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HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
Observations on the Isle of France, by M. Rochon. 
While the little French colony of the Isle of Bourbon enjoyed some degree of 
prosperity, that of the Dutch, established in the Isle of France, was in a state of 
distress and decay. I am at a loss to discover the reason, why the Dutch settled 
themselves in this island, which they named Mauritius; I only know, that they 
complained of the injury they had sustained, by the locusts and the rats, when they 
abandoned it, in 1712, to establish themselves at the Cape of Good Hope. 
The inhabitants of the Isle of Bourbon, on the departure of the Dutch, were 
eager to possess themselves of the island they had left behind them, which is not 
more than thirty-four leagues from their own; the air is healthy, but though it is 
less fertile and extensive than the Isle of Bourbon, it possesses the advantage of 
having excellent ports, and of being to the windward. 
In i734> ^e French East India Company formed a resolution of establishing 
a considerable settlement in this island. The completion of this important object was 
intrusted to M. la Bourdonnais, who was born to command, because he knew how 
to insure obedience, and proved, in this remote part of the globe, that his skill and 
talents were equalled by the wisdom of his civil administration. To him, and him 
alone, the island is indebted for its aqueducts, its bridges, its hospitals, and principal 
magazines: in short, whatever exists at this day, in those islands, whether of public 
or private utility, may be considered as the work of that celebrated character. 
From his universal knowledge, persevering spirit, unerring judgment, and engaging 
manners, all his undertakings for the advantage of the colony, during an adminis¬ 
tration of twelve years, were attended with a prompt and successful issue. 
It was to his sagacity, that the inhabitants are indebted for their principal settle¬ 
ment at the north-west port. A less enlightened understanding than his, would have 
preferred that to the south-east, because it is larger and more commodious, but this 
able navigator well knew the incalculable advantages of a port to the leeward. 
The cultivation of grain is the most advantageous employment in the Isle of 
France; as the ground annually yields successive harvests of corn and maize. The 
manioc, a native of the Brazils, and naturalized by M. la Bourdonnais, is the prin¬ 
cipal food of the slaves. The continual demands of ships that put into the port of 
this island, have made the augmentation of cattle and sheep an important concern. 
The island produces an excellent grass, which springs up at the beginning of the 
