Cap sur Maurice Destination Immobilier - Edition 2019 Edition 2019 | Page 31

MAURITIUS ISLAND DISCOVERY
History
The British Period (1810 – 1968)
The British administration, which
began with Governor Robert Farquhar,
was followed by rapid social and economic
changes. One of the most important events
that occurred was the abolition of slavery in
1835. Planters were given a compensation
of two million pounds for the loss of
their slaves, imported from Africa and
Madagascar during French occupation.
The abolition of slavery had important
socio-economic
and
demographic
repercussions for the island. Planters
turned to India, from where they brought
a large number of indentured labourers to
work in the sugar cane fi elds.
These Indian immigrants, who were
of both Hindu and Muslim faith, would
quickly change the fabric of Mauritian
society. They were later joined by a small
number of Chinese traders.
Sugarcane cultivation fl ourished and
the island thrived, thanks largely to the
export of sugar to England. The economic
progress made expanding and improving
the means of communication a necessity,
and a more adequate infrastructure was
gradually put in place.
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