446 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
adjacent to the south-east bay, where there is a considerable yard and work-shop 
for cutting wood; it must be absolutely forbidden (if it is not too late) to strip the 
sea-shore of its wood in the neighbourhood of that pore, that it may not be rendered as 
defenceless as the north-west harbour. If the evil is begun it must be stopped. M. 
David has in that place a large carpenter’s yard, managed by the Sieur Rottier.” 
Speaking of barracks in one of the articles, the Company says, 
<f At any rate, but particularly in that light which we regard the Island of Mau¬ 
ritius, whether it be to make it a receptacle of all the Company’s military forces in 
India, or to lodge the recruits there a year or two, which are destined for the gar¬ 
risons in India, that they may be disciplined; that their health may be preserved 
by the shortness of the passage, that they may at first be landed in an wholesome 
and temperate climate, where they may recover the fatigues of the voyage, and ac¬ 
custom themselves by degrees to the heat, instead of transporting them at once into 
the burning, and often unhealthy, parts, of India ; or, lastly, with a view of having 
always at the Mauritius forces which may be sent to India on extraordinary occa¬ 
sions, when succour cannot be expedited from Europe, either through want of time 
to write for them, or prevention of their departure from France by enemies. It is cer¬ 
tain, in all these points of view, equally favourable for the preservation of the settle¬ 
ments in India, and the good management of troops and money, that barracks are 
absolutely necessary at the Island of Mauritius. Frequent complaints have been made 
of the irregularities which the soldiers commit when dispersed, and at liberty in different 
houses: it is therefore impossible to prevent the licentiousness and unlucky acci¬ 
dents which happen, but by barracks. Hitherto we have had but a small garrison 
at the Island of Mauritius, when it becomes more numerous all the inconvenience 
attending licentious soldiers are more to be apprehended. It may be added, in fa¬ 
vour of a numerous garrison at the Island of Mauritius, that it will be the readiest 
and cheapest method to people the island, and to form a militia on the spot, inte¬ 
rested in its defence. At the end of a certain time, those who are willing to settle on 
the island may have their discharge, on condition that they shall form a company of 
militia, which shall assemble from time to time, and march when occasion requires. A 
good prison or guard-house is not less necessary to hold the Blacks, than barracks for 
the soldiers, in order to keep the Company’s slaves under good management, shutting 
them up by night, and forming good posts on the sea-shore, and in the interior parts 
of the island. By means of a numerous garrison it is possible desertion may be 
