turtles were every where seen of 
a prodigious size. In the early part of the settlement the colonists lived on fish, 
turtle, rice, potatoes, and yams. They denied themselves butcher’s meat, as it was 
of the utmost importance that they should increase their cattle and sheep. 
44 As soon as the season became favourable, they planted sugar canes, and sowed 
corn. The first harvest surpassed their hopes; and this little colony was considered 
as established, with an assurance of encreasing prosperity. The life of the ancient 
patriarchs does not offer a more faithful picture of that happiness which is always 
inseparable from man, when he lives under a serene and fruitful climate, in a state 
of labour and innocence. 
44 The inhabitants of Bourbon extracted a fermented liquor from the sugar cane, 
a process which they had learned from the islanders of Madagascar. It is prefer¬ 
able to the best cyder of Normandy, though it will not keep twenty-four hours 
after its fermentation. 
“ The small number of cattle and sheep, which had been transported from Mada¬ 
gascar to Bourbon, encreased and multiplied. These animals found in the woods, 
with which this island is covered, a shelter from the burning sun of the torrid zone. 
They fed on a succulent grass, and appeared to take delight in the extensive savan¬ 
nahs, whose productions are similar to those of the island from whence they came. 
44 When the inhabitants had secured the means of subsistence, by a right system 
of agriculture, a principal and fruitful source of the riches of man, they entertained 
* As it is our object to make this account of the Isle of Bourbon as complete as possible, we 
shall add all the information that could be obtained, subsequent to the period of Baron Grant. 
