"معاملات الجمعية الجغرافية في بومباي. من يناير ١٨٦٣ حتى ديسمبر ١٨٦٤. (تحرير السكرتير.) المجلد XVII." [‎٣‎١] (٥٢٤/٦٠)

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tling on these islands, received grants of lands in allotments of 108 acres
each, upon condition of residence and building within a period of one
year. These grants were made provisionally at Seychelles, and were
afterwards confirmed in perpetuity by the Superior Government at
Mauritius. When, however, the English took Seychelles, and which
they did some little time before taking Mauritius, they continued to
grant provisionally as before; but, of course, no confirmation took place
from the Isle of France so long as the latter remained French. Hence
the titles of estates granted during that period were unconfirmed at the
time, and still so remain. This defect, the Creoles say, should in equity
be cured. - .
Thus much for the little plainings of the good people of Mahe.
Others assert, that all their difficulties and their poverty are due to their
own want of thrift, industry, and enterprise. One fact is obvious, that
nature has given them a delightful island, abundantly watered, well
stored with wood, rich in soil, capable of producing the fruits of many
climates, and healthful. Where these blessings are freely bestowed, it
is difficult to believe that man cannot render life useful, prosperous, and
happy, provided only he himself be virtuous, prudent, and persevering.
The Mail steamer to and from Aden and Mauritius calls at Mahe ;
unless during the months of June, July, and August, when, owing to
the force of the south-west monsoon, it avoids the islands on its passage
out. It so chanced that, during the week I passed in Port Victoria, wait
ing on board Her Majesty’s Steam-frigate “ Orestes” for the Mail, the
Seychelles were visited by a violent hurricane, the first ever experienced
there. This circular storm strengthening out of the south-east trade,
veered southward, westward, and gave us its full fury from north-west.
It then moderated northwards, hung awhile at north-east, and finally
subsided into the south-east trade again, followed by floods of rain. I
do not remember to have ever heard any sound so mournful as the
Titanic* sobbings of that hurricane—now hushed an instant, as spent
with passion the tempest gasped for breath.
During the storm there were reefs all round us within a few hundred
yards, and the shore was not a mile distant; yet we could see neither
land, nor reef, nor even sea, but only a scud of foam blown past the side
* Such mourning and such silence Thca. knew
When Saturn reigned no more.”