|
The island was first
colonized in 1638 by the Dutch. Mauritius was populated over the next few
centuries by waves of traders, planters and their slaves, indentured
laborers, merchants, and artisans. The island was named in honor of Prince
Maurice of Nassau by the Dutch.
It is a volcanic and mountainous island of 1865 square kilometres, about
10 million years old, situated approximately 855 km off the east coast of
Madagascar in latitude 20 south and longitude 57° 35' east. The central
plateau is 800 metres above sea level and the highest peak; "Le Piton de
la Rivière Noire" reaches 828 metres.
Although sugar cane plantations cover much
of the countryside, the variety of landscapes throughout the island is a
revelation: from deep river gorges and imposing mountain peaks to extinct
volcanoes and gushing waterfalls, Mauritius boasts an interesting variety
of habitats that are home to some unique species of flora and fauna and
once to the now extinct dodo.Surrounding the island are beautiful coral
reefs alive with oceanic wonders and strips of classic white beach along
which are situated some of the Indian Ocean's finest hotels.
The country includes Rodrigues an island situated at 560 km to the north
east of Mauritius and some other islands namely Agalega and St Brandon.
While Arab and Malay
sailors knew of Mauritius as early as the 10th century AD and Portuguese
sailors first visited in the 16th century. They
landed in 1510 and used the island
as a victualling stop on their way to Goa and Malaca but they did not
settle. The first colonisation of the island was by the Dutch who arrived
in 1598 and named "Mauritius" after Prince Maurice de Nassau. They
introduced sugar, Malagasy slaves and a herd of Javanese deer and were
said to be responsible for the disappearance of the magnificent ebony
forests and the extinction of the famous "dodo". They abandoned the island
in 1710. The French then occupied the island in 1715 and renamed it "Isle
de France". Mahé de Labourdonnais who took over as governor in 1735,
rebuilt Port-Louis and opened the first sugar cane mill.
The British took over in 1810 and renamed it "Mauritius". The abolition of
slavery led to the importation of Chinese and Indian indentured labourers,
followed by traders of the same nationalities. Mauritius became
independent on the 12th of March 1968 within the Commonwealth and became a
Republic on the 12th of March 1992 .The Constitution is based on the
Westminster model and political power vested in the Prime Minister and the
Cabinet. Elections are held every five years. The President is designed by
the Prime Minister and is the guardian of the Constitution. |
|
