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HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
livres twelve sous, which are worth in France five livres five sous. During the war 
the credit of the Company was so low, that the Spanish piastre rose from three 
livres twelve sous, to fifteen livres, and the price of the various articles of provision 
and merchandize in the same proportion; so that, though during the time we were 
prisoners, we were allowed six livres fifteen sous each day in paper, the real value 
did not amount to more than two shillings and sixpence sterling. All commerce 
with Europe is prohibited; a limited trade with India and Madagascar is all that 
is permitted, upon which is levied a duty of two and an half per cent. 
“ Their ships generally set sail for Europe in the months of October and 
November, and those which return from thence, generally arrive at the Isle of 
Mauritius in May and June. 
" I shall now proceed to make some remarks on the force of the island, such as 
it was during the last war, and at the close of the year 1763. 
“ St. Denis, which has been already mentioned as the principal place, is situated 
in an extensive plain, considerably elevated above the level of the sea. The shore 
is very steep and covered with stones, so that no kind of boat can enter into the 
river on the western side: it is defended towards the sea by three batteries, one of 
which is of brick, with fifteen eighteen-pounders; another is formed of fascines, and 
contains twenty-four eighteen or twenty-four-pounders; the third is of less conse¬ 
quence, and has no more than twelve nine-pounders. On the other side there is a 
small plain, at the foot of a high mountain which commands the town, where a 
redoubt, with a small battery, has been constructed opposite to it; as well as one 
with twelve cannon and four mortars, which ’commands the road: there are also 
some small batteries between this and St. Mary, on the eastern side, which have 
each of them from eight to ten cannon. The town of St. Paul is defended by a 
large battery of twenty-four eighteen-pounders : there are some small batteries also 
along the shore, and one or two on the side of the mountain, to guard the passage. 
These are all the strong places in the island; and though, from this detail, it has the 
appearance of possessing considerable strength, the inhabitants were not of that 
opinion during the last war: they thought themselves incapable of defence on the 
sea-side; though-, by defending the mountains and defiles, they might be able to 
prevent the enemy from advancing into the country. 
“ I have already said, that there are about twenty-five thousand souls* in the Isle 
* The population of Bourbon is now more than double. 
