New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-04
NOTES ON TIE A4URIrfUS.
VI LEE AND CUSTOMS.

II T
v,,y;n.,, the actual Governor having jcst left for
Eppsnd die ressed by sad affair that has recently
taken place here and caused great excitement.
| A rick old lady lived alone with two Indian SER
yapts--one the ccaebmsp, being recently engaged.
Her nephew, VINO had the care Of her estates, 10
making bis daily visit, mentioned that he bad just
received large sum of money from some Of her
property. She said "itwas long time since she
bad seen SO much gold and wished him to bring il
for her 10 look ~. He immediately complied with
the childish wish OF bic aged relative, aud after che
was satisfied with looking at tue gl'ttering coin,
prudently TOOK il away. 1t seems the ccachmau
belonged TO a band of robbers. lie had seen the
money Cd the table but knew not that It had been
taken AWAY in the dead OF night he called his ac-
ccmplices murdered the good old lady, took what
thew could OF value in the house, and fled. After
some time they were arrested, committed Tor trial
found guilty, and it is said that the reluctance OF
Afr. H. to sien the death.warraDt has made him
so iii that he has gone to England to recruit his
bealth. Great complaint is made by the French
pOpnlaiion against the Government. They say that
there is no security for them that the Indians may
steal and murder, and they have little chance Of re-
dress and that they need Governor who can zee
Justice done them. .l If
General Sutherland had commanded in Greece,
and though very pleasant and gentlcmanly seems 10
be Of stern stuff enough to keep robbers in order.
| had heard many strange stories OF the present
Governors wife, from the gay young girls who were
visiting us. One said she was a Malubar Princess;
another that she was o rich Begun, with palace
full of rupees, that the General had married her TO
get the rupees. &c. But the truth is, that Mrs.
SIS father married rich Indian Princess who
died leaving him not only rupees, but lovely little
Girl, whom he sent 10 England to be educated.
At II, she married her present husband, then
handsome Young soldier with only his commls-
sion, and the initiated do aver that it was love-
match on both sdes-and that, though they must
have been travelling on the matrimonial road some
thirty years, they as happy and devoted couple
as the sun need TO shine upon.
The Government House is large two-story stone
building erected by the French long years ago,
with pazzas, and yerandals, and balcOnies-sur.
rounded on three sides by gardens. We entered
spacious hail. received by one Malabar, in a white
turban preceded by another, who took our cards
and gave them to Il secretary. We mounted the
lofty Staircase crossed the grand saloon, which the
secretary told us twas used "a the ballroom
having IOr its principal ornament the portrait OF
:" our most gracious Queen" We entered another,
but more hOmeike looking drawing room, with
harp and piano, and center table with books and
flowers and there found MADAME Ia Gouyernantc."
quietly playing chess with young officer. (Said
young officer after remaining silent long time, as
pertaining that one of party had been in Mauri-
thus before politely tried to make little CONVERSE
ton, by asking if he knew what regiment was sta
toned here at that time.)
We found Mrs. s. very agreeable, Intelligent,
cordial in her manners, showing that atfectlonate
interest that q warm-hearted woman who has her
self been stranger in strange land, always mani
tests toward another similarly situated.
The Governor, after private interview with one
of our party concerning the cholera, came for q
moment from bis library to give us cordial greet
ing bidding not to forget that we were to attend
the ball in honor of the Queens Birthday.
He is sadly distressed at the account of the
cholera, which broke out in the prison some days
since and seems to be increasing though great pains
are taken to prevent the alarm spreading.
The prison is disgrace to any Government. 1t
is very large several stories high in the midst OF the
city, with very few windows, and very badly VENT.
lated 1t is not IT all strange that disease should
originate there; the mystery would be, how it could
ever be extermnated. The poor wretches therein
confined must suffer fortunes even in the best Of
times, with the torrd shining au day on the un-
shaded stone walls; but when disease is acded TO
their miserics, they must indeed consider their pun
ishment greater than they can bear.
The Queens ball, which is usually the commence.
ment of the Winter amusements in Port LOuis was
termination of all gayety for the season. 1t was in
deed, very beautiful and very interesting to q
stranger, TO see Arabs, and Chinese, and Malabars
and Pagan Turks, mingling with the graceful
French creOles and the stiff Englishmen in their
coats OF armOr, which they must wear even IN this
hot climate.
Very beautiful We're the, lovely daughters OF the
Island who walked in graceful measure that night;
and very inspiring was the military music, to which
their fairy feet kept time. But, alas ere many
DAYS had flown, some who had been the lightest-
hearted were sleeping in the quiet grave, while re-
QUEEN after requiem Was poured forth for the de-
parted.
Great indeed was the distress, and painful the
panic produced by the cholera which ragged fearuly
for few weeks, destroying more in proportion TO
the number of inhabitants than it has done in any
other part of the world excepting Jamaica and one
OF the Cape de Verd Islands.
All in town. who could, fed to the country. The
market people were afraid to go in town, and often
there was neither beef nor mutton in the bazaar.
People abandoned the delicious fruits and vegetables
and betoOk themselves to roast chicken, Madeira
wine and preserved singer-a change anything but
agreeable or refreshing, and which in many cases
produced the very illness they were wishing to
avoid.
Rave ] said that the usual manner OF building on
plantation (aul formerly omen IN town is 70 nave
one large house in which the father, mother ana
some Of the family reside and several smaller houses
or payilions Gas they are called here). in which
dwell the married children or friends of the family
ALL however, brsaklastiDg and dining together in
the grand hall, in the family mansion You can
conceive of no arrangement more agreeable.
On Mr.. G.'s estate are several Of these payiL
ions, end while we remained in the country all
were filled. We were twenty grown people, ten
children and host Of servants. IL the cholera,
lie nnmnclos' s,Nnrl hnl i.ot honn hnnninn Oyer