New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-05
VOTES ON TIE mAURIrlUS....vnI.
PETITE RIvIERE-FETE OF THE YAM
SEH

near the Petite Riyiere. The last part ~ the ROAD
after leaving the highway was rather rough, as 1t
i. only the principal roads to Port Louis that the
Government keeps in order. Saw grove OF very
high palms in the midst Of plain; one, more than
a hundred feet high, stood alone, with only feT
branches at the top; they seemed like sad SEN
tinels or rather mourners, over the lovely trees
that have been destroyed.
We approached the house By long avenue OF
cocoa palmsa large basin or artificial fsh pond on
each SIDE. These basins are square, with pal
mettos, cocoas and other varieties of palms on all
sides Saw the Malsbars taking fish from them
with seine. About twelve men jump into the
middle of the pond carrying the seine with them;
they hold it open and wait patiently until they
think they have as many fish as are willing TO be
caught. Then, with shreks loud enough to drive
all the fish mad they rush to the steps which lead
from the BASIN and endeavor to put the fish on dry
land. The net was unfortunately broken, and many
of them made their escape. A few lovers of free
dom Jumped from the net when II was opened into
the water and the little ones were carefully re-
turned to their native element. Still more than
enough remained to furnish a delicious dish for
dinner. One about seven inches long, looking like
u
sidered so great delcacy that it would sell in the
market for rupee.
All the coast and streams of Msuritius abound
with fish. There are many varieties, but the
rourami ia considered the most delicate. Nothing
can surpass the beauty and variety of their coors.
Five minutes walk from the house brings you to
the ocean. Near it is little pond, which turns
around the land like a horseshoe. In it are both
salt and fresh-water fish. At the time Of the
oil fba lnu 1apH tins
the fish of the ocean are enabled 10 make their
neighbors q visit On the shore are abundance
of beautiful white cOrals (of which lime Is made),
and mary curious shells put collection OF them
into the carriage, on my way To the sucrerle, but
found. alas when reached home, that the servant,
in preparing the carriage for our departure, had
removed what he considered rubbish.
great deal Of castOr.0il plant grows on this
estate. An American might make good speculs-
ton by bringing from Calcutta coolies and rice,
and taking the castor-oil, which is very abundant
in many parts of the island and of which no use is
made. There is, in addition 10 the sucrerle, ma
chine for making salt. The place where the sugar
is boiled has fiat roof on which the sugar is placed
in mats TO be dried.
This vast establishment is superntended by
lady nearly seventy years old. She is as active as
any young Overseer, and seems to enjoy this kind
of employment. Her husband (who appears az
their other estates), calls her his young wife, and
speaks Of the forty -fve years that they have been
married as Jacob did of his time Of seryitude for
his beloved Rachel
Her son (who has business in the city, is very
intelligent young man, well acquainted with Amer
lea from the writings of Cooper and Irving He
has a collection Of CoOpers works, with his aato-
graph in all of them. Several years ago an Amer.
lean, to whom Mr. j. had rendered some services,
no him ha island tn tell him What
way he could show his gratitude to him when he
returned TO America. Mr.. j. told him he had
ordered copy of Cooper's works, and should es-
TEEN il great favor if he could have the autograph
of the novelist in one of the volumes. Thi. the
American, though personally unacquainted with
Mr.. Cooper, readily consented to do. So success
full was he, and so highly gratifed was Mr.. Cooper
BY the WISH the interest felt in him, and no doubt
by the agreeable manner in which the subject was
presented to him, that he not only wrote his name
in all the volumes but sent in addition Rural
Hours" the work Of his daughter, and beautiful
" written note expressing his pleasure at having
friend and admrer u this sunny Isle.
Among the attendants at dinner, was an Indian
from Madras, remarkably handsome man, with
regular features elegant manner and the air OF
soldier. He had been an officer to some great
prince in his own country, and there seems 10 De
INV stery about his leaving and accepting lower
situation here. As | was unaware that he under
stood English, was rather free in my remarks
upon hun, and he was evidently gratlfied at my
admiration of him. He handed rouGd the delicate
yiands in their rich silver dishes, the costly wines
in crystal goblets, and even the finger bowls, half
filed with rose leaves, with the dignity of royal
prince serving kings and queens. After dinner, he
came to me in the drawing room and begged Inc
to notice picture of his painting that hung upon
the wall, which he had presented to his master on
1 and oh f.ra nd IN u
a remarkably clever performance.
When We took leave of our hOspitable friends,
with our carriagebOx filled with cocoa nuts in that
delicious creamy state 10 be eaten with spoon,
and bottles of Saugouron (the juice of the sugar
cane), we found the Indian ready to escort us to
the city, lest any accident should befall us on that
delightful moonlight night, and when We at length
reached our own pavilion in safety, he made his
salaam and babe us goodnight with all the cere.
mony of an Imperial officer.
Several days before the full moon in September,
the Indians in and about Port Louis go to the
beautiful River Lstonier, about three miles from
the city, and there stop in solemn procession upon
its banks. The priest, after long prayer goes
forward stOops, puts his hand into the river, and
the first thing he takes up, be 1t stuck or stone
10 be the god for the year. This god is carefully
concealed for many days, during which superb
temple OF gound is built. This temple is about
hundred feet high. the frame work OF light wood,
covered with colored isinglass, upon which are
gold figures roses and flowers in colored foil, little
bells, and everything that can make ii appear gor.
geous. The night of the full moon this is raised
from the ground. With much ceremony prayers,
singing, &c., the god is placed therein; the whole
is brilliantly lighted aud then placed upon large
cart, drawn by mules and men. Under the body
of the cart which is some six feet from the ground
walk women singing. Directly before the gound
is cart filed with women with torches.
In the afternoon Of the day of the full moon, we
drove to the Plain Verte 10 see the Indians making