Mauritius - History
Mauritius was known to the early Arab traders, as it can be found marked on their maps, but the first visitors from Europe were the Portuguese, who landed in 1510.They used the island as a victualling stop on the ways to Goa and Malacca, but did not settle.
The first attempt at colonisation was made by the Dutch, who arrived in 1598, and named the island Mauritius, after Prince Maurice of Nassau. They introduced sugar, Malagasy slaves, and a herd of Javanese deer.
The Dutch were heedlessly destructive and were responsible for the disappearance of the magnificent ebony forests and the extinction of the Dodo. They eventually abandoned their settlements in 1710.
The French occupied the island between 1715 and 1810, and renamed it Isle de France, and today many place names are reminders of this period. Mahé de Labourdonnais, who took over as governor in 1735, rebuilt Port Louis and opened the first sugar mill.
In 1810, with the British takeover, the name reverted to Mauritius. The abolition of slavery then led to the importation of Indian and Chinese labourers who were followed by traders of same nationalities. Mauritius obtained independence from Britain on 12 March 1968, and since then has been an independent sovereign nation within the commonwealth.Under the Constitution, which is based on the Westminster model, political power is vested in the Prime Minister and the cabinet.
Elections are usually held every five years. Mauritius became a Republic 0n 12 March 1992. Population Mauritius has a population estimated at 1,150226 people, with about 35 663 on Rodrigues island, a small dependency which forms part of Mauritius. The percentage rate of population growth is 1.1 per annum and the density is approximately 578 per square kilometre. Mauritius has a young educated population, which is remarkable for its ethnic diversity with Mauritians of Indian, African, European and Chinese origin. This has produced a brew of languages, religions and customs.
English is the official language but almost everyone speaks French. Oriental languages, especially Bhojpuri, Hindi and Hakka figure prominently but Creole remains the "Lingua Franca".
17. Despite the only French naval victory (during the Napoleonic Wars) of Battle of Grand Port on 19 and 20 August 1810 by a fleet commanded by Pierre Bouvet, Mauritius was captured on 3 December 1810 by the British under Commodore Josias Rowley. Their possession of the island was confirmed four years later by the Treaty of Paris (1814). French institutions, including the Napoleonic code of law, were maintained. The French language was at that moment still used more widely than English.
20. Whenslaverywas abolished in 1835, an attempt was made to secure a cheap source of adaptable labour for intensive sugar plantationsin Mauritius. Indentured labour began with Chinese, Malay, African and Malagasy labourers, but ultimately, it was Indiawhich supplied the much needed laborers to Mauritius.This period of intensive use of Indian labour took place duringBritish rule,with many brutal episodes and a long struggle by the indentured for respect. Thetermapplied to the indentured during this period, and which has since become a derogatoryterm for Mauritians of Asian descent, was Coolie. ~Wiki
21. When slavery was abolished in 1835, an attempt was made to secure a cheap source of adaptable labour for intensive sugar plantations in Mauritius.Indentured labour began with Chinese, Malay, African and Malagasy labourers, but ultimately, it was India which supplied the much needed laborers to Mauritius. This period of intensive use of Indian labour took place during British rule, with many brutal episodes and a long struggle by the indentured for respect. The term applied to the indentured during this period, and which has since become a derogatory term for Mauritians of Asian descent, was Coolie. ~Wiki
