HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
465 
The manioc is a root which grows on the banks of rivulets,* and bears in the East 
Indies a large green leaf; it forms a very nutritious food for the slaves, but in a green 
state it is absolutely poison, and must be dried before it can be made into whole¬ 
some bread. M. de la Bourdonnais brought this root from Brazil,t and obliged 
every planter, or inhabitant that possessed land, to cultivate five thousand square feet 
of manioc for every slave; but they were, unfortunately, so habituated to idleness, 
and so disgusted with his authority, that they did every thing in their power to dis¬ 
credit this root, and oftentimes during the night poured boiling water upon the 
plants, to check their vegetation. At length, however, for what will not perseve¬ 
rance, talent, and amiable manners accomplish, they were convinced of its utility, 
and it is this root which now nourishes all the slaves in the island, where they are 
very numerous, and perform the severest labours. 
The Isle of France having never been cultivated, it was very difficult, in the 
beginning, to till the ground, so as to furnish a sufficient quantity of provisions for 
the support of its people, and to victual the ships which touched there. Neverthe¬ 
less, M. de la Bourdonnais attained these important objects in granting to the inha¬ 
bitants a certain quantity of ground, which had not been cleared, and a proportionable 
number of slaves at the Company’s expense; so that they were enabled to cut down 
the woods, to cultivate the ground, and to build houses, mills, &c. These various 
improvements, however, proceeded with a tardy pace; and, from a want of industry, 
or rather from a spirit of discontent in the people, it was some time before any 
sensible change took place in the face of the island. 
M. de la Bourdonnais was the only person acquainted with the theory and 
practice of architecture; and having but very few workmen, he not only put a 
certain number of young people under their direction, but became himself their 
instructor; and as they advanced in this useful and necessary science, he put slaves 
under them, in the character of apprentices: but it is not to be conceived what 
trouble he had to compel the one to teach, and the other to learn: impeded, how¬ 
ever, as he was with these and other difficulties, he contrived that wood should be 
cut, that stones should be dug and shaped; that houses should be built, that roads 
should be made, and that conveyances by water and wheel carriages should be 
* This officer seems to confound the manioc with the yam of St. Helena, as the former grows in 
a dry soil, and the latter requires a moist situation, 
f Others say from St. Jago. 
30 
