New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-27
NOTES ON THE MAURITIUS.
Willie AND CUSTOMS.

You must remember that the sun sets here. in
the month of May, before elk O'Clock, so that 4
in the afternoon was very pleasant hour to leave
the city for the country residence of Mr. g., about
five miles from Port Louis. Our drive was de-
hghttul. We found the town well laid out, the
streets broad and shaded by lofty trees. We
found many of the houses of only one stOry-thus
built, il is sad, to prevent their being destroyed
by hurricanes The GOverDment-house aud m any
other large buildings erected by the French, long,
long wears ago. are still in excellent preservation,
giving the idea that, it the houses are wel-built,
there is no great danger of an overthrow. There
is law now to prevent the erection OF more
wooden houses, 50 that the modern ones are built
of stone and most of them of two stories.
We parsed through long street in the Old part
of the town, filed with quaint buildings, stores
kept by Chinese, and all manner OF strange attire
for the Indians exposed for sale. On leaving this
street We ascended hill, and then stopped to look
back up,n the city as 1t lay glowing in the light OF
he declining sun-one side open tu the ocean, and
he others surrounded by picturesque mountains.
You can imagine nothing mere beautiful. On the
,ett We raw the Signal Mountain, at which poor
Paul 50 often looked when awaiting the arrival OF
his beloved Virginia. Some years since, a small
house on this mountain, inhabited by two men
hose Lu.ness it was 10 attend to the signals, was
swept into the sea by a violent hurricane; neither
men nor hoste were ever seen again.
As we proceeded, We encountered many Indians
-scme with little carts drawn by very small!
dCpkeys, some with large bundles Of clothes On
their heads These last had been to the "Grande
Riylere to wash. 1t is very curious Ia see them
On the banks of the river, beating their clothes
with stones; and very ridiculous it appetred to me,
in passing Court yard, to see solemn loOk0g
a., ;,h buoo Pm and f1nuinp rObps ironing
laces and lnusins
We saw also, mauy cows with humps on their
backs. These COWS were brough. from NADIA
esscar That island also furnishes Mauri,ius with
beef. The animals are brought alive, and not killed
until after having recovered from the iatgues OF the
voyage. Common beef is 30 cents pound, end
The nicer parts, 49, 50 and GO cents. according 70
the demand or the conscience Of The proprietor
thereof II is curious fact that il the juice of the
papaw is put op the Toughest beet it viii become
Ter der, aId hit to be cooked in half an hour.
Wesaw many papaw trees during our drive also
palms. alOes glowing by the road side, silvas man
goes oleanders in full bloom hedges OF cactus, w.h
their crimson flowers and finally approached the
house by an avenue of timarInds
Tie house, surrounded by gardens, was euii ny
rich Indian. II is Of stone two stories higu, WIN
deep versndah the whole length OF lae iroit. Inc
window are small, opening in the middle like French
being lalouses, or what we call blinds. There Is
a hall through the center Of the house, which, like
the large rooms opening into it, lspaved with yei-
lowisb stone. On each side of the house IL large
tree fiom Madagascar. The branches come from
the trunk very hear the ground; immense roots are
visible extending in every direction. The bark 10
smooth and clean, the leaves very small, resembling
the sensitive plant, and the seed-pods are more
than foot long. From the verandah we nave
G.. ~. III = ha
We sat there in the quiet evenings, eIJo,ing tne
cool breeze fr, the ocean and the perfume of me
f,uels, which the lovely children OF Mr. u. never
veaIitd Of gathering ana giving mr., asDnlsleu anu
delighted at NY admiration OF them. ~ - ven
snrsng to hear the little children speak 10 "na1
they Gull Creole French They have learned II rom
Their negro BuISes; it bears the sauc reiatr'n -
Partisan French that the jargon OF our southern
ner,,s DOES 20 the pure Enslsh-indeed, many
Phrases are literal Transitions OF toe u'"'
e,r,s," &C.. that lave heard a, the South.
Y,u csnnot imagine greater kindness thlh oi,s
receives iIom ibe waru.bearted, hospita'ie Peopf
lere. Everything is done for your coihiof
lutte attention shown and yet you are maie ~ HL'
quite at home. 1T in the hall or yer nh,n WI
the family. / chat with the French tat9r' VINO
comes 10 give Lessons M Eagtlsh 70 me NO SIS
l wander away apoDg the tamafihd gio'.' WI" -
some lovely young ladies' who are ssaa -.
.JsSmine (ihe name of Mr.. G's resldence) or 81
in ny ki,y, oval room, paved with stone and hans
with India muslin of the mcst dazzins wh'oenei7,
aid write, or listen 10 accounts oil hianIus ~ an'
eden Tine or quietly erjoy inc iuA. ,t ~ m,ns'
wien the air il resh and COOL M IL 'oi'
Oh e,urse. YOU would ike ~ know no" h1useDoa
matt, 70 ale arranged in this part 81 'Sc VI :
c,uld say in this b,k in the wor'1-Io', AZ
it nay seem, Mauritius Is aaua.y ," ~.
than ether portiep. of the earth hat were mo- tne
ocean restricted by the, at ihi. place; unusually
strcng attraction Of gravitaiico, woao rusn ever
he Island, covering everything but the summit Oh
the Poues and Peter Baf
hear a .,rons resemblance to giants thumb, and