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Design & Production By Tinesha Amavasee Tel: (+230) 58293622 Email: [email protected]

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Table of content History of Mauritius Island The Slave Trade The old Factory Chimney Dutch Period French Period British Period Sugarcane Production Sugarcane a greeny Factory plant

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Introduction The story behind the book will show the journey of sugarcane. The book will be based on the evolution of sugarcane as how they manufacture sugar and what were the hardworks to produce sugar in the ancient time.

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Pikachu you know, it was so difficult for the settlers to improve conditions on the island such as famine, bad weather, and the difficulties of communication. The first inhabitations were more like huts than colonial villas and it took a real pioneer spirit and much determination and courage to even begin to create a decent way of life.

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Pikachu, let’s see how the slaves were living ?...

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The Slave Trade

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The Slave Trade

Slaves were a product to be bartered between merchant/ hunters and the planter /purchaser, mainly in North and South America and in the Indian Ocean. All slaves are to be brought up in the catholic religion, a fine to be paid by the owner who defaults. No slaves shall sell sugar cane, for any reason whatsover, under penalty of a lashing.

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The old factory chimney

While discovering our island, you will be able to see and admire the remains of the chimneys; they are witnesses and evidence of our past as a sugar producer. They are usually surrounded by villages where you could find trades and professions useful to both sugar factories and inhabitants. These chimneys are the marks and symbols of sugar estates. The one in Beau Plan is made of magnificent cut stones and is 33 metres high.

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Take a selfie infront of the chimney and keep it as a souvenir.

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DutchPeriod Period TheThe Dutch

The Dutch are the first to occupy the island. They land in Mauritius in 1598, but settle only in 1638. They contribute to the evolution of the country by introducing various cultures, geese and sheep farming.

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However, the living conditions for the first settlers are very hard (cyclones, diseases, lack of comfort). All these hardships force them to leave the island in 1710.

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The French Period In 1715, Mauritius becomes “Ile de France”, under the administration of the French East India Company. From 1735, Mahé de La Bourdonnais boosts the development of the country. This governor equips the island with a road network, two sugar factories, and turns Port Louis into a modern city by building a seaport, big enough to welcome vessels that trade between Europe and Asia.

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Did you know? The Mauritian sugar industry begins in 1745. Mahé de La Bourdonnais encourages the settlers to cultivate sugar cane to produce sugar and arrack in order to resupply the East India Company’s fleet that makes a stopover in Port Louis.

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The British Period

This period is marked by the advent of the sugar industry; the island turns to sugar cane culture and sugar exportation. After the abolition of slavery in 1835, the sugar industry lacks workforce and recruits workers in India.

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The first ones arrive on 2 November 1834. They pass through the Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis where they undergo a health inspection and complete administrative formalities. Once done, they are given a “tin ticket”.

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Peter have a look how they were producing sugar long-

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Crushing

Long ago

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ctory! fa

Let

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Sugar cane, a green factory plant!

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Sugar cane is a perennial plant which is reproduced by cuttings. It thrives in the warmth and high humidity of tropical and subtropical regions. A can plant can yield up to 20 litres of juice from which may be ectracted 2kg of sugar. In addition, Today in Mauritius, we talk of cane industry rather than sugar industry, because we keep on developing both the various types of sugar and the sugar cane byproducts. When it comes to sugar cane, nothing is lost, everything is transformed!

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I sincerely thanks to all the people and institutions that have made this work possible. Particularly: L’Aventure du Sucre and the historic museum. We have ensured the accuracy of the data collected for the realization of this work. Any inaccuracies are totally beyond our control. Editor:

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Picture Credits Ph. L’Aventure du Sucre Private Collection Milbert, Voyage pittooresque a l’isle de France( by courtesy societe royal D’Histoire) Dutch print 18th century, Coll. J.F.Guimbeau Portrait of Labourdonnais, Musee de la compagnie des indes, Lorient, Ph.Yvan Boelle UNESCO, The slave Route Ph. Chambre d’Agriculture Duhamel du Monceau, 18th century, Coll. MSIRI. Ph.MSIRI

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