MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUTE, MEDFOKD, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2P, 1935.
PAGE THREE
MAURITIUS ISLE
BE
L
Island 716 Square Miles In
Area In Strategic Loca-
- tion From African Coast
And In Ethiopia Vicinity.
WASHINGTON, D. 0. Spl)
Mauritius Island, England's chiel
possession In the South Indian ocean
and strategic point on the rout
between South Africa and India, ts
being considered as a possible naval
"base for Great Britain. Interest In
making use of the island In this
way has been aroused by the naval
activity in the waters of the mid
dle east in connection with the
Italo-Ethloplan war. The Island,
about 716 square miles in area, is
approximately 1,400 miles from the
east coast of Africa and within
four days steaming distance of ports
used by Ethiopia.
"Port Louis, largest town of the
densely populated island of Mauri
tlus ts an excellent harbor, pro
tected at its entrance by two
atrongholds, Port William and Port
George," says a bulletin from the
Washington, D. C, headquarters ox
' the National Geographic society.
This port, one of the finest in
the Indian ocean, la the only nav
igable and accessible approach to
the island, -which is surrounded by
a chain of coral reefs.
Discovered In 1307
"When 'the Island was first dis
covered In 1507 by the Portuguese
It was uninhabited. They made no
permanent settlements, nor did The
Netherlands which took possession
in 1508. The latter gave the island
its present name. Mauritius, in
honor of Count Maurice of Nassau.
They deserted the Island in 1710
after several futile attempts at col
onisation. "The French then took control
and, renaming the Island He de
Prance, made a successful settle
ment at Port Louts. They intro
duced sugar planting as the prin
cipal industry and imported thous
ands of Africans to work the large
plantations. The French also built
roads, railways, and buildings which
are still used. The French lang
uage laws, and customs also pre
vail today, although the Island has
been under British control since
the Treaty of Paris In 1814. When
the British assumed control They
changed very little except Its name:
Mauritius It was, to be called once
more.
"Port Louis, melting pot of French.
English, Indians, Africans, Chinese.
Malays, and. others, has been mod
ernized by contact with the outside
world. Regular steamship services
and telegraphic and postal systems
connect it with the principal cities
of Europe, Africa, and AbIs. Rail
ways and motor highways bring it
in constant touch with the main
communities of the Island. Port
Louis is the seat of the government
and business of Mauritius, but its
most prosperous and prominent cit
izens live in the fashionable resi
dential t.n of Curepipe, 1,800 feet
abovj the ties and about 15 miles
from Port Louts. Commuting trains
every morning carry Mauritian sub
urbanites to the heat of the city
and in the evening back to the
beautiful town in the highlands.
"July and August are the fash
ionable social months in Marl tlus.
as then the weather Is at Its Dent
in Port Louis a French opera com
pany gives performances in the
municipal theater during these
months, and balls and concerts are
frequent forms of entertainment.
Sports also have a prominent place
at this time, and tennis, golf, foot
ball, cricket, and racing are popu
lar. The yacht cluba hold regattas
in Tombeau bay and 'la chasse, or
deer hunting, holds sway as the
favor it national pastime.
Famed In Literature
"Mauritius has been called the
'garden spot' and 'gem' of the In
dian ocean by writers; others have
compared her beauties to the Riv
iera and the famed South Sea Is
lands. The tropical plcturesqueness
of the Island Is the background of
the well-known French romantic
novel. 'Paul et Vlrginle," by Bernar
dln de St. Pierre, who lived on
Mauritius three years as a govern
ment engineer. The Pamplemousses
botanical garden in the district by
that name has been made famous
as the scene of the unhappy lovers'
grave.
"Mark Twain spent some time on
the island and wrote afterward ol
Its 'ragged luxuriance of tropic veg
etation, limpid streams, dense for
ests, and tiny mountains quaint
and picturesque groups of toy
peaks.' . '
"Of volcanic origin, the Island is
very hilly, even mountainous along
the coast. Two peaks' form a rugged
background to the harbor of Port
Louis and guide ships to Its en
trance. The interior, the crater of
a one-time volcano, was. until the
arrival of the French on the island,
covered w;rh ebony and bamboo
trees; it Is now a fertile valley OS
sugar cane, cotton, and tobacco. A
single peak, however, rises abruptly
from the fertile plains in the cen
ter of the Island. Tills peaS is
known as the Plton du Milieu de
l'lle.
"The rainy season In Mauritius
is, approximately, from January to
mid-April, during which time the
island Is swept by severe wind
storms accompanied by great down
pours of rain. These hurricanes last
for about eight hours at a time
In recent years, however, the storms
have been less violent owing, it i
thought, to the deforestation of the
island and the resulting drier at
mospheric conditions. This is one
reason why England can now more
safely establish a naval base at the
island.
"The Mauritians are particularly
successful In the raising of sugar
cane and the production of sugar.
In spite of heavy rainfall and wind
during the wet season, over 200.000
tons are produced yearly In an area
of about 138.000 acres. Many other
tropical products are also being
raised with success, such as cotton,
tobacco, pineapples, tea. coconuts
and aloes. Although England re
ceives the greatest amount of its
goods, the island also trades with
India, Burma, and South Africa.
"Because of the island's position
in the Indian ocean between Africa
and India, and also because of the
lack of any so-called 'native' pop
ulation, the inhabitants are chiefly
Indians and Africans, together with
some French and English who have
come to Mauritius for governmental
and business purposes. The most
numerous element of the popula
tion, however. Is Indian or of In
dian extraction. There are no race
restrictions in the civic rights ol
the Island, the- members of the
council of government beln elected
directly by the populace. The pop
ulation is nearly 400,000."
FOUND IN CELLAR
WINTHROP, Mass. (UP) Sought
for 50 years, Charles Russell Sturgls'
painting of Point Shirley in pre-revo-luttonary
days has been found In the
cellar of the town library.
At first thought to have been hid
den in the town hall, the water color
painting, valued at $1.00, was dis
covered by the head librarian rolled
In a metal tube.
The painting was done In the style
of the much-sought American primi
tives and depicted the houses of Gov
ernors John Hancock and William
Shirley and Samuel' Sturgls, owner
of the old salt works and father of
the artist.
THE DALLES, Ore., Nov. 29. (P)
The Seims-Helmer Co., engaged on
the $400,000 Columbia river channel
ization project between Celllo and
Umatilla, now has 40 men at work
and will employ 70 at peak operations.
Phone 542 We'h haul away your
feusre City Sanitary Service.
FOR
YOU CAN'T DO
BETTER THAN A
loafing
PONTIAC
SIXES and EIGHTS
FOR
ECONOMY
PRICED $
AS LOW AS
Urn priraw mt FontUe, .WrL, hwh mt
$tIS for th Sim mnd $7SO for thmtisk
(ambjct to chongm tmithont n(MM.
ywrd group of t
SKINNER'S GARAGE
143 S. Riverside. Tel. 102
19 DAYS TO HAVE
that portrait, you've promised yourself
for so long , . , make your appointment today
KENNELL-ELLIS STUDIO
32 North Central
A
CORONA
TYPEWRITER fl -Ov I
tjmS.. BIERMA
amam' ' TYPEWRITERS AND SUPPLIES W I
Phone 329 I WfA' tjVW ' I 116 North Central Phone 282 f
v II Tl
MAKE THIS A
MUSICAL XMAS
PRUITT'S
Melody Shop
New and Used Musical Instru
ments of all kinds, including the
popular guitars and accordians.
ZENITH RADIOS .
MEDFORD
SATURDAY, NOV. 30
LADIES
Buv His Gifts
at
Lee's Men's Shop
Next to Rialto Theatre
14 Years Selling Good Clothes
Photographs
Xmas Specials
for a few days at
The Peasleys
0pp. Holly Theatre
-Wit
GIVE
One of our engraved Christ
mas Credit Cards . . . Good
for a lovely
Permanent
WAVE
$245 . $375
ALSO COLONIAL DAMES
MAKEUP KITS
$100 and $200
Murray Beauty Salon
Use your Mann's Charge Account
$500
Z B. Hoffmann
1 Express your
SEASON'S GREETINGS
with
ROBES v
PERFUME JEWELRY
LINGERIE HOSE COMPACTS
TRAVELING CASES ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS
PURSES , PAJAMAS GLOVES
NOVELTIES
IP6' The
The
Y Medford Stationery Store jf
34 norm uemrai Avenue
Offers an enlarged stock with new lines
for this Christmas season, 'such as
Kodaks and Supplies
Candles, dripless
Bibles
Zipper Cases
Leather Gladstone Bags
Billfolds and Purses
Scrap Books
Kodak Albums
Box Stationery
Playing Cards
Fountain Pens and Sets
Office Appliances
World Globes
Portable Typewriters
A fine assortment in each line, all reasonably priced.
YOU CAN
FOR
CHRISTMAS
MOST welcome gift of all
for swe ethearts,
friends, relatives! See our
m a g n i f i e ent selection of
Christmas designs. WE DE
LIVER ANYWHERE.
SCHOEPEN'S
FLOWER SHOP
in
.American Legion
Amusement Center
218 E. Main
Piano for Christmas
Club
Only 9t down and W per week until
ChrHtma, or a 10 down payment dt
llrera one of the NEW VERTICAL
PIANOS or any other piano of your
choice to your home for ChrlAtnuu. Free
Piano Leuons Included.
Christ ma opening Saturday
8 p. m. Special mualeal
program. -
BALDWIN
PIANO SHOPPE
I
XMAS SPECIALS
Hair Cut, Shampoo, Finger
Wave $1.00
Wet Wave 25
Ringlette Permanent Waves
?1.95 $3.75 $5.00
J
CINDERELLA
BEAUTY SHOP
Phone 265
Yls Vnur rliricftriQO Qfonnninnr TTarlvf
V 0 .L.
WE GIVE
S. and H. Green Trading Stamps
Signal
' ar 2S i d l I
Products jlMl
Jennings Service Station
Sixth at Fir Streets