As a rich tropical island, set in Indian Ocean, Mauritius has a fascinating history. Prior to it’s independance, the Dutch, French and British all have had a say in its’ colonial history. The resulting influence of these countries now stands as an intriguing spectacle for both visitors and residents.

^ THE DUTCH

--------It was only in 1598 that Mauritius received its first inhabitants: a small colony of Dutch and their slaves of African origin. The Dutch, coming from the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, seemed to have had to face a succession of ordeals such as cyclones, food shortage, slave evasion, pirate visits and ship wrecks, including the one of the Admiral Pieter Both who died in 1615 at the Tombeau Bay. During their occupation, they depleted our forests of ebony trees and killed the dodos to extinction. Points in favour of the Dutch, are that they were responsible for the introduction of a famous species of deer from Java. This species exists nowadays in large numbers on the island and constitutes a choice game animal. They also introduced the sugar cane to the island, the culture of which, constitutes the principal agriculture of the island to thid day. They also drafted the first maps of the island, and named “Flacq”; one of the main districts of Mauritius. The naming of Mauritius was also credited to the Dutch. Mauritius, deriving from the name of the Prince Maurice de Nassau. Thereafter, the Dutch departed “Mauritius” in 1710.

^ THE FRENCH

--------It was during the French occupation in 1715 that Mauritius became “'île de France”, and started to develop and prosper as a colony. The grand creator of this colonial world was Bertrand Francois Mahé de Labourdonnais. His work extended to the creation of official buildings, warehouses, barracks, shipyards and also industries to promote the development of the existing forests for wood construction and the production of sugar from sugar cane. He also re-established law and order, fcommissionerrom a wild and almost deserted island, Labourdonnais setup a thriving and productive colony with an active port in the Indian Ocean. The two other great men of the French period were Pierre Poivre and General Decaen. Pierre Poivre who in 1767 to 1772 was the commissioner of the island, under the governors Dumas and Desroches. He was a very wise administrator, who knew how to put order and bring prosperity to Mauritius. Pierre Poivre also left landmarks of the "grand épicier" stemming from his interest in trees and fine spices. His cultivating wizardry left its mark in Mauritius, as well as Reunion and the Seychelles. General Decaen, was one of the generals of Napoleon, and was "Capitaine-Général" at l'île de France" and at l'île Bonaparte" (now Reunion island), also left landmarks of a brilliant legislator and administrator, who knew how to bring Mauritius and its dependencies to the custody of France (including Reunion and Seychelles) which, during the revolution period in France, had become almost independent.

^ THE ASSEMBLIES

--------The first assembly of ‘île de France’, the General Assembly, was created before the National Assembly of France had given its approval. This assembly and its successors, the famous Colonial Assemblies, were only poor copies of the French assemblies until General Decaen put order with-in the Empire. These assemblies showed their unwillingness to give legal rights to some sections of the population, namely the free coloured people and the slaves. It was inconceivable, as it was impractical then to give the same rights to slaves. However, these rights should have been granted to coloured people born free or even those who were freed. Sadly this was fiercely resisted by the new assemblies.
The French conceded to the British forces in 1810. Despite the French’s victory at the combat of Grand Port in August 1810, the British conquered.

^ THE BRITISH

--------After the blockade and the landing of British troops, who were superior in number to that of the French force of General Decaen, the French surrendered in December 1810. From the Treaty of Paris of 1814, Mauritius and its dependencies became British, whereas Reunion was given back to France. Mauritius became a British colony and reverted back to the name the Dutch originally gave her. Mauritius stayed quite close to France as she kept the French language as the spoken tongue, and the French culture. Left on their own, under the same legal system, the ancient French colonist and their descendants were then able to live in a grand French colonial style. Changing from a colony, based on maritime trade, Mauritius steered a future to agriculture. During the British period developments led to further cultivation. The almost mono-crop agricultural industry of sugar diversified with other crops such as tea, tobacco, aloe and more recently small industries for food, textile and household products.

^ ABOLITION OF SLAVERY

--------The most important event under the British administration was the abolition of slavery in 1835.

^ EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES

--------The colonists opposed the emancipation of the slaves in 1835. British colonies depended on slaves for economical reasons and the sugar industry development needed manpower. The potential uproar was sedated by providing the colonists with a very high compensation. Free but indentured workers from India, eventually fuelled the sudden lack of labour due to the freedom of the slaves. The first importation of Indian human resource to Mauritius was in 1829. But it was only when the slaves were completely emancipated that it became of importance.
The imported Indian labour resulted in an accelerated development of the sugar industry and brought relative prosperity to Mauritius as from 1850. That prosperity of 1850 was also due to a recovery in sugar as an export trad.

^ TOWARDS INDEPENDANCE

--------As from 1937, workers created the establishment of the Labour Party which regrouped the coloured people and certain intellectuals from the Indian community, and the recognition of the workers unions also brought on progress. There was also a new constitution after the elections of 1943 during which two fifths of the population could vote. The elections of 1953 made democracy move further ahead when the Labour party obtained most seats. It was in 1957; the year when the British governmental ministerial system started in Mauritius that Dr. Ramgoolam took the leadership of the Labour party.