The Portland daily press., 1862-11-13
MISCELLANY.
What Was lie

first was made aware OF the proximity OF that
lovely isle. We had made the land at night,
after a disagreeable steam voyage from the
Cape, aud as we could not enter Port Louis
during the darkness, we lay to under the lee
of the land. The sea had become smooth;
there was little or no motion; so opening our
narrow settles, we allowed the heated, pent-
up atmosphere 20 escape; and oh! with what
an ecstacy RECALLED my long-sufiering senses
with the balmy, perfume-laden air which blew
gently, and SO sweetly, from that hidden shore.
I never see the island on the map, never hear
1t spoken Of without recalling it,
But there is another recollection connected
with the Mauritius which is still more vivid
than the one have mentioned, and it was OF
this that / was more particularly thinking
when | commenced my story.
do not know more delicious island than
this sell-same Mauritius. To a visitor it is
full OF charms, of which-happier than the
resident, who is generally a victim to ennui-
he has not time to become weary. NY time
there was passed most agreeably, had dis
covered one or two old friends, and made sun
dry acquaintance, principally among the mil
itary. so that there was no lack of hospitable
entertainment In the first instance howev-
er, before / knew that had single friend up
on the island, had taken up my quarters at
the Hotel d. -, which had the reputation of
being then, as it possibly may have the repu-
tation of being now, the best in Port Louis.
like these tropical hotels. No heated.
close cofee-rooms, permeated with that indies
cribable flavor, towards the support of which
an unceasing contribution has been levied on
the animal and vegetable kingdom for, il may
be, quarter of a century. No dingy, musty,
up-three- pair-ot-stairs bedroom, which the
unhappy bachelor enters with shudder, and
vacates with the satisfaction of an escaped
convict. Here all is bright and cheerful
There is no luxurious furniture, it is true; but
the doors and windows are thrown wide open,
and through them enters the greatest of all
Injuries, fresh air. The walls are unpapered,
but the whitewash forms a pleasing contrast
to the dark, dry, polished floor; and though
tables may not groan beneath the glorious sir
loin, or display very remarkable amount of
plate, the whiteness of the cloth is dazzling,
and variety of fruits aud flowers for an en-
bellishment which, TO "nature-loving eye"
leaves nothing to be desired. Added to all
this, there is an emancipation from the solita-
~ system and, as on the continent, people
eat drink, and talk, cheerfully and socially to-
gether.
From sale a n,dnger, possessing all the
advantages have just described, wide and
well-lighted staircase took me to my bedroom,
and as the incident ain about to relate oc-
Cured in it, shall be particular in its descrip-
ton. 1t was a room about twenty feet long,
by twelve or fourteen broad, lighted by sin
gle window at enc end. and entered by door
at the other, at the extremity of the side wall,
on the right hand side, las you stood within
the room facing the Window Folding-doors
In the centre of the opposite side wall commu-
nicated with another room, doube-bedded
one-but as this room was in the occupation
of French married couple, these doors were
kept carefully locked and bolted. The fiIrni-
ture of my room was, as is usually the case in
hot climates, extremely scanty. 1t consisted
of a small, mosquito-curtained bed, placed in
the angle of the room Immediately facing the
door, so that its occupant slept with his head
against the wall, and his feet turned toward
the window. A common deal dressing-table
stood at the further end of the room, under
the window, washing-stand ia the left hand
corner. near it two or three chairs, and pier
glass fixed to the centre OF the right hand
wall opposite the folding-doors. The. room
was lofty, the windows large and uncurtained;
there were no shutters, but ii was fitted with
a common white roller blind. 1t win present.
ly be seen why Ihave been thus minute in these
details.
l had been several days at the hotel, and
had visited most Of the lions of the island. l
had made the customary pilgrimage TO the So
called tombs of Paul and Virginia in the bo-
tanical gardens at Pamplemousse, and had
willingly paid my shlliDgs and accepted the
imposture, for the sake of chewing for mo-
ment the bitter cud of fancy, and awakening
deeper and sadder interest in story which,
for tenderness and pathos, has been rarely
equaled. What lnattered it to me where the
dust OF those poor children might truly be?
did not even insist upon their existence as
necessity, but was content to look upon these
mournful urns, and conjure up, through their
aid the ideal forms with which they were asso-
ciated-I had scrambled up the hill, at the foot
OF which Port Louis lies. and enjoyed, from a
point not far from the eccentric projection on
its summit, called from its resemblance to the
human thumb, LA Pouce," the magnificent
panorama which lay spread out beneath: an
enchanting scene, in which the wild luxuriance
of tropical vegetation was soitened but not
destroyed by cultivation, and the disturbing
hand of mani had wandered. with wonder
ing eyes, among the mixed races with whom
now for the first time was brought in con-
tact: natives of various colors and castles from
India; negroes who seemed to vie with each
other in ugliness. and Chinese whose industry
and energy, shrlll voices, merry laugh, and pc
cuiar dress, marked them at once as a people
of higher capabilities than were possessed by
the representatives of any other part of Asia,
who had sought TO better their fortunes in the
Mauritius. had seen and done all this, and
much more, within the first few days of my
arrival, and it may readily be supposed that
as each night came, was quite ready to rest
my weary limbs upon my clean and comlorta-
bic bed.
1t was the fourth day. A long and dusty,
though pleasant afternoon ride, had made me
more than usually tired, so that / retired to
my room soon after ten o'clock. Having I'M
dressed, l fastened my door, as my habit is in
a strange hotel, and putting out the light
sprung into bed, carefully closing the musaui-
TO curtains, as did so, that / might exclude
host OF enemies that knew to be thirsting
for my blood; they vented their dsappoint-
ment in an angry war-song. bnt safe within
the sheltering curtains it had pleasant, sooth-
ing sound. The last sound that struck my ear
was this mosquito lullaby; the last sight that
caught my eye the moon-beams struggling 10
pierce through my drawn-down blind.
must have slept for some time; for how
long | knew not, nor do know at the present
hour, when | awoke-awoke suddenly, and
with that nervous apprehension which all of us
have felt at times, without being able TO ac-
count for it. l heard no noise, and the most
perfect stiffness reigned in the hotel.
My first impulse was to raise my head and
look anxiously around. The moon was shin
ing brightly: the room was flooded with her
light. and could see every article in it with
the most perfect distinctness. | appeared to
take in everything at a glance, but my gaze
was arrested by single object, and remain
ed for some moments as if spell-bound.
As has been already mentioned, the dressing
table stood against the window, and beneath
1t, but somewhat drawn forward, had placed
my open portmanteau. Kneeling in front of
this, In an attitude as if he had been suddenly
disturbed while examining its contents was a
black-rot negro for his features had dif.