HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
*SP 
Africa and Asia dispute the property of this island, which nature has placed in 
the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean; but our modern geographers, better instructed 
than the Ptolomies and the Strabos, have assigned it to the first of these two ancient 
quarters of the globe ; though it is altogether free from the dangerous animals with 
which those continents are infested. 
Certain parts of the forests have been cleared, particularly in the neighbourhood 
of Port Louis, See. and plantations established. 
There is but the difference of an hour between the longest and the shortest day. 
I shall not mention in this place the violence of the winds, which has already 
been particularly detailed : at the same time I shall just observe, that the rains form 
our happiness, not only because they refresh the air and are never of long duration, 
but as they are the first cause of the fertility which is our boast. 
Hunting, which is pursued without difficulty, and with continual success, is one 
of our principal resources. 
We have three kinds of partridge, none of which are the same as those of France, 
though some of them approach the red-legged species of our country. From the 
heat of the earth, they are compelled to perch on the trees. Guinea fowls are 
common in the woods, and there were plenty of white hares, whose flesh is indif¬ 
ferent, but they are now become very rare. 
Monkies, parroquets, and bats, are in great abundance, and are pursued by the 
sportsman. The two latter are generally admitted to the tables of the inhabitants, 
notwithstanding the repugnance which the bat at first inspires as an article of food. 
The Portuguese alone add monkies to the number of comestible animals. 
The number of plantations at this time established in the island amount to one 
hundred and fourteen, which are divided into four principal districts, or quarters. 
The first, and which is nearest to the town, is that of la Montague Longue , 
making a part of, or adjoining to Pamplemousses. 
The second is on the left side of the port, diverging from the quarter of Flacq, 
The third is three leagues from the town, in returning to the right, and is named 
by the Dutch, the plains of Willems. 
The fourth, named Moka , is situated a league beyond the latter, and at the 
extremity of the mountains de la Ville. 
There is also a fifth quarter, which received from M. de la Bourdonnais the 
name of Ville bague 9 and is above that of Pamplemousses. 
