In 1973, when
I first visited the beautiful Indian
Ocean Island of Mauritius it was relatively untouched by tourism and yet to
be discovered by tourists in their masses. In those days, its main claims to
fame were the extinct bird, the Dodo, and the postage
stamp known as the “Blue
Mountain.”
Now the
island is a prime destination for seekers of white coral sands, blue skies, tranquillity
and fantastic hospitality from the hosts and staff in the many hotels set in
tropical gardens that are shaded by coconut palms, bending in the balmy
tropical breeze that softly sighs in from its surrounding turquoise seas.
Mauritius
lies 1200 off the coast of East Africa and the people of the island do not
consider themselves “African”. Populated mostly with people of Indian origin,
it bears no resemblance to India. The main language is French and civilised in
the way of the French, it owes no allegiance to France. Also with 150 years of
British administration and influence, its association with the United Kingdom
is not massive. However, with all the different backgrounds and cultural
influences, there has merged a culture that has created a unique and vibrant people,
who, without a doubt, make them the greatest tourism attraction to the island.
They are happy, colourful, friendly and make every person visiting feel very
special.
Add the
squeaky, soft, sandy beaches lapped by aquamarine coral lagoon waters, the
Black Mountains, tropical tangled forests casting their shade over timber
walled cottages, bubbling mountain streams and rolling fields of sugar cane, it
is a place of 700 square miles of Eden.
It is thought
that in the first 1000 years AD, the Arab and Malay peoples were the first to
visit the island, which was uninhabited until the 16th century. The
first European to moor off the island and visit was the Portuguese Captain Pedro Mascarenhas
and named the group of islands, Reunion, Rodrigues and Mauritius the “Mascareignes.”
Then in 1598 a party of Dutchmen landed on the island and named it after their
ruler at the time, Prince Maurice of
Nassau. For forty years it became the port of call for the Dutch, English
and French trading ships, until the Dutch took formal possession in 1638. Four
years later the Dutch
navigator, Tasman, set sail on his most important voyage that led to the
discovery of Australia.
The Dutch
introduced sugar cane to the island and the sambar
deer from Java in the East Indies. They also hunted out and exterminated
the dodo and other indigenous birds and animals unique to the island. Their
settlement lasted until 1715 and was then claimed by the French who renamed it
Ile de France. In the early years of administration by the French East India
Company, several fortifications were built, (one of which can be seen at the
entrance of Grand Port.) They also shipped in African slaves. In 1735 a great governor
was appointed, Mahe de
Labourdonnais, who, during 11 years of office transformed the colony. The
planting of sugar cane was encouraged; the first sugar factory was opened in
Pamplemousses in 1743 and cotton, indigo, cloves, nutmeg and spices were grown.
He had the “marrons” (escaped African slaves) rounded up and captured as they
had been terrorising the French settlers, creating peace on the plantations. In
Port Louis he established a naval base that conducted forays that harassed the English merchant ships sailing on their
way to India on the Spice Route, confiscating their precious cargos of spice.
But, the rise of the French East India Company was short lived, - ruined by financial
setbacks and a succession of wars, they were forced to hand the island over to
the rule of France and under the rule of the French crown, it flourished as a
naval station, figuring prominently in sea strategy during the War of American
Independence, the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War. In
the Napoleonic Wars it became “Le Nid de Corsairs” which was a base for
privateers who preyed on the East English
Indiamen.
In 1810, the British
Royal Navy were fed up with this stone in their shoe and decided to retaliate
by sending off four frigates. They were thoroughly defeated in Grand Port, off
Mahebourg. The wrecks of two frigates, the Magicienne and the Sirius are known
to be lying 60 to 90 feet down and can be reached by scuba diving. The Battle
of Grand Port was the only notable French naval victory against the English and
is proudly inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
A few months
after this embarrassment to the English, an invasion was launched by them from
the island of Rodrigues, 250 miles away. The island’s defences collapsed and
the French capitulated and four years later Ille de France was ceded to Britain.
It is interesting to note that under the terms of surrender to the English
under the treaty of Paris, the French way of life, religion, language, laws and
customs were safeguarded. This settlement is still recognised with gratitude by
the French descendants of Mauritius.
The economy
thrived under British administration and the island prospered. The first major
social change came with the abolition of slavery in 1833. Freed, the African
and Creole workers refused to labour in the sugar plantations and indentured
labour was recruited from India. Once strengthened, the labour force helped
towards the expansion of the sugar industry and helped speed sugar consignments
to Port
Louis by building roads and bridges to the port.
Life
continued peacefully for more than 100 years and Mauritius was known as the “Star
and Key of the Indian Ocean”. During the Age of Steam the island became an important
coaling station on the passage to India. When the Suez Canal
was opened, the island’s strategic commercial importance was lost until the
closure of the Suez during WW2 when it had a brief revival. Prosperity
continued through the first half of the 20th century, interrupted by
the two Great Wars in which many Mauritians served with the British army.
In 1968,
after 154 years of British rule Mauritius gained
Independence.
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