Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-16

once SO common an Louisiana. Vita the
better classes the medium OF communica-
ti0n is either French or English, both
languages being taught IN the schools.
OF this teaching Mr.. Barley. the islands
chief comm ssiouer, said 10 me; ut is
matter concerning which parents will
probably ere long become as anxious as
the government itself eau be, since the
necessity for the requirement OF the lam
guage in the case OF all boys intended for
commercial pursuits or for the govern
ment service Is becoming daily more ap-
parent to all. Should a government
school be established, as | trust il shortly
VIII be, no pains Will be spared To secure
an efficient teacher Of English for it,"
also learned from this same gentle
man that there are 9 schools. OF which
are Roman Catholic and are Protestant.
Ihere are about l,SOO pupils and - teach
ers, and the costs OF education are 81, 700
a year. This shows that the educational
advantages are not up TO a very high
standard. Ii is quite impossible TO obtain
anything better than a common school
training, the parents who would give
their children thorough instruction being
compelled 10 send them TO Europe for that
purpose. Well-qualified teachers are eX-
ceedugly difficult to obtain; and as the
amount Of the funds at the disposition OF
the school boards IS far from equal TO their
wants and necessities, tine progress made
in teaching is both slow and unsatisfac-
tory. sun, as compared with the better
situated Mauriuus, the SEYCHELLES schools
do not snow as poorly as they seem when
looked al without comparison.
The dominant religious faith is that OF
Rome. 1t has a tenacious hold on the
teeliugs Of majority OF the people. A
| brotherhood of CapuChins conduct the
various churches and the schools, which
are established and supported by the
catholic faith. The church of England is
represented by a civil chaplain, supported
and paid by the state. The sum OF $3.50
appears in the approved estimates as eN-
pcDditures for the coming year in the sup
port OF religion. In the population are
10000 Catholics, 1900 Protostants, 200
Hindo0s, 40 Mohammedans, and a contin-
gent OF free thinkers, deists, and people Of
no preference.
The currency of Seychelles has the
rupee as the unit. This piece has COM
mercial value OF 90 cents, but its intrin-
$40 value is only 30 cents. There is paper
money, bearing the Maurtus imprints,
in the denominations of ,, 10, and 30 ru-
pe rs, and also the gold, silver, and cop
Per coinage OF England, France. Portu-
Gal, Maurititus, Australia, China, and
India.
Fhe government is administered from
Maurtius by board Of six civil commits
sloners, of which Mr.. Arthur G. 5. Bark
ley is President. The members OF the
board serve without salary. Three are
unofficial and three are Otiicial-the Presl-
de at, the District Judge, and the medical
officer The functions of the board con-
sirt IN law-framing power directed TO
government. general welfare, schools,
public works, and the other admlnistra-
zion departments of public economy, sub
ject 10 and limited Oy the sanction and
approval Of the Governor OF Mauritius.
/ The Presidents duties are similar to
those Of colonial Lieutenant Governor.
and his power IS TO stop prosecutions,
grant p8rdons, remit fines, issue sundry
licenses. confer appointments, administer,
Oaths, suspend officers, issue eXpendi-
ture, warrants, ami 30 preserve and pro-
mote the we'll being of the people.
Imports consist Of general merchan-
disc. Among tle exports are cloves, ca
Gao, cocOanuts, coffee, vanilla, fruits, nut
m2l@, ana cocoa nut OIL. Owing to a
shrlnEage in the production of the last
named article the country IL poor, money
is scarce, business Is slack. revenue has
been diminisbed, and hard tines pre-
wall the men VINO grow cOcOanuts tell
me that disease IS intesting the cocoa
nut trees, so that the prestige OF the trees
supporting the population must be lost.
The farmers are awake TO the necessity OF
putting in other crOpe. TIE climate is ia
the soil ls strong and rich. but the rocks
tfeCtuallv Tepres5 this line OF ambition.
The people are shlttleSs, and capital is
scarce. or the present productions va
nila leads, some acres, producing from
81 200 TO $1,000 OF vanilla yearly. Sey-
ehelles vanilla sells in the Paris market
Tor S6 to s. per pound
AT Mahe the United States has Con-
sui, Mr.. Eyeyne z. Mussey. Mr.. L. p.
Robinson is the only American in bust
ness there. lie is BOstoman, and he
imports American goods. Through his
enterprise our lumber, petroleum and to-
DaccO are staple articles of import, and
at least two American machines. Mr..
Robinson seems To think that there is "A
chance for American commerce, and a
general exchange for vanilla might seem
worth while. The vanilla is OF the best
/ quality. A planter said TO me:
DO the people of New York ever use
/ yaniilag"
/ l replied yes.
why, then, do they not buy OF us direct
and not from Paris at higher prices" he
asked.
"Why not. indeed! American ships do
not come this way often, though occa-
sionally a whaler puts in.
We sailed away lust as the east began
/ t. flame this morning. We saw the sun
rise, with reeds and rocks sharply out
\ lined against tue vermiliiOn Of its face.
Long clouds fl0ated above him through
the blue sky, green-backed and irrides-
/ cent-breasted. A few pirogues were
I already flashing over the bay, rubbing the
water with wRyelets Of emerald and gold.
+ Brighter and still brighter grew the east
ern fires Orange and fierce vermillion
/ faded ont into lurid yellow, and against
/ the blaze all Of the ragged rudeness of the
I town stood out in elhsh black. Consul
Mussey lred a farewell shot AS we pushed
I out among the whispering reeds, and
when we came up from breakfast the
/ Seychelles were out Of sight.
1T DIDN'T WORK.