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great success in India, Jamaica, and other tropical countries. It should certainly be adopted also in Mauritius.

4. Another point to be considered is, that the finances of this Colony could hardly bear the burden of paying for more than 500 men of all arms, at the established rate of 70%. for every artilleryman, and of 401. for every soldier of the line. It is contended here that it would not be just to require Mauritius to pay for more Imperial troops than are strictly necessary for the maintenance of law and order, and the defence of the existing forts.

5. It will naturally be asked if any assistance could be given to the garrison of regular troops, in case of need, by any local force. On this point, it may be observed that the police consists of about 650 officers and men, of whom only about 150 are Europeans, the remainder being composed of Indians, and of natives of Mauritius of African descent. Only the Europeans are armed and drilled, or could give any useful support to the garrison. Again, looking to the peculiar character of the heterogeneous population of this island, it is obvious that no militia could be embodied here. There is, however, a "Mauritius Rifle Association," supported by some of the residents of European birth or descent, and it is probable that a volunteer corps of about 100 strong might, if it should be desired by Her Majesty's Government, be established in connection with this Association, from among the members of the Civil Service, and the mercantile, banking, and planting community.

6. In connection with the general subject of the defence of this island, it may be observed that it has been proposed to extend the electric telegraph to Mauritius, and also to subsidize a second line of steamers, so as to have regular communication with the rest of the world twice each month. The Colonial revenue could not at present bear the expense of both these schemes, cach of which would entail a considerable yearly subsidy. It is held by most thinking men that the telegraph with the existing monthly line of steamers via Aden and the Suez Canal, would be more advantageous for Colonial interests than two monthly lines of steamers without the telegraph. And there seems to be no question among naval and military officers but that, on grounds of Imperial policy, the extension of the telegraph to Mauritius is of high and urgent importance. It will be remembered that the legisla- ture of this Colony has already pledged itself to contribute a subsidy of 100,000 rupees to the cost of bringing hither the telegraph, and that with my despatch of the 8th September ultimo, I transmitted a copy of the Report adopted on this subject, in which the Legislature "venture to express the hope that the Secretary of State for the Colonies will seize the earliest opportunity of reconsidering this matter, so that Mauritius may not remain relegated among the few British possessions which are now deprived of the benefits of direct telegraphic communication."

7. Mauritius has often been called the Malta of the Indian Ocean. Of course, its strategical importance has been somewhat lessened by the opening of the Suez Canal, as the strategical importance of Malta is thought in some quarters to have been somewhat lessened by the general adoption of the route viâ Brindisi. Still it is always possible, in the event of war, that the Suez Canal may become, at least temporarily, closed to the British flag; in which event all the old importance of Mauritius, as an outpost on the ocean highway to India, China, and Australia, round the Cape, would at once revive. I have lately had the opportunity of conversing on this point with several officers of distinction and experience, and, in particular, with Sir George Pomeroy Colley, K.C.S.I., C.B., C.M.G. (late Chief of the Staff to Sir Garnet Wolseley), who was my guest here on his way from South Africa to India, to resume his post on the staff of the Viceroy. I find that all agree as to the great importance of holding at all times this central and fortified coaling station and safe harbour of refuge, with its three capacious graving docks, in the Indian Ocean, and as to the urgent need of extending the telegraph to Mauritius. It may be mentioned as a significant fact that, during the last few months, two foreign ships of war, a German and a Dutch frigate, while cruizing in the Indian seas, have put into Mauritius with the object of communicating thence with their respective Governments, and that the officers in command were alike disappointed and surprised to find that the telegraph had not as yet been extended to this island.

8. Perhaps the above remarks respecting the garrison of Mauritius, and the importance, on grounds alike of Imperial and of Colonial policy, of extending the electric telegraph to this island, may be thought not unworthy of the attention of the newly appointed Commission on Colonial Defence. To sum up, it is recommended that :—

(1.) The garrison of Mauritius in time of peace should be permanently fixed at one battery of the Royal Artillery, together with either one weak battalion, or the head-quarters wing of a regiment of the line; in all, not less than 500 men of all arms.

(2.) Barracks for 400 men should be erected at the Sanitarium of Curepipe, 1,800 feet above the sea, where the troops would be nearly as healthy as in England.

(3.) The Imperial Government should take measures, on grounds alike of Imperial and of Colonial policy, for the immediate extension of the electric telegraph to Mauritius, either from Zanzibar or from Durban, in Natal. It will be recollected that the Legislature of this Colony has pledged itself to the payment of an annual subsidy of 100,000 rupees towards this object. It would, of course, be desirable, if it were possible, that the telegraph line should be brought from Zanzibar viâ Seychelles, where the safe and commodious harbour of Mahé is much frequented by Her Majesty's ships, and might become of great importance, in the event of war, from its position with regard to the entrance to the Red Sea. But this circuitous route would largely increase the entire cost of the work, while it would delay its speedy execution.

[1103]

I have, &c. (Signed)

G. F. BOWEN.

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Appendix No. 4.

MAURITIUS.

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