Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-09-08
A Day on Shore. No. II.

Bourbon, sometimes called lie Bona
part and He de la Reunion, lies in south
latitude twenty degrees and fifty-two
grees and thirty minutes-one hundred
miles from the Isle of France.
1t is thirty-clght miles long ana TWEEN
ty-eight miles wide Its highest point
.thovc the sea level is ten thousand feet
and the crater at that point WaS active
within the memory of people now living.
OF its other craterS-and there are many
all are extinct except one. which at reg
ular intervals Of six months. brings it.
self into notice by darkening the heavens
for period of ten days with the denSeSt
vaporS. These eruptions occur with the
greatest regularity-the inhabitants be
ing warned by a slight trembling of the
earth, soon followed by the semi-annual
exhibition OF what nature can do in the
way of fireworks.
There is no good harbor although at
SAINT Dennis. the capital, ships drop an
chor while diScharging their cargo into
lighters which are sculled under jettes
built out over the water-the goods
holsted up and wheeled on trucks Il
couple OF hundred feet to the land. This
anchorage seems to protect vessels from
the fierce gales to which this part of the
world is liable, but after they are over.
especially after hurricane it IS a fact
that the heavy swell that always follows
disturhs the ground under the water so
that the anchor loses its grip and the
ship is doomed unless she slips her cable
and claws off shore Near the iettics
which we reach by a flight of hfty-six
steps, is built a large artificial harbor for
small craft, the outer break-water being
as fine piece of engineering as is usual
ly seen. This immense tank is also used
by The inhabitants for bathing purposes
and having depth of from three TO
fifteen feet accommodates large ana
small. having the advantage of being
perfectly safe. In the years 1891 eleven
vessels some of large size-were wrecked
here. and in every case the bottom of the
harbor seemed to have become loosened
co h1 a t,f4,1 In
hcave of the sea
The labor is performed by natives
brought from Madagascar and like the
Malabars and I.ascars of Maurtius are
nothing less than slaves to the rich mas
ters that they are forced to serve.
This island was occuped by the French
in 1919 and it, is wholly French capital
that has developed its growth and made
il one of the most wealthy islands in the
world Its slave labor costs nothing. or
next to nothing. The poor devils man
day: but are kept in debt so that once
landed on the island their return to Mad
agascar is out Of the question.nor is it
the intention of the planters that they
ever shall.
The French language is the only one
spoken-it seems to be understood among
the leaders that such shall De the ease.
| had occasion to go to the poSloflice and
my French being a little short at one end
| managed to get this informa tion-"G;o
down this street, take the first right then
li1c liTSt itlt, tilel say 10 tnt llfSl person
you meet on lie post la :? ] followed di
rections, Ou lie post la'd' two or three
times and succeeded in finding Il place to
deposit my letters
A fine barracks built TO accommoda te
two thousand men. occupied by only five
hundred French soldiers, stands conspic-
uously above the city-a church with a
gilded cross eliStening in the sun-hand-
some dwelling houses. white and clean
all built of stone. to withstand the ter
rifle cyclones that are sure TO come once
or more each year-the gardens sur
rounding them. where grow plants and
flowers of every imaginable shade and
color that a tropical climate can furnish
marble statuary of beautiful workman
ship hidden among the mazes of walks
and drives. with fountains of spraying
water bedeckng the trees and shrubs
and grasses with sparkling gems that
come and so in the soft brcezes of the
trade wind, make 4 charming home for
the dwellers of this island and would
for me. only for the Internal earth
quakes.
The soil of Bourbon is of exceeding fer