HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
467 
Towards the middle of the town, there is a large space surrounded with a strong 
high stone wall, which contains the buildings appropriated to the slaves of the 
Company, as well as the public stables. Sc c. The inhabitants are not permitted 
to encroach upon this spot, as it is reserved by the Company for their future 
occasions. 
The valley, in which the town is situated, is low and flat, covered with rocks and 
stones, which renders the streets and ways rough and uneven; but immediately 
round the buildings belonging to the Company, the ground is rendered very level. 
At the extremity of the valley, and at the foot of the mountains there is a consider¬ 
able space of ground cleared of the stones, and covered with a grass plat: it is 
called the Field of Mars, as it is the place where the troops perform their exercise: 
it also contains a rope walk, and is the public promenade of the inhabitants. 
The port is not large, and it has been rendered less by two ships which sunk 
almost in the middle of it.* It is, however, still sufficient for the purposes of the 
Company. The entrance of it is narrow, and defended by two batteries on two 
low points of land, almost opposite each other: they were begun after the fleet, 
commanded by Admiral Boscawen, had appeared off the island, and have proved 
very expensive works to the Company, though they are not finished. M. Cossini, 
who was the engineer there, from the nature of the ground, met with infinite diffi¬ 
culties in forming a solid foundation. The ships are moored at two guns shot from 
the quay, and the smaller vessels close to them. There are several pontoons for 
the purpose of careening the vessels, and the Workshops of the carpenters, rope 
makers, armourers-, coopers, shipwrights, &c. are so near the port, that the artificers 
may be hailed from the ships. 
In the harbour there are two rocks, or islets, on which are erected two stone 
windmills: there is also a small bason, or natural pond of salt water, where the 
turtles are kept which are brought from the Island of Rodriguez, about ninety 
leagues east south-east. 
M. de la Bourdonnais had formed the design of a regular fortification on the most 
elevated part of the town, that is very well calculated for the purpose to which it. 
would have been applied; but it was not completed. This spot is near the hospital, 
and commands the town, the high road, and a large and commodious bason, or small 
* The carcasses of thirty-four vessels have been numbered, which have at different times foun¬ 
dered in this port and its environs. (See pages 11 and 12.) 
3 O 2 
