HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
167 
of coffee, corn, and rice, by breeding cattle and other animals, with which they 
supply their vessels and the Island of Mauritius. Their labour is performed by 
slaves, who are born in the island, or brought from Madagascar and the coast of 
Africa; whose principal sustenance is Indian corn, cassava root, and potatoes. The 
native slaves, and those which have been brought when they were very young from 
Madagascar or other places, are all Christians, and it must be acknowledged that the 
priests spare no pains in their instruction; nor are they permitted to speak any 
other language than that of France. 
u The principal curiosities of this island are the volcano, the plain des Caffres , 
and the. road from St. Denis to St. Paul. The volcano is in the southern part of 
the island ; it often smokes, but seldom emits flames. The country is not habitable 
for many miles round it, and the islanders have named it the burnt country, because 
it is covered with cinders and volcanic matter, which has been vomited forth by the 
mountain. The plain des Caffres , is formed by the summits of mountains at a very 
considerable elevation above the sea: it is said to be twenty miles in extent, and is 
very flat, and without stones. The access to it is very difficult in certain places, 
though it may be ascended on horseback. The air is very pure, but as cold as a 
winter’s day in England. When the clouds pass over the surface of the plain, they 
have all the effect of a gentle rain. A brook runs through the middle of it, which 
is broad but shallow, has a sandy bottom,; and freezes in the winter. To the north¬ 
west of the plain there is a lofty, barren, and naked rock, from whence the brook 
gushes forth. There are also several small mountains, about an hundred and fifty 
feet in height, with a very narrow base.; they are called the Pins, by the inhabitants, 
from their resemblance to a set of nine-pins prepared for the game, On this elevated 
plain there are small trees, with broom, furze, a kind of wild oat, and fern, which 
grows to the height of a shrub. There are also some curious birds, which never 
descend to the sea-side, and who are so little accustomed to, of alarmed at, the sight 
of man, that they suffer themselves to be killed by the stroke of a walking stick. It 
often rains on the sides of the mountains, while this predominating plain is enlivened 
with the finest weather. 
“ This island is subject to hurricanes from the middle of December to the first of 
April: they are often very violent, and prove extremely mischievous to the harvest: 
they throw down the houses, root up trees, and, as there is no port in the. island, 
the vessels which are overtaken by them inevitably perish, if they do not gain the 
