HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
487 
unlimited power over all his subjects, as well in religious as temporal concerns; he 
usually resides about nine miles from the town, and seldom comes there, excepting 
when European vessels arrive there; he is, on that occasion, accompanied by a 
numerous equipage, and seldom fails going on board, where he is entertained by 
the captain, and saluted at his arrival and departure by five guns. Of this circum¬ 
stance he is very jealous, not only on account of the private satisfaction he receives 
from it, but moreover, because it is a mark of esteem and importance, which renders 
him the more respected by his subjects. 
Every captain is obliged to obtain the king’s permission before he can traffic with 
the inhabitants; to obtain which he has only to make him a small present of Euro¬ 
pean manufactures. 
“ As soon as a vessel,” says Mr. Grose , 44 has cast anchor in the road, it is imme¬ 
diately surrounded by a great number of canoes, which hasten to bring refreshments 
of all kinds. It is agreeable to see the confusion and eagerness of the rowers to get 
the first to the ship; when the sea is rather boisterous, it often happens that they are 
overset, but without danger of their lives, as they are excellent swimmers, and sustain 
no other loss than their small cargoes.” 
Some years ago the islanders, who used to come on board with refreshments for 
the crew, such as fresh cocoa-nuts, plantains, birds, fruits, Sec. bartered them for 
handkerchiefs and millinery articles, glass bottles, pieces of iron, and every kind of 
ready-made clothes, without caring for money; but at present they have learned 
to know the value of coin; nor are they any longer so eager after trifles as they 
were formerly : they now insist on being paid in money, fire-arms, gunpowder. Sec. 
for their goats and sheep. 
Thus the most simple characters, when they come to communicate with the world, 
catch its habits, and learn its artifice. 
The only private details we have of the isle of Mayotta, on which we can depend, 
is that of Commodore B. Francis Beaulieu, in an account of his expedition to the 
East Indies : he says, the island of Mayotta is low, cold, and damp; that it abounds 
with provisions and fruits, and is covered with verdure; but is not inhabited on 
the sea-shore. The tide, he says, carried him to the west, along the coast, to a spot 
where he perceived a vessel: he accordingly sent the long-boat, with ten marines, 
who brought back word that it was a vessel of forty tons, coming from La Mecca, 
and that the captain, taking them for Dutchmen, had sent all his merchandize ashore. 
