HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
rainy season it is very difficult to pass them. The precipices on either side are 
horrible ; and the snow is seen on the mountains in the months of July and August. 
The road from St. Denis to St. Paul has been a work of great labour; it passes over 
five high mountains in various meanders: that which rises above St. Denis, and is 
by no means the highest, has twenty-two of these turnings before its summit is 
attained. Two other mountains form what is called the Grande Chaloupe , from 
its sides, which resemble that of a boat. They are very elevated, and covered with 
small trees. There is between them a fine valley, and a river, which present at 
once a pleasing and fearful prospect. 
" The country rises, with a regular ascent, from'the shore to the middle of the 
mountains. It is agreeably varied by country-houses, corn fields, plantations of 
coffee, and water-falls: there are, nevertheless, both plains and mountains that 
advance almost to the sea. That part of the isle which belongs to the Creoles is 
ill cultivated : they are not in a condition to purchase slaves, and they are too proud 
to work themselves; nor is there any law to compel industry. The soil is in 
general fertile, though the vegetable earth is not more than two,or two feet and an 
half in depth: beneath it is a bed of rock. It produces in great abundance, and 
with little culture, all the different grain of Europe, as well as rice, indian corn, the 
sugar carie, and a great variety of vegetables, roots, and esculent plants. The 
year yields two harvests; and the grain of Europe is sown in the winter months. 
There is also honey and wax of a superior kind. The fruits of India flourish 
there; but I do not remember that there are any European fruits, except the peach 
and the rasberry. The Talameha cinnamon* and the benzoin tree succeed there. 
The bark of the' first is very good, but the latter does not yield any considerable 
quantity of gum. There is also the Chinese root, ipecacuanha, but inferior to that 
which grows in America, the larger kind of cardamum, and many other medicinal 
herbs. The inhabitants are also acquainted with plants which are excellent remedies 
in the dysentery and venereal complaints: they have excellent wood for building, 
which is very durable, and susceptible also of the finest polish; nor are they without 
timber trees which are calculated for the construction of vessels. But the principal 
production of the island is coffee, which was originally brought from Moka : it has, 
however, degenerated, in some small degree, though it is still superior to that of the 
• The cinnamon may be propagated by planting the shoots. It grows very fast, and is but 
little inferior to that of Ceylon; - 
