"What a rhodomontade story you have got by heart, Susan! Well, I do not feel sufficiently well to appear on deck; so you can tell me, when Neptune arrives, how he was received, and what kind of a gentleman he was.——It is wonderful to me, this crossing the Line! How many thousand times has this farce been acted, and yet it seems not to lose any of its original interest! But one can scarcely be surprised, when we take into consideration the unvaried dullness of a seaman's life; one can enter into the feelings of that, to me, unhappy race of imprisoned beings, and I can imagine that the least circumstance that varies their monotonous existence must be eagerly caught at, and prized accordingly."

This was the soliloquy pronounced by the mistress of the eager Susan, as the latter departed with rapid strides to the scene of action; and though these were the thoughts of a gentlewoman unused to the sea, the voyager who has traversed the ocean and crossed the encircling belt of the world will (unless he be a cynic indeed, or a sombre Calvinist) readily excuse-nay, even join in the boisterous merriment that announces his "shooting the Line."

The tramping and hurrying of footsteps. upon deck-the evidently unusual buzz and bustle that seemed to issue from that sanctum of Jacks, the forecastle-the mystery which sat upon the countenances of the uninitiated—and last of all, the tremendous blast of a horn, bespoke the presence of something or other out of the way of ordinary things. As Susan was an eye-witness from the commencement to the close, it will be proper to hear from her own lips what took place upon this important occasion, and what sort of a gentleman Mr. Neptune proved himself.

"I never seed such a thing afore in all my life-never in all my born days-I never did! First and foremost, a loud ging-gong sounded; then, all on a sudden, a trumpet blows a blast; and then, actilly from out the bottomless sea, over the very water itself, a rough, cracked voice, a most unhuman voice, says, 'Ship, a-hoy!' 'Hello!' answers a sailor aboard, looking over the side. 'Any o' my sons aboard?' says the rough voice again. 'Better come aboard and look yerself,' says the sailor. Accordingly, I heard a scramble and a deep growl, like unto Wombwell's wild elephant, come from the bottomless, and, in less than a minute, up the side of the ship, wringing wet, all over hair, like Hesor, and a three-tined fork, and such a beard! all a-dribbling-up comes Neptune himself-his actual self! up comes he! and after him Alfytite, his wife. I never did see such a pair! Alfytite was the biggest ooman I ever seen some said her was no ooman at all, and but a mermaid. All of a sudden, a clumsy-looking carriage, drawed by a dozen, dressed up and bedizened like the oldfashioned morris-dancers, all over flying rags, and masks on. These, all harnessed to the car, preceded by three musicianers, and a drummer, who I seed at once was the black cook, Congo; he played a good drum on his soup-tin bottom. The musicianers and all marched round, drawing the king and queen of the ocean, till they got on to the part where the butcher kills his pigs; then and there Neptune

6

·

demands, through a trumpet, whether he may not see his new sons? Accordingly, I sees a poor fellow being led up blindfolded towards the throne. When he gets opposite to his majesty, he kneels down, and Neptune puts his trumpet to his ear and roars out whether he had ever been across his dominions afore? No,' says the blind man. 'Well, then, you must be shaved. Barber!' cries Neptune (through the trumpet, for he never speaks without that engine), Barber,' says he, 'up with your Christopher,' says he. At those words, the barber pulled forth and brandished a lathering-brush, like what the chimblysweepers use for routing out flues, and with this he actilly besmeared and beskumbered the blind man's face all over; yes, all over, his neck and all. How old are you?' says he; and have you cut your wisdom-tooth?' When the poor feller opened his mouth to answer, the hard-hearted barber stuffed in a dolloper of wadding soaked in tar; and then, at a given signal, there was such a torrent of water come poshing upon him from above, that I never did see the like-it fairly washed the unfortunate a yard or two. Then, as he lay upon his back, the unmerciful barber, with his razor, a yard and a half long, shaved him. Another torrent from aloft, and then the poor soul was unbandaged and unbound. But, wringing wet as he was, he didn't afear taking cold, for I seed him soon after getting up the rigging, with a bucket of water, to throw on another one wot was a-being shaved, and make him as uncomfortable as lay in his power."

"I wonder, Susan, that you did not get a sprinkling !”

"Why, so, ma'am, they tell me I should; but I prevaricated the matter, and guv 'em a bottle of rum as a prevaricator."

"Well, and what then happened, Susan ?"

66

Why, ma'am, there was six or seven had a fine soaking and shaving. The Lord ha' mercy upon 'em!' said I. 'Suppose the man should catch the ager, or swallow the ball of wadden; the crowner's inquest would bring it in, Died by visitation of God---or, what is wose, might bring it in

66

Temporary Insanity, rather, on the part of the murderers,

Susan."

"Well, Miss, then there'd be what they call 'a doudand;' and who's to satisfy that, I should like to know?"

"A deodand on what, Susan?"

"On what, ma'am? Why, on the ball of wax, or pitch, or what it was as choked him! That's a doudand-when a man gets killed by a mad bull, then the bull has to pay a doudand; and if, as in course, the beast can't pay, then his owner has to forfeit the beast, as he was the owner of the murderous doudand! he has to give him to the crowner for his trouble in the inwestigation.

"Well, after they had all been shaved, Neptune rises from his car and makes a long speech to the Captain, assuring him that grog was a wholesome licker, and good for the inwards. So, after this speech, three bottles of rum was given to Neptune, on behalf of himself and brethren. The lady Alfytite then danced a hornpipe with her lord the king; and, that done, they mounted the car again, and striking up the

music and a song, they departured this way, an' in the same order they come; but they are all a-fiddling and dancing now on the forecastle; yes, that they are, till they are all of a reek. I am sure a sailor must be made of Indy-rubber; he is, by what I read in some book-he's a hamfiboose animal. But I'm glad it's over. I never seen such a sight, and never shall again. I wouldn't have a sailor for a husband, with his great tarry fist, and his undecent tight breeches, all begrimed and betarred! I would not have one of those hamfiboose critturs, not for the Indies o' goold!"

"Well, Susan, thank you for giving me such an insight into your choice of a husband. I am afraid you would not, according to your present opinion, even accept the heart of Neptune himself."

"Of Neptune, Miss! and have his great bear's paws and elephant's voice a-near me! I'd rather be a spinster for

"Susan!"

"For years, and wear out my existence a virgin! that's what I'd do, believe me, Miss!"

INDIAN IMMIGRATION TO THE ISLAND OF MAURITIUS;

WITH A FEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE GOVERNOR'S MINUTES OF 22ND MARCH AND 12TH MAY, 1845, ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

THE accompanying papers are published for the purpose of adding to the general stock of information on the subject of Indian Immigration to the Island of Mauritius; an interesting subject at all times to the spectators of the prolonged struggle of Free Labour versus Slavery, in which the former would long since have conquered but for the unaccountable assistance given to the latter by the Anti-Slavery Society in its systematic opposition to all immigration to the British Colonies, and particularly interesting at the present moment to the planters of Mauritius, suffering under all the evils of a deficiency of labour, and witnesses of the late singular contest, waged by their Governor singlehanded against his whole body of Councillors, official members included, who of themselves alone form the majority of said Council, altogether constituting such an extraordinary union on the one side, opposed by a still stronger unity on the other, as to cause it to be exclaimed with truth, "If the Governor is right, all the rest of the world are wrong."

The Governor maintains the planters do not want additional labour. The planters declare they do require it, and this is the question at issue. The Governor asserts his theory in various minutes; the planters defend their practice by appealing to a host of facts-Theory versus Practice.

Confessedly, it is difficult to grapple with the Governor's Minutes, but simply because they are nothing else but a mass of special pleading, assertion without evidence-in fact, theory without practice. Besides, his objections are over-numerous, and sometimes contradictory.

If the Governor objected to immigration on principle-if he said "Better let the Indian remain in India, for he does not improve his condition by the change," the Governor's mistake might be deplored; but at all events it could be understood, which is not the case at present. For after admitting immigration to be a good thing, he goes on to discover such an extraordinary number of curious reasons why this good thing should be very limited in its extent, as to puzzle any plain man to understand him; as, for example, it is proved that Mauritius dees not want labour, because-the people of Jamaica cannot afford to convey men from the East to the West; because-self-producing sugar machines have been invented; and because-the Island of Bourbon has been afflicted with two hurricanes!

In vain 200 applicants rush to the depôt on the arrival of each immigrant ship, and in spite of all the regulations invented to keep them away; in vain are they made to attend personally, no agent being permitted,-all must leave their estates, a distance sometimes of thirty-five miles, and the owners of more than one estate can only appear for one at a time; in vain are they made to wait the first day to sign their names in a book, the second day to draw lots for numbers, the third day at last they find themselves in the presence of the prized labourers.* Then and there, one offers his gold watch as a bribe, blows are exchanged; and, in the midst of a real battle, two or three succeed in engaging the whole lot, to the tune of £200 sterling and upwards, divided between the interpreters (some of whom are known to sell their services four deep), door-keepers, and police, leaving their 197 neighbours to curse their luck, and prepare for a renewal of the above the next opportunity.

In vain does all this and more than this occur weekly in the town of Port Louis, within 400 yards of Government House. The Governor quietly asks, "Where is the demand for labour?" (Vide Minute of March, page 9.)

All who know the Governor, acquit him of official hypocrisy. They declare he speaks his convictions, and that he does not dress his "Minutes" for the sole purpose of pleasing (as, he thinks) certain parties in England, who happen to have the keeping of certain portions of solid pudding.

So all, on the other hand, who are impartial, confess that the rock on which he splits is over-legislation, a very common error with all theorists. He does not appear to have any faith in the natural order and course of events; he must be all things and do all things-on paper,-be as it were a kind of little walking providence.

The Governor's first curiosity is, "Sirdar Omnipotence" (page 2), and many terrible things are laid to the charge of this "omnipotent and indestructible power." Fortunately for the Colonists, the monster is all moonshine, as every practical man knows. The Sirdar is useful to get the men,—especially when there is a host of official subordinates

* These formalities have been very lately reformed a little.

to contend with, and the fewer the men the more powerful the Sirdar. After the men are engaged, if he misbehaves, he can be, and is, discharged. No doubt, the Sirdar, unknown to the Planter, often imposes on the labourer. But look to India, to the Indian in his own country, and then compare with it Mauritius. Another difficulty is the supposed risk of feeding an additional population of 20,000 or 30,000, and this in a country where one day's labour provides ten days' food!

Again, mysterious hints and insinuations are whispered against bad masters; such and such parties cannot man their estates, because they are over-rigorous. Now, to speak out plainly, it is not the Governor's especial duty to probe such accusations to the quick. Have not all a right to say, "Speak plainly, and putting aside all other motives, does not justice to the good and lenient demand punishment for the severe and bad master ?"

Then the Governor appears to know exactly the number of labourers requisite for the full and entire cultivation of Mauritius; so many, and no more. At one moment 30,000, then 6,000, after 12,000 is the magic number. He knows the exact full amount of produce the soil was, is, and ever will be capable of yielding; he knows how many cane plants go to an acre, and when a plant receives exactly its full share of labour, so as to produce to the utmost; he knows exactly how many acres each planter ought to cultivate, or can cultivate to a profit, so as to escape being taxed with "speculative" folly "in the march of adventure." He knows exactly "the actual wants," or rather "needs," as he correctly words it, of all. And the best of this is, he knows all without moving from his study at Redult, or coming into contact with individuals, or meeting his Council!

Besides, as the Governor inquires, what is the use of letting the "grower of moderate means" have labourers? He will only increase his cultivation and industry, putting himself in a worse position, by the means of "ruinous advances;" whereas the sober policy and paternal solicitude of the Governor would keep him idle, and so all will be quiet," and comfortably ruined.

66

And if relief is granted now, will it not be asked for again next year, or whenever the evil returns? Present satisfaction is useless; which calls to mind Dean Swift's servant, who discovered it was useless to clean his master's boots in the morning, inasmuch as they were sure of being dirty again ere night.

Is it necessary to mention more of similar objections and difficulties so plausibly set forth,-the easy work of a theorist ? We are, indeed, unable to do so for all our faculties are paralysed in the contemplation of three great evils which haunt this worthy Governor :The fertile waste land of Mauritius is a sore affliction ! The redundant population of India is a terrible nuisance!! The abundant capital of England is the overwhelming abomination !!!*

Vide various public documents on more than one occasion.