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Minni-Mini, owner, Mr. Margery; extends 8 miles; Mauritius
Men
•
Women..
Children.
Total
:::
:
..
47
19
25
91
Annual exportation of oil, 20,853 gallons.
Total population, 431.
Total exportation of oil, 147,519 gallons.
12. Except the managers and sub-managers, who are Europeans, and their families, the population consists of African coolies and Malgaroes. The men receive wages at the rate of 6d. a-day, for which they have to collect 500 cocoa-nuts. The women likewise are employed in shelling and breaking the cocoa-nuts. The husk is left on the ground, and is not used for any purpose. The manager on Marianne estate complained of the great damage done to the cocoa-nuts by the rats; he considered one-twelfth of the produce was destroyed by these animals, who live up the trees. Fish is abundant, but there is no great amount of turtle. The fruit consists of pumpkins, bananas, and papoy. There are no animals or land birds indigenous to this island. We saw a few pigs running wild, that had escaped from the estates, their only food being land crabs. Amongst birds I observed small doves and Cardinal birds, both of which were introduced some years ago from Mauritius.
13. There is no provision made for the education or religious instruction of the labourers or their children. A magistrate from Mauritius visits the island once in two years; there appears to be little or no crime, the most serious being occasional cases of theft.
14. Most rain falls in the months of January, February, and March, but there is seldom a fort- night passes throughout the year without occasional showers. By all accounts the island is very healthy, the principal complaint being influenza.
15. Communication with Mauritius takes place about three times a-year by sailing-vessels. The last steamer seen here before our arrival was Her Majesty's ship "Fly," the beginning of 1875.
16. Fresh water can be obtained all over the island by digging 4 or 5 feet. It is, however, a little brackish; the Europeans preferring the rain water for drinking, a good supply always being kept for that purpose. Fresh provisions are rather scarce; as cattle and sheep will not thrive on the island the attempt to keep them has been given up. Donkeys and mules kept for the purpose of working the mills appear in first-rate condition; they are fed on poonac, the residue of the cocoa-nut left in the mill after the oil has been extracted. Poultry and pigs are plentiful, and seem to flourish; they are like- wise fed on poonac.
17. I inclose herewith Major Barton's Report, also a chart of the harbour, constructed by Lieutenant (N.) James Cuddy, showing the verified soundings of the entrance of the lagoon and anchorage.
Rear-Admiral W. Gore Jones, C.B. Commander-in-chief.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
E. ST. J. GARFORTH, Captain.
Inclosure 3 in No. 59.
THE DEFENSIBILITY OF DIEGO GARCIA.
On board “ Eclipse," en route from Diego Garcia to Trincomalee,
June 28, 1881.
Sir,
Having been appointed by the Major-General Commanding the Forces in Ceylon to accompany you to Diego Garcia, in accordance with instructions received from the Secretary of State for War, for the purpose of our reporting on the defensibility of the place for special purposes, and other matters, I have the honour now to make the following observations:--
The first telegraphic instructions received referred only to the formation of a defensible coaling station for merchant-steamers, but subsequent ones to the possibility of making a naval refitting station there. Now, although at first sight it might appear that a good system of defence would be applicable to both ideas, it nevertheless seems to me that in this particular case the defences would be different in nature and situation, and whilst I venture to think that the harbour may be utilized with advantage for coaling merchant-steamers, there appear to me to be serious objections to its selection as a naval refitting station.
The island is somewhat of an irregular V shape, the points being 34 miles apart. The length of the coast-line is about 30 miles, so that there is a perimeter of upwards of 33 miles to be defended.
As, however, it would be highly dangerous in ordinary weather to beach boats on the outside, the surf running very high, and dashing with great force on the ragged coral in a continuous line of breakers from point to point, I do not suggest that any steps should be taken to protect it. Possibly, in very calm weather, a boat's crew could be landed, and although it is highly improbable that an enemy would chance on so favourable an opportunity, still there is always the possibility of access to the island being gained in this way.
With regard to the entrance to the harbour, there are three passes; the first between East Point and East Island is now only available for light craft or ships willing to accept a very serious risk.
The second, between East and Middle Islands, is deep and narrow, but only available for small
[1103]
3 B
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Appendix No. 4.
DIEGO GARCIA.
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