in 1640; and then they fixed themselves on the shore at Port Grand. In
1708, from causes not now known, they abandoned the island, and from this
time up to 1715, its only inhabitants were a few negroes, who had been
brought there by the Dutch as slaves, and who, having escaped from their
masters, concealed themselves in the mountain forests. In the year last
named (1715) the French took possession, and formed a settlement at Port
St. Louis, giving to the island the new name of the “ Isle of France.” They
kept undisturbed possession until 1810, when it was taken from them by the
British; and since the peace of 1814, these last have retained it.
The island is, without doubt, volcanic in its structure, and is surrounded
by a coral reef, which generally runs parallel to the shores, at a short distance
from them, and is mostly left dry at low water. There are, however,
in this reef, eleven breaks or openings, through most of which vessels of considerable
burden may pass. The interior of the island consists of a great
number of lofty hills mostly isolated, though in one or two instances they
form small chains. The Brabant mountains and the Bamboo ridge are the
greatest elevations, and these are about three thousand feet above the sea
level.
The soil is generally shallow and not very productive. This is owing
to its dryness. The mean annual heat is about 76° of Fahrenheit. I t is
true they have rains, and in June, July, and August, showers are frequent,
but of very short duration. The average fall of rain throughout the year
would appear, from observation, to be about thirty-eight inches. The rainy
season lasts from November to March or April, and then the water descends
in torrents, accompanied with heavy gusts of wind, and not unfrequently with
thunder and lightning. This region is subject also to hurricanes, quite as
violent as any encountered in the West Indies; there is, however, no regularity
in these, though five years rarely elapse without their appearance.
The island is traversed by numerous water-courses, which diverge in all
directions from the centre; these, however, are filled with water in the rainy
season only, and then they form numerous cascades and cataracts. In the
dry season the water rapidly evaporates.
The island was once well wooded, and a considerable part of the native
forest still remains. The cocoa-nut palm, and sago, are common, as are also
tamarind trees, mangroves, and bamboos. Yams, cassava, Indian corn,
plantains, bananas, and melons are all cultivated as articles of food, as well
as some of our vegetables, as spinach, asparagus, artichokes, cabbage, and
peas. Wheat and rice are also produced, but in small quantities. Of fruits
there are mangoes, shaddocks, and pine apples; but oranges, grapes, peaches,
and apples are inferior. The French introduced the spice trees of the Indian
islands; none, however, succeeded but the clove. The chief article of
cultivation, since the British obtained possession, is sugar; not more, however,
than three-eighths of the island is cultivated at alL The sugar cane