Year: 1873




1t was during the French occupation Of
Mauritius that the terrible shipwreck took
place which furnished Bernardin de St.
Pierre with the motive for his beautiful
and touching loyestory, Paul aud Virginia,
the scene of which is laid in this island
In 1744 drought and plague of locusts
had oceasioned terrible scarcity in
Mauritius, then called the Isle Of France,
and the following year the 81. Germ was
sent out from the mother country, richly
laden with provisions, to the relief Of the
starving colonists About four o'clock
one fine afternoon Round Island was
sighted from the ship, and the captain,
NJ. De la Marie, wished to profit by fine
moonlight night to enter what is now
known as Tombcau Bay, or the Bay Of
Tombs, but was persuaded TO lie outside
until morning. Ignorant Of the coast, the
officer allowed the ship to drift during the
night upon dangerous reef about league
from land. The sea always runs high
there, and the 81. Gvaa was driven with
great violence among the breakers.


Every effort was made to lower the
boats, but some were crushed by the
falling masts, and Others were swept away
by the waves. In short time the keel
was broken in two, anS the ship became a
total wreck AT the captains request the
chaplain pronounced general benediction
and absolution, and the "Aye Maria
Stella" was sung. Then ensued a scene
of indescribable confusion. Numbers of
the crew flung themselves into the sea,
grasping planks, oars, yards but the heavy
waves tore them from their frail supports,
and nearly all persisted A brave sailor
named Caret made great efforts TO save the
captain, whom he implored to take off his
clothing but NJ De la Marie, who dis
played in this catastrophe much greater
personal courage and piety than seaman
ship, refused to do SO, on the ground that
i II did not become the dignity Of his posi-
tion to land without his uniform. Caret
at length succeeded in placing his captain
on plank, and by swimming alongside
endeavored to get him safely to land.
Encountering raft on which some of the
crew had sought refuge, the captain thought
he would be safer with them. He left the
plank, and succeeded in reaching the lar
ger support. Caret plunged to avoid col
lision, and on rising to the surface again
was horror-struck to find that the raft with
all on board had been ingulfed.


On board the 81. Geran were two
lovers, Mile. Mallet and NJ. De Peramon,
who were to be united in marriage on
reaching the island. The young man, as
anxious and agitated as the girl was calm
and resigned, when the others left, was
making a sort of raft on which to save her
who was dearer than his own life. On
his knees he implored her to descend
with him on to the frail but sole hope Of
safety and to insure greater certainty,
he begged her to take off the heavier part
Of her garments. This she steadily refused
to do. When he found his most earnest
solicitations vain, and all hope of saving
her lost, though she entreated him to leave
her, he quietly took from pocket-book a
tress Of her hair, kissed it, and placed it
on his heart With his arm round her 10
shield her as far as he could to the last, he
calmly awaited the terrible catastrophe at
her side. Nor had they long to wait, for
they were soon washed from the deck.
Their bodies were picked up the following
day, clasped in the close embrace in which
they awaited DEATH


This touching incident formed the
groundwork of the beautiful story over
which SO many tears have fallen. Mauri-
thus was then but little known, and St.
Pierre's pictures Of its life and scenery
were all drawn from Imagination but the
story has invested the far-off island with
an atmosphere of romance. Two struct-
ures at Pamplemousses known as the tombs
of Paul and Virginia are still shown to
visitors-two dilapidated piles Of brick,
still betraying traces of witewash on their
crumbling sides. When visited by Mr..
Pike, who had been asked by a romantic
young lady to gather for her some flowers
from the tombs, he found the surrounding
grounds converted into an impassable
swamp by recent rains. Romance is
evidently at discount in Mauritius
s. Conant, in Harper's Magazine for
October.