156 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
“ At the same period, the colony reckoned fifty-seven thousand eight hundred 
and fifty-eight animals, not one of which was engaged in the service of agriculture, 
except two thousand eight hundred and ninety horses, which were employed for dif¬ 
ferent purposes; the rest were reserved for the sustenance of the inhabitants. 
“ At this time the produce of the harvest rose to five millions four hundred and 
forty-one thousand quintals of corn; to three millions one hundred and ninety-one 
thousand four hundred and forty tons of rice; to twenty-two millions four hundred 
sixty-one thousand and eight barrels of maize. The principal part of these produc¬ 
tions was consumed in the island itself; the remainder formed a supply for the Isle 
of Franee. 
" The colony at that period cultivated for the mother country, eight millions four 
hundred and ninety-three thousand coffee plants, the fruit of which is inferior only 
to that of Arabia; each tree producing two pounds of coffee. This produce, how¬ 
ever, is diminished since the cultivation has been carried on in an open country; 
since the planters have been under the necessity of continuing their plantations in 
an exhausted soil, and since the insects have attacked them. 
“ The shores of this^ island are very steep, and the sea is continually throwing 
up large pebbles; so that it is impossible for the canoes to approach land without 
being destroyed. * 
“ The difficulty of landing at St. Denis has occasioned the erecting a kind of 
bridge, which projects into the sea, by which the boats are enabled, though with 
considerable inconvenience, to reach the shore. There are no inns or places of 
public accommodation at St. Denis, or indeed in any other part of the island; and 
strangers are indebted to the hospitality of those with whom they have commercial 
connections.t 
“ The breeze, which comes always from the south-east, rises at six in the morning, 
and continues till ten at night. In the month of November it blows equally through¬ 
out the twenty-four hours. 
“ The distance is seven leagues from St. Denis to St. Paul. The mountain of 
St. Denis is passed by a transverse road, paved with pointed stones. The native 
horses of the country are employed on these journies, which are very strong and safe, 
though they are never shod. At two leagues from St. Denis is the Grande Cbaloupe : 
it is a valley, formed by two very steep mountains that run parallel with each other; 
f St. Pierre. 
Rochon. 
