New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-05

Between III ana IL % clOch VIZ attsuP<u W 10
turn to the Plain Verte but great was the crowd
We were glad TO stop at the corner Of street,
| where We knew the procession would pass ms
was directly in front Of a store for refreshments,
| kept BY a Chinese, and great was the anxiety OF
1 the poor man when beer or cakes were ordered
from a carriage lest his assistants should return
without his money and glasses. At midnight the
noise was deafening. Troops of Indians were
beating tom-toms and every kind OF uuearthly
! sounding instrument. Indians were running
| through the crowd in every direction offering for
sale sacred candles, made of the dust Of the SAN
| dal-wood These are 10 be lighted and kept burn
! ing while the Gound passes. Now come crowds OF
| Indians, dancing before the Idouaries. Now comes
| troop Of children, gesticulatng and shouting IN
the most thankful manner possible; then an array
Of priests, gorgeous as saffron could make them;
| then a cart crowded with women, singing aud
waving torches to attract attention Ia the Gound,
which is in the cart Immediately behind them.
The Gound as il approached, looked like NOV
| ing tower of fire. 1t stopped at the corner Of the
street; the musicians essayed louder music: pous
women drew near the cart, many with infants In
their arms, and prayed most earnestly. But among
| the most deyout who marched under the cart WAS
the pretty Indian that had so long ago, per-
fectly absorbed; she seemed to be singing and pray
| ing with appraised eyes. Indeed, these poor crea-
lures thus bowling in alteration before stone, as
manifestation of the power Of the Creator, may
furnish an example of heartfelt devotion to many OF
us educated in the glorious light of Christian
| country The Gound moved Onward--crowds OF
| worshppers and crowds of Don-worshippers, fol-
| lowed; they passed through many streets, and at
sunrise returned TO the river where the Gound
was taken from the cart, broken, and its beautiful
materials scattered in the river, to be eagerly
sought for and secured by the devout and the Gu
riOus.
Now the races commenced Every one that can
ba 10 10 ha an
vessels from France brought the latest Partisan
fashions and new bonnets and dresses the order
Of the day. Even New-Y0rker would be sur
prsed at the gorgeous tOilettes of the Maurltans.
They have great taste in dress, and their beautiful
| hair is always neatly and secomingiy arranged
The races for three days are like races in other
parts of the world. A very elegant Arabian
seemed quite delighted to think his horse had won.
And lady, widow from Bourbon. whose fortune
consisted in some fine racers from that Island, who
had had them brought to Mauritius to win. was
sadly disappointed to have them lose. But the
fourth and last is the great grand day of the races.
Then all the Indians, negroes, Chinese, &C.. IN
their best attire turned out every kind OF convey
ance, and every donkey was under contribution.
In the center of the Champ de Mars was creased
pole about sixty feet high, and on the top black
hat fastened with red ribbons, to be the prize OF
whoever should succeed In clambering to the top
and detaching it. One poor Indian attempted 1t
and failed only 10 De succeeutu Dy dnOthtT, thtH
two attempted it at once and slid down together,
10 the great amusement of the lockers up. After
about two hours spent in unsuccessful attempts,
one reached the top, took off the hat, waved 1t
triumphantly and was loudly cheered 0y the crowd
below Rapidly sliding down. he made his way in
front of the Governors stand, made his salaam,
and was then lost among his admiring friends.
Nothing could be more picturesque than the view
of the Champ de Mars that day. The beautiful nils
surrounding il on three sides crowded at their base
with peope. their " hitc tents gstenng in the sun
oronps sitting on the grass-Malehars with all
their shining ornaments-Guebers, IN their high
crowned hats-litte children in all the coors the
rainbow ulattoes and negroes, in gayest robes
long muslin veils-Arabs, in lofty turbans and
flowing robes, rushing about rapidly, earnestly
gesticuating-yOGng Arab boys, with robes and
turbans on beautiful little horses attended by
wants carriages, with those who wished to visit
the different parts of the field, driving about in all
observation-disclosures, sailors and horse;jockeys-all
interested in the race-made it scene of great
excitement.
We left with Mr.. C. at 6 o'clock in the morning
for NJ, beautiful estate near Grand Port the
other side of the leland. 1t a delightful morn
ing, but warm the thermometer when we lett
being at 500. When we reached Cure Pope
which II one Of the highest points Of the island 10!
habited it had fallen TO $50. We had been con.
stantly ascending since we lett Port Lunls, and at
Cure Pope were eli feet above the level of the
sea. While breakfasting we had slight shower.
1t ia said there is not day in the year that they
have not rain there. Near Cure Pope is small
but very deep lake, called Grand Basin. 1t Is
about two miles in circumference, and has IN the
center a little island. 1t is surrounded by b.gh
mountains always covered with trees of the deepest
green. One of these, Giant Maintain, locks like a
giant asleep; the profile is perfect. This lake is
considered one of the greatest natural curiosities
in the island, being 2l79 feet above the level Of
the sea, and 60 feet deep. The temperature of the
water from 6 to Z O'Clock a. IN, on the surface, is
&c Fahrenheit; in the deepest parts $50 Greatest
eodness of the air during three days, So; greatest
| heat, 6io.
Grand Basin offers all the characteristics Of an
ancient crater of a volcano. Fourteen old craters
are TO be found in the sland, and near one of the
mountains, an enormous quantity Of ashes. Also,
| on some Of the mountains which lie at 3 distance
| from the sea- are found great many cacareOus
substances and different kinds of petrefed mus
eles and shell-fsh, which have nearly their natural
| form, that they be clearly distinguished
from each other. Their present situation can only
be accounted for by suPPoslng that they were
either deposited at the time when these mountains
we're covered by the Flood, or that they were car
ned thither by the united efforts of water and vol
canic fires. There are also immense caves among
the mountains; in some Of them are little ponds
that seem to have been dug out of the stone. One
Of these caves said to communicate beneath the
ocean with the Isle of Bourbon l20 miles distant.
Although this cave is several miles from the sea- you
hear the roar of the distinctly as though
the waves rolled over your head. Many attempts
have been made to explore this cave, and ascer-
| tain the certainty Of il communication with the
ocean; but, as the want of air frequently extin-
guished the candles, no satisfactory results have
a., On sAr. nanfla