HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
a7 8 
been entirely removed, in order to erect a very handsome building for the reception 
of the commandant of the port and the garrison, as well as to contain the necessary 
magazines. 
The island is in general surrounded with rocks, and the bottom of the sea near 
the coast is covered with coral, madrepore, and shell-fish. There is very little real 
sand; and that which is found on the sea shore, is little more than the remains of 
shells. Its coast is lined with reefs, on which the waves break. These reefs some¬ 
times extend upwards of a league into the sea, so that the circuit of the island may 
be made with great safety in a pirogue. It is only in the southern part that the sea 
breaks almost on the shore ; this circumstance renders it inaccessible except in some 
places, where a canoe can be secured from the high sea. 
“ The Isle of France is almost entirely covered with woods, which are of an 
handsome appearance, particularly on the south-east side; but a passage through is 
rendered very difficult and troublesome, from the quantity of fern, and creeping 
plants. 
“ These plants, whose branches, like those of our ivy, wind about and interlace 
themselves with the shrubs and dead wood, render the forests in a great measure 
impassable. Nor can a passage be obtained in any part of them but by circuitous 
ways, which are known to few. These forests are the refuge of the Maroon 
Negroes. 
“ The animals which are found in this island are deer, that resemble those of our 
own country, and whose flesh is excellent during the months of April, May, June, 
July, and August. There are no serpents in the Isle of France, and it is said that 
they cannot live there; while in the surrounding islets, called the Isle Ronde, the 
Isle Longue , and the Coin de Mire , there are both adders and serpents. I do not 
pretend to verify this opinion; and all I can say respecting it is, that in the Coin de 
Mire, I have seen lizards twelve inches long and one broad; and that in the Isle of 
France, I saw only a small species running about the walls, and of the same kind 
as those which we have in France. My knowledge of botany, is not sufficient to 
justify any attempt to describe the plants of this island. 
f< About the tenth part of the Isle of France is cleared and cultivated. Wheat, 
barley, oats, rice, maize, and millet, are the grains which compose its harvest. 
Certain portions of land are allotted to the cultivation of Manioc, which is the food 
of the Negroes. In some parts there are also plantations of sugar and cotton. 
