Journey to MauritiusSignal Books, 2002 - 290 pages Structured into a series of letters, Bernardin's survey of Mauritius includes a detailed description of the island's geography, and flora and fauna. Describing the closed nature of colonial society, he also provides a chilling picture of the cruelties of plantation life and slavery. Bernardin's book of 1773 Voyage a L'Isle de France, is an early example of a walking guide as he details the sights and landscapes of Mauritius. The introduction to this volume sets Bernardin's travel account into its historical context, discussing his life and ideas as well as the hostility the book provoked when first published. It also explores the book's contribution to travel writing and its relevance to modern-day Mauritius. |
Contents
Authors Preface to the First Edition 1773 | 53 |
Lorient 4 January 1768 | 64 |
Observations on the Sky Winds and Birds | 82 |
Observations of Possible Use for the Better Management | 88 |
Port Louis 6 August 1768 | 94 |
Port Louis 7 December 1768 | 102 |
Meteorological Journal | 114 |
Port Louis 25 April 1769 | 126 |
On Whites and Blacks | 177 |
Leaving Réunion Arrival at the Cape | 187 |
Quality of the Air and Soil in the Cape | 196 |
Slaves Hottentots the Dutch | 202 |
Departure from the Cape Description | 209 |
Observations on Ascension Island Departure | 220 |
On Voyagers and Voyages | 226 |
Notes | 234 |
Port Louis 29 May 1769 | 133 |
Port Louis 15 July 1769 | 145 |
Journey on Foot Around the Island | 153 |
On Commerce Agriculture and the Islands Defence | 171 |
La chaumière indienne | 249 |
The Indian Hut | 255 |
Notes | 283 |
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Common terms and phrases
animals arrived Ascension Island beautiful Bernardin de Saint-Pierre birds Bissoondoyal boat Brahmins called Cape captain Chaudenson climbed coast coconut Code Noir colony colour Constantia wine covered cyclone Discourse on Inequality doctor dodo Dutch edition English Europe European famous fire fish flowers forest France French fruit garden governor grow happiness Hookoomsing Indian inhabitants island Jagrenat journey kind Labourdonnais land latan palm leagues leaves Letter lithophytes live Lorient Madagascar mast Mauritian Mauritius morning mountain nature never night palm pariah Paris Paul et Virginie piastres pirogue plantation plants Poivre Port Louis reefs Réunion river Rivière Noire rocks Rousseau sail sailors Saint-Denis sand scurvy seems seen shells ship shore skin slavery society Souriau species sugar taste Toussaint town trees Trelawny truth Voyage walked wanted wind women wood