HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
2 97 
the air or the soil, we contrive to enliven our festivals with the produce of 
Bourdeaux. 
M. David, who has succeeded M. de la Bourdonnais as Governor, has published 
a general prohibition against hunting, to prevent the total destruction of the game, 
which, in case of dearth, would at all times prove an effectual resource; but, un¬ 
fortunately, it is very difficult to compel the strict observation of this edict. 
All the inhabitants are enchanted with the manners of M. David. He will not 
prove, perhaps, so enterprising as M. de la Bourdonnais, but mildness, humanity, 
and politeness, are, nevertheless, the least of his good qualities. 
We have here a species of hunting which, as we are on that subject, I shall 
not omit to mention: it is indeed of a cruel kind in appearance, but absolutely 
necessary in point of policy. It consists in pursuing the Maroon Negroes, or 
deserters, in the woods and the mountains, where they are treated as wild beasts: 
they are shot whenever an opportunity offers, and this severity is absolutely 
necessary for our preservation. It is true, that, in general, they content them¬ 
selves with pillaging what they want for their support; but they will sometimes 
accompany their plunder with fire and sword. The danger arising from the hosti¬ 
lities of these runaways, is increased by the perfect knowledge they possess of the 
plantations which they have deserted. Besides, their old comrades and mistresses 
will frequently give them information of the most convenient opportunities to de¬ 
scend on their pillaging parties, and second their designs; so that they may be said 
to keep us in a state of continual disquietude and hostility. 
Our slaves, and particularly those which come from Madagascar, are insolent 
and idle, and consequently of little reliance. They have been more accustomed to 
war than to labour; and the hope of finding some means of returning to their country, 
employs all their thoughts. Though it is necessary, in order to catch the wind, to 
make a large circuit in coming from Madagascar to the Isle of France, they seem 
to have an instinctive knowledge, that the distance of their country is not in pro¬ 
portion to the length of the voyage : they will direct their hand to the point where 
it lies, and exclaim, in their corrupted French, “ ga blanc la li beaucoup malin; 
“ li couri beaucoup dans la mer la haul; mais Magascar li la” This opinion 
incites them sometimes to undertake the most desperate actions; and they will make 
the most daring attempts to return to their home. They sometimes regard us 
with a ferocious aspect, as they have adopted the belief, since the affair of Fort 
Qq 
