British Steam Train Journeys
History of Sugar With Reference to Mauritius in the 19th century
"The history of sugar is a debate about political science, economy and society as a colony REMOTE Mauritius "in reference to the 19th century MAURITIUS
18th century was marked by struggles between the British, the French and the Dutch to control the sugar and slave trade, the two activities the most profitable in the region. The repeated attacks against British ships trading with French privateers and pirates take the fact of British on Mauritius. In 1810, Mauritius became a British colony. However, the British found themselves in a complex situation, which differentiates the island Maurice from their other colonies. Why was it so difficult for the British to administer the island? What made Mauritius geographically, administratively and culturally different?
Maurice was east of Great Britain only colony of Cape of Good Hope and it does not fall within the geographical areas drawn by the British for administrative purposes. It could not be considered part of East Africa or Southeast Asia as it was, historically and culturally different. In Mauritius, the British were faced with a large settler populations of European origin, hostile British rule, laws and institutions. In addition, the capitulation Act makes it more difficult for the British to impose its legal system. The consequences were that the British Governors, as Farquhar, the first governor, for example, had to close their eyes to law enforcement, as the abolition of the slave trade and the improvement of many in the slave system, and this, unfortunately, in complete opposition to the policy British administration
At the distance with England and the resulting isolation of Mauritius has played a role important difficulty for the British to administer the island?
It seems that the removal of Mauritius has indeed played a role in the obstacles faced by the British for the smooth running of the island. Mauritius has been, first, administered as a crown colony, but from 1815 and would therefore administered by the Colonial Office, itself a branch of the Ministry of War and Colonies who also administered the colonies, acquired from France and Spain. It should be recalled that Mauritius was not still a colony of sugar "and could not not be classified with the Caribbean islands. The directors in England had little detailed and updated information on Mauritius. French colonists have often bypassed the Colonial Office and spoke with the Crown or with politicians in England directly.
Who were the laws, the settler French opposed more vehemently? How the land, labor and capital are used to construct a trivial crop economy in the 19th century Mauritius a British colony? How can policy help set the scene for the economy of sugar? How does science help increase the sugar yield, how the economy to help find markets for the product and, finally, how the company would be determined by the economy Sugar and provide the framework to accommodate everything for the glory of the mono-culture economy, but also for the glory of the British Empire?
In be able to enjoy the history of sugar in the 19th century, it should be divided into three major periods. The first period would be between 1810 and 1834, between the time the British took over Mauritius and was the opening of the illegal slave trade of the door to the abolition of slavery and the arrival of the first Indian coolies. A second period covering 1835 to mid 1860, when the rise of sugar and economy prosperous before the decline of sugar caused by both natural disasters and fluctuations in the international market. And a third period that covers 1861 to 1900 period covering the centralization of sugar production in plants leading to the Grind "Grand" and the emergence of small growers. In all three periods, it will be investigated how the political economy of science and society have played their role.
This section looks at how the combination of land, labor, capital would be conducted to define the basis of a mono-crop economy between 1810 and 1834, between the time the British took over Mauritius and makes the illegal trade in slaves who would later lead to the abolition of slavery and the arrival of the first Indian coolies.
First, we must see how the policy has helped to establish the foundations for mono-crop economy? In 1810 – 1814 after the Treaty of Paris, the British have a permanent control on the Isle of France. . They would return and Reunion harbourless the French made only minor changes to the Mauritian political system … The first British use Port Louis as a trading post that the French had. If Franco had continued they might have developed a diversified economy. But the British rule was not able to sustain an economy diversified so that they can completely transform the economic system of the island.
Before 1810, the privateers of Mauritius and the squadron French navy captures more than 500 British and allied prices and there was a value of at least 80 million gold francs. But with the formal cooperation of the island Maurice in the British Empire would be to end the island part of a large warehouse. They would implement protectionist policies in the adoption of the Navigation Acts of 1815. The law prohibits the shipping of the British colonies from trading with foreign merchants
From 1810, the island had 9000 to 10,000 acres of land under sugarcane, this area has increased during the first year of British rule. But will not be until late 1920 that the sugar would dominate the economy of the island. In 1813, the British adopted the Proclamation of January 4 1813. They repeal all existing laws already adopted by the French administration. The Parliament passed the Trade Act in 1825 to Mauritian sugar to compete on an equal footing with the West Indian sugar was given new impetus to the expansion of the sugar industry. .
With regard to labor policies would be to abolish the British slave trade. Although the bill to abolish the trade was the first This legislation, adopted the objective that the gradual reduction in the number of slaves, to the expectation that slavery would die a natural death. The immediate effect of the abolition of the slave trade in 1815 was a reduction in the supply of labor slave. These reforms involving slavery, the abolition of privileges of the judiciary and those related to language and religion has caused most of the opposition. Concerns about British rule and policies, fear of ostracism from their own community and the fact they were almost all large landowners slaves who have much to lose or improving the end of the slave trade, have prevented one of them to identify or fully support the British policy.
improvement of legislation proposed in the 1820s sent shock waves through other the island, so everything West Indian colonies were already anticipating and preparing for the end of slavery. In Mauritius, even after 1835 settlers are still waiting for slavery to be restored. Despite the expansion of sugar, slaves had managed to forge a semblance of family life and community, reached a level of improved materials and a certain degree of physical mobility. However, Governor Farquhar sought to extend the British political in the Indian Ocean and to achieve a greater impact in Madagascar has been essential. The slaves continued to be brought from Madagascar as part of the policy framework of British expansion and the provision of Mauritius with the provisions. Thus, in the illegal trade in slaves Mauritius has continued and the British Governor himself quietly ignoring all disguised attempts to introduce slaves in the island
Does the fact that Mauritius has been transformed into a colony of sugar contributed to better management of the colony or not? After 1825, the year of the Trade Act both slave prices and sales of slaves rose dramatically and continued to increase. Although there existence of a free labor is expensive, it became the practice of hiring slave labor where they could be used more effectively or keep them where they should not have been retained. All policies concerning the abolition of slavery created large The controversy weaving 'web' economic interest, political and socio-racial began in the rural districts. The combination of interests Sugar and political power has created the situation where the main sugar-producing regions active product planter radical voice / politicians. In 1827, the "Committee Colonial has been formed headed by Adrien d'Epinay. organized resistance began in 1829 and reached climax in 1834. It has been the emergence planters as an active force in the local national policy, in high finance and the judiciary. There was now pressing demands "To be given Tax on import of sugar in Great Britain for consumption "1. However, the capitulation of 1787 guarantees the maintenance of the privilege of free trade. Thus, 5 June 1824, Bathurst was given two alternatives to Mauritius. Either continue to enjoy free trade with foreign powers or have the same limit as the West Indies trade with Europe. They chose the latter. The conditions were sugar, coffee and other items of growth Mauritius would be charged the same functions as the West Indies after 1 January 1825. No foreign sugar must be allowed to Mauritius. He also was convened as other measures should be taken to prevent the introduction of slaves in the island. And, finally, that the relationship trade between Mauritius and Europe should be subject to the same limitations as that between the West Indies and Europe. Thus, the political basis for making Island's economy a mono-culture has been raised.
How science has helped lay the foundations of the economy sugar? At the beginning of sugarcane 19th century has been grown on an area that few large and numerous smaller ones belonging to family where the culture and the grinding has been integrated into the estate and the primitive technology used. The advent of British rule was radically transformed the economy, society and political life of Mauritius's sugar industry has really started to Mauritius after 1815 British rule and only then, he began to resemble modern plantation system.
Sugar has really taken off until better irrigation methods and communication have been developed in the second half of the nineteenth century. Proliferation of water and replaced steam mills driven by animals, plants and the power of slaves. However, some changes were made in the process culture, which remained very primitive. The slaves continued to perform the most laborious tasks of planting, despite increasing pressure on inheritance and water mills with steam to produce more sugar cane by extending the culture. The use of water mills and steam rose rapidly with the number of steam-mill jump from 7 to 51 and consequently increase sugar production significantly from 87 to 137 tons. This is reflected in rising horses preference Mauritian sugar growers. The methods of cultivation and processing of the crop have been slow to change. The cultivation of sugar Mauritius needs a very large number of laborers. Much of the work was heavy, monotonous, grinding especially at harvest. Delay meant a decline in quality of sugar.
As for the investment to yield more sugar there was the need to seek better varieties that have been achieved through the use of hybrids. Therefore, since the 1830s, almost all stems in commercial cultivation of hybrid crosses were the Officianarum Noble spontaneum. One hundred years ago cane cultivation and selection started in New Guinea. This is where they grew sugarcane for chewing and ornamentation. From New Guinea people have learned to spread this Officianarrum S.. Cane was subjected to mutations in hybrids and modify the characteristics of sugar cane for more efficiency and faster growing and more. Cloning works well in the case of sugar, it consists of cutting a piece of cane in the ground and went for it "Cuttings"
Now we'll see how the economy had brought to his estate once the labor and capital to transform an economy based on free trade and agriculture to a diversified economy mono-culture. Now, the pace of expansion of the sugar industry would be regular and continuing until the mid-19th century. Earth labor and capital would be the main factors that form the sugar island. Between 1824 and 1828 all the traditional cash crops, coffee, indigo, ebony and Cloves have been overtaken by sugar.
As shown in this table there is a marked decrease in all other cultures to the detriment cane sugar. Although sugar already dominated the scene of coffee plantations in 1824, cloves, cotton and ebony are still great product. However, in 1825, the coffee would be decreased by 50%, while cotton knows a steady decline, the same principle would apply to indigo, However cloves know a steady increase in £ 5,839 worth of products £ 5,840 to £ 9,370 worth only 467 pounds and to decline in price. Ebony would have increased in value in 1826 despite declining production, but both lower production and value to continue in 1828 to 502 £ 906 products in the market value of only 2185 pounds sterling. As for sugar, there was a steady pace in both his wins in market value as a culture Accident and production. From £ 24,334 553 in 1824 with a value of 170, 342 is moved to a production of 21 739 766 in 1825 with a value of 184 788 and in 1828 reached a production of 48 350 101 with a market value of 512 717 pounds sterling.2
Production and value (in pounds sterling) in cash crops
1824 1825 1826 1827 1828
Cafe
Lbs 18 655 9004 2171 2977 1571
Value 672 252 66 122 70
Cloves
Lbs. 5839 7246 4917 7177 9370
Report 5840 724 344 4912 467
Cotton
Lbs 336623 302247 190429 101793 92577
Value 10908 8463 5713 3053 2368
Ebony
Lbs 551732 887218 200783 1502968 502906
Value 1986 3549 9017 6060 2185
Erasers
Lbs – - 1219 – 5200
Value – - 11-62
Indigo
Lbs 1927 1946 1119 58 778
Value 385 456 224 12 156
Sugar
Lbs 24334553 21739766 42489416 40661202 48350101
Value 170342 184788 382405 395061 512717
Source: Collector of Customs, Blue Book, CO 172/53
In the acreage of timber occupy increased from 108 418 acres from the sugar only 10 221 acres but in 1829 the area under timber would be 91 817 and 48 485 for sugar, this trend would increse and sugar in 1835 would occupy about 50% of the area found in wood that is 100 405 acres of woodland and 57,933 acres of sugar. 3
The question labor was the biggest thug of war between the British and Franco-Mauritians. Before 1815 settlers slaves used less profit than for convenience. These slaves who were employed in agriculture work primarily in cassava and subsistence farming. The lack of interest from the French settlers in agriculture is partly due to the possibility of easy money. They were more interested in quick profits more lucrative and less time consumption activities such as trade in slaves, spices and other goods as well as activities of pirates. However, the abolition of slavery sugar colonies in contrast with others, thereby reducing the experience would not affect the expansion of the Mauritian culture. Production has been increased in two ways by increasing the cultivated land and improving the production yield. In 1825, the year of the Act trade production was 217 397 in 1826, one year after the Trade Act Mauritius exported 18 970 tonnes of sugar in 1827, two years after the bill production would be almost doubled to 406 192 and this would tend to increase in 1935 until the year after the abolition of Slavery would increase production to 648 545 tonnes. (Pp82/83 bitter sugar).
What British aid, the mono-economy was that he did not have a financial burden to the empire of the island have experienced dramatic incidents. The Navigation Act of 1815 owed much trouble for people on the island for the island was a lucrative market for products made elsewhere.
In 1816 a fire devastating outbreak in the capital and destroyed a significant part of the commercial sector. Half the town was destroyed. The streets of the richest and most prosperous and "magazines filled with provisions and goods from all parts of the world and with the colonial" 4 were all gone in the wind. A loan $ 30,000 (in Spanish) for retailers was issued to counter the effects of the fire. Farquhar has approved another loan to mass merchants $ 75,000 to the Bank of Mauritius which had stopped making payments in cash due to inflation and $ 75,000 to four merchants.
In 1820, the island was plunged into a financial crisis Farquhar noted that "people have extended the cultivation of sugar and there were already Precious few sugar plantations "5.
From 1811 to 1850 Barclays and Blyth has held three quarters of the sugar plantations to the capital investment of approximately 1 162 000 pounds. Home Good Example for 5500 pounds while they have purchased 30 000 poundsin1838. 6 The company started by James Blyth Blyth, The IBL Taylors and Smith and company. Elias Mallac and company, and Rogers and company. These funds have often been active on the social front contributes to the development of other Mauritius in the region.
Regarding the land grants were concerned that whites have rights and possibilities for land. The Franco-Mauritians have been the only land owners of the island that their ancestors or themselves have received as a concession under the administration French. And as was said before the capitulation in which each moment and the Franco-Mauritian refers to their ownership Guaranteed. The population was composed of whites, free colored and slaves. The Franco-Mauritians who were white were the top of the ladder social while the slaves are at the bottom of the ladder.
The slaves are the main source of labor on the island. owners Mauritian slave proved to be even more vocal and hostile to the West improved Indian slave owners. But since the British took the island of the slaves had improved, particularly the laws on emancipation, the use channels and improvements in road transport. Slave owners were recording because they were afraid slaves can acquire civil rights. Nevertheless, slave registration does not solve the problem of illicit trade. As there was no inspection actual slaves these certificates to the owner and the slave owner would soon be sold to ship captains who would attempt capture or purchase of slaves matching this description. A license has been used for several slave ships in 1817, slaves were brought from other islands instead of being charged directly to Mauritius, slaves were often taken to other islands around Mauritius and the last Licensed transferred to the island. In 1820, a large number of native Africans were returned in the registers for the first time. The slaves continued to be bought and sold illegally by all sections of the slave community into the activities of two 1820.The Civil Commissioners Blanchard and Hale on the slave trade illegal to illustrate how it has been difficult to implement policies British in 1819, both were suspended by the Governor Hall because of their complicity with slave trades. Ensure that the law landed a slave illegally has become a slave if he is in legal possession of the plaintiff for three years. All these gaps in the laws have been fully exploited by slave owners. Cholera has made its first deaths in 1819 there were 7000 deaths. Slaves carrying loads are no longer in danger of being washed away by floods during periods of heavy rain from 1822. Carts and carriages have been introduced in many animals were Draught, freeing slaves in the other professions, and also as a measure of improvement for the slaves.
In addition, a reorganization of slave labor began with the work of more and more demand for slaves in the sugar industry. Reorganization has taken several forms. There were transfers of slaves dependencies in Mauritius and Mauritius from areas of succession, the occupation occupation. New categories of slaves emerged as slaves on the ground, only the slaves etc. The practice of hiring labor slave, as in the Caribbean have begun and, finally, the use of women, elderly and children began. The children were engaged in poultry farming, Livestock, custody areas, and domestic services assist in the cleaning and cooking and even pick weeds. All policies the abolition of slavery created great controversy.
How and to what extent the production of sugar had a negative impact on the lives of slaves? The mortality rate among the slave population to ensure the development of sugar is high and even the illegal trade does not appear sufficient to replace the work lost by aging, mortality and postage. "The extent to which the sugar is grown in the sugar colonies is generally different a more precise index of mortality among the slaves. 7
In addition, the establishment of the plantation slave women empowerment would great post consequences. slaveholders average between 39-41 percent of women while women owners of small 39-43 percent the abnormally high male slaves on the sugar land leads to serious emotional and psychosocial problems among slaves, men and women in Mauritius
More recent research on the family of slaves showed that there were other family forms that exist that do not the model of Western .. That slaves were slaves Creoles (those born on the island) or African or Malagasy slaves, was born important .. Creole slaves were a range of family ties and a network of relationships that can span the entire island with different types of fictive kinship, while among non-Creole slaves it was nonexistent. Unfortunately, there is little information on language, music and dances they had and also very little about their cultural and social life.
The sugar industry and the British government Labourer Indian even before the abolition of Indian slavery contract workers came. The first came in 1825 but in 1839 the sugar industry used the compensation to 25,000 Indian workers in Mauritius at their own expense by paying about 10 pounds by immigrants. In the decade before and after emancipation, three systems of labor, slavery, learning and trust emerged and succeeded each other.
Because the slaves themselves were treated as commodities, they were included in the capital, they are not considered human, but sub-human creatures who were the only means of production. Except for the high deforestation because what has been caused by plantation to claim land increasingly forest.
The second period extends from 1835 to 1860 and it marks the rise of sugar from sugar down. If the first period was that of laying the foundations of the economy monoculture to it would be the creation and strengthening of the economy into a thriving economy. Again in this part of the development of land, labor and capital would be examined in the four characteristics that have influenced the economy sugar mono-culture that is, politics, science, economy and society. This period is marked by the arrival of a contract worker, putting up various institutions to assist in the creation of the sugar industry.
How political shaping the destiny of the island in the 1835 year for 1860? In 1840, former slaves or apprentices excluded from the estate. The colonial government adopted ordinances for many to compel the freeing of slaves back to the estate. For example, the government has reserved the right to hunt and to fish and they (together with the Franco-Mauritian) wanted to encourage the learner to build stone houses to force them to stay on the estates. But it would be in vain. The Franco-Mauritian get compensation from the British, however, they would try to raise taxes and apply them to the ex-apprentices themselves. There is difficult to negotiate a decent salary with employees. Employers are afraid to give the bargaining power to ex-slaves, who would considered a lost dignity. The increase in wages paid to the former slaves also mean changes in the method production on the land they could not afford because of the instability on the sugar market. During the 1840s, the state is not inclined to try this. Instead they have invested their money in improving compensation plant. This removed many incentives to pay for labor. They receive government subsidies. In addition, apprentices were regarded as lazy while the more natural is that the freed slaves have bad memories of working in Canfield. The apprentices would leave the areas. Nevertheless, between 1845 -1846 there was a decrease in the population freed slave.
As for the worker under contract, Was it a continuum of slavery? According to members of the anti-slavery of the first arrived Indian coolies in Mauritius did not have government protection. In 1837 the English East India Company has recognized the potential for abuse of workers under contract and they will pass the law to restrict commercial contracts coolie could not last 5 years and they will ship 5 years. Ships had to meet humanitarian needs. In 1838 or 1839 to 1842 there was suspension of trade in coolies. The colonial government has helped the contract worker. In 1843, immigration has reopened there was an influx important workforce funded by the amount of annual 25 000 pounds of turnover colonial. This was called the scheme Bounty under this scheme Government has paid $ 6 to 7 pounds per adult imported and growers who brought the work paid extra charges 2 pounds and 2 pounds and 6 shillings for recruits from Madras and Calcutta. 8 For the purposes of raising funds for the work under contract, the government imposed a consumption tax Done on all spirits imported in Mauritius or abroad instead of imposing a tax on landowners. Again, it is on poorer than the taxes have decreased.
On the other institutions, strengthen the economy mono-culture, like the Chamber of Commerce of Mauritius was established in January 1850 with the aim to receive information on all matters of mercantile and to redress wrongs. This has led to arbitrage between the protagonists wish to avoid litigation and willingness to refer and to comply with the decision of the House. The role of the committee was to hear and rule on all trade issues before them, but the president ad-vice president shall have power to appoint a committee for managing the affairs of the House and another committee to review the stores.
Research to increase the yield and sugar cane to make sugar more resistant to disease have been made. In 1840, the Oraheite, a variety of cane planted in Mauritius has been attacked by the bacteria of the disease by gluing or gummosis. Courtesy Royal Research Agriculture has played an important role in this field. In 1845, the company would form a special committee of Agriculture to conduct an investigation agricultural practices. The technology has become important in the 19th century in the sugar colonies and former colonies in general were the oldest of technology. Mauritius could be considered as a succession of new sugar island. The Committee Agricutlture collected and published a body of knowledge on sugarcane. The Committee has suggested the use of guano Perugia to partially offset the effect of disease on the cane.
Hand in hand with those who continued research on how to increase the yield of sugarcane in the British colony, the island was equipped with the newest mills have the latest technology, vacuum pans, centrifugal dryers have been used for cane processing faster. "The production of sugar has increased in the first half of the 19th century, the technology improves with" Moulin steam evaporation triple-effect, vacuum cooking, and fast spin sugar with types of centrifuges suspended Weston "9
In 1832 there were no fewer than 32 companies Port-Louis. They brought goods such as rice, flour and ghee dholl, which was the basis for schemes Indians. The sugar was booming economy until 1860, the economy has flourished under the favorable conditions of work Indian labor has lowered the cost of the use of the Peruvian Guano and therefore combined increased the yield of cane sugar which protected cane Borer and other pests in the 1950s.
Despite more and more land put under sugar cane plantation, the number of factories has decreased. In 1853, Mauritius had 222 factories in 1892 there were 104 and 1908 only 66 remained
How the application form the economy work? There were freed slaves of the population ratio 3 men to 2 women were sufficient to ensure population growth. Former slaves could find a better job in a dynamic non-estate agricultural economy. The forced removal of the elite to reconsider the methods of sugar production. Landowners have the option to "soften" the ex-slaves back to their states with competitive salaries, but they decided to cheap labor contract in India.
Since 1834 to 1860, 290 000 Indians arrived. The presence of the low labor cost and high reliability resulted in an increase production of sugar. Mauritius became the colony of British Sugar's largest producer. Contracts would be limited to one year for 67 years. The British assisted to immigration boom after 1842. In 1843, 30 318 men and women come 4307 in Port Louis. The representatives of the estate. After two days of signing the contract work 42 and a Spanish 1 / 2 dollar. The local currency. The wages of Rs 5. Rs 2 per month. = 1 dollar – until the 1860s. Immigration will continue regularly – the flow of immigrants to the islands, even after a week of the 1857 rebellion in Northern India to resume.
As capita in the economy was booming, the influx of capital has been great for the quantity of sugar exports represent ed 9.4% of world production and 7.4% of total world production of sugar in the 1850s.
What would the consequences be large working class have on this emerging society?
With the expansion of trade of coolies, trade with India is expanding rapidly. The demography of the island would be profoundly modified. Food and clothing of immigrants would support transactions with India. Indian firms set branches to take advantage of expanding trade opportunities. The British and Indian society were involved in the recruitment of contract workers and soon realize they could load cargo vessels of various origins. In 1840, it accounted for about 20% of Local imports.
Retail trade developed in the mid-19th century after several major events that have altered the socioeconomic structure of the island. The period for loss of office with 60,000 people created disruptions in the work of the man who lead the arrival of Indian indentured laborers, who in large numbers to be provided with supplies. Various ordinances to regulate retail store such as Article 21 of Ordinance 28 of 1845 stressed that the stores should be located more than one meter the main road. The restriction sites. The arrival of Chinese as traders and business would also create a lot of opposition, However, although very few Chinese would remain.
Regarding capital, the island has faced troubles. During the years 1830 to 1840, there was a narrowing of the investment. This transformation of the sugar industry in either direction, there were many problems related to labor disputes and secondly in the 1840s more and more parliaments were in favor of free trades. From the perspective of British investors British investors have begun to explore and competition was not in favor of the industry sugar.
The industry has invested heavily to improve the loan facility. The bankers were not metropolitan Mauritian investors worried that may not be able to repay loans. In 1848 to 1844 collapse of the 5 British financial houses of the estate after the occurrence of sugar and several Bank of Mauritius does not. It is true that the free trade legislation of 1840 undermined the industry sugar, but the fact remains that between 1843 to 1849 many areas have improved their factory and are fundamentally sound companies. extent funds dried up. Investors Britain from 1832 to 1839 and 1848, withdrew their investments from Mauritius and they presented no desire to invest in the sugar industry because of the economy continues, the linguistic and legal problems.
We have now reached the third period covers the centralization of sugar production in plants leading to "fragmentation" Grand and the emergence of the class of small planters.
In 1851, the British parliament to repeal the Navigation Act. The law was repealed when he tripled the volume of trade in Port Louis and has increased the amount of capital for local businesses and traders Policy repeal Britain's new policy of free trade has encouraged operators to Mauritius seek markets every where in the world. Mauritius would be beneficial for India, South Africa and Australian markets. In 1876, Mauritius adopted Indian rupee silver as currency in order to simplify transactions.
After the Navigation Act 1815 was repealed in 1851 by the Great Britain the number of factories in the country reached its peak in 1853 and 1880, the need for centralization of production has been more urgent. In 1849, the Colonial Office has 3-year contract for the Indian act of maneuvers. In 1858-1859 there were 74 343 immigrants. The government and farmers have cooperated to sort this problem of shortage of persistent. Immigration has declined in 1860 when the demand for sugar began to decline. but in 1862 they return to their contract five years again, they could stay for 10 years but taxes fell heavily on workers who did not commit the act of second year. However, contact with India was possible the worker would go to India and put the rest of their family on the island Mauritius. Unfortunately, the government of Mauritius has been little case of labor and non-assisted policies that have been in favor of plantation owners.
The Colonial Office has also increased the percentage of women. In 1844 it was 17% in 1849 it was 25% and in 1868 it was 40%. Between 1834 1909 the number of immigrants who arrived in Mauritius amounted to 451 786 to work in the sugar industry is 294,197 remained in the island and became the majority population.
This increase in population would dramatically change the setting of possession of land the island during the late 1800s until the First World War against Malaria of lower sugar prices and low sugar prices forced growers streamline production. A new class emerged in the Mauritian society was small growers who, with great morcellemnt come in the market and exploit the opportunities that exist.
Thus, the British responded by excluding most of the Indo-Mauritian policy colonial. However, the French planter believes that these small farmers had to pay a fee to access the cane varieties and funding institutions in which they had no political voice.
The government will procure cane varieties until 1868 and the Pamplemousses garden where history new varieties of sugarcane were acclimated to the island, selected and distributed. Franco-Mauritian asked more varieties of cane from the government and ensures that the acquisition of the cane again become priorities. They repay the money they obtained from the sale of their cane. Because the Chamber of Agriculture of the research is not relevant to the production and distribution of the sugar industry, successions have been trained to grow and acquire new technology platforms. The Franco-Mauritian restricted distribution of cane sugar.
In 1900, there was a severe lack of capital of only 13 141 houses that were more than 40 acres, belonged to foreign companies. Investors Foreigners have been limited and all were British. This dramatic change in the British sugar market has a great effect on Mauritius until 1930. Colombia signed the free trade policy. The sugar beet in Europe were allowed to enter the market British, she had a grant from their government. The British government was convinced that the premiums for the European sugar was killing Industry cane sugar from the West Indies to recover and market liberalization would recover. The British relied primarily on Germany, Austria, Hungary for its sugar.
The end of the First World War interrupted the trade of ostrich Germany and Hungary. This stopped the price of sugar has increased because many farms in Europe beet sugar were destroyed during the war. Sugar cane has increased in all tropical regions around Cuba and Java and Mauritius.
Therefore, the policy, whether based on national or international stage have an immediate effect on the sugar market. Regarding science is concerned in June 1893, the Agronomic Station formally operated under the direction of Philip Boneame. There was intensive breeding effort, which included mainly agronomy, genetics Botany Chemistry entomology all these disciplines have been developed to study a single culture.
The Franco-Mauritian elite has dominated politics of the island, despite the British government, which up to independence. The sugar baron need government British colonial rule because of the collaboration of the British administration was necessary to develop the sugar industry. Early 1850s, they began to pressure the British government regarding the cane. They needed the cane to create new knowledge to improve sugar cane and greater production of sucrose. The Mauritian Franco dominated Island politics being the backbone of the sugar, the Chamber of Agriculture has no official seats in the government, but they have vested interest questions about transportation, marketing communications and forestry.
The early 1860s the Chamber of Agriculture had thought of using Government Botanical Garden Pamplemousses import of cane varieties, but the government has taken the time to decide. They wanted to transform the garden botanical research center on sugar, but the British botanist working in the garden objected. While growers were mostly French, botanist were all British.
Regarding the capital in the 1860s there was the introduction of steam to improve access vessels to the outside world. The steamers that could carry larger volumes of goods, during the early 1860s opened the two rail lines to improve internal transportation in the north of the capital of the south of the capital and in 1869, the peninsula and established a EAST CAMPAIGN 2nd line from England to Australia via Mauritius. The trips are shorter and the extension of the regional network and the increase in transactions liner set. In 1900, the steam would almost take care of the traffic between India and Mauritius and the tonnage of the vessel reached unprecedented numbers. For example, in 1840, the tonnage was about 193 of 1885, the steamship TAIF name had a tonnage 2100. As for the network wired it helped connect Mauritius to the outside world was the underwater electrical cable in 1860 by the Eastern Telegraph that the first cable in the Indian Ocean to link Europe and India, Mauritius spirit included in the network. However, Mauritius is only linked 1906 La Reunion and Madagascar.
In addition sugar industry averages concentrate production because it would not be cost-effective to small areas of 40 to 200 hectares to plant engineering machinery. In 1880, approximately 80% of plants have been using the system pot with plenty of energy waste as compared to vacuum hose. In addition, they could maximize profits by using bagasse to provide energy as fuel, whereas before Mauritius has reached deforestation through the use of wood.
As the science progresses much more to help the economies of other factors such as natural hazards and demand laws of supply in a market economy would play against the bitterly plantocracy great. There was cholera on three other occasions, which led to a number of deaths .. In 1854, claimed 7,650 deaths in 1856 there were 3250 deaths in 1862 and finally there were a death toll of 3500. Natural disasters such as epidemics of cholera in the 1860s In 1865, the drought and the opening of the Suez Canal would divert trade elsewhere and the glut of sugar on the market. Malaria 1867 – 1868 which killed between 40,000 to 45,000 people. In 1886, there was a financial crisis impact on the economy.
In 1866 and 1868, terrible epidemic of malaria kills about 50,000 people about one seventh of the island. Those who could AFFORD to leave Port-Louis. Between 1868 and 1914, world prices of sugar have declined rapidly, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Australia and Germany flood the world market for beet sugar. By 1860, there were sluts sugar. Several factors led to this economic crisis, the terrible hurricane of 1868 drought in 1866, natural disasters. After the devastating cyclone of 1892 an epidemic affecting cattle across the island, lending Government to provide the sugar industry and sugar loans invested in the construction of railways and therefore it attracted investors and stimulated the economy Mauritius. Even the prices paid to producers are weak in the area of cane cultivation has increased, for example, in 1890 there were a total production of 130 000 tonnes In 1903, production was more than 200 000 tonnes in 1909 exceeded 250 000 tons and in 1913 it exceeded 250 000 tons.
Because of these different define the backs of farmers experienced in the economy in regard to land and labor, such as Mauritius in 1870 imported sugar of the western Indian Ocean re-export to Australia, United Kingdom and the United Cape of Good Hope. In 1880, the Indian mainland was among the first partners to receive goods of foreign origin from Mauritius. re-export trade accounted 6% of the colony's exports in 1885 and rose to 10% in 1890 and 16% in 1895. 8% of export to India in 1880 were products Re-export and 14% in 1895 and 1900, India will import 50% of our exports, they have begun to reduce production costs and measures to centralize sugar production by closing sugar factories from 303 in 1863 to 188 in 1888. The merger of some other goods only 115 in 1901.
If planters decided to divide and sell the estate of the Grand Grind "will be beneficial for the Indians. A new class of Indian land owner emerged. These various events have led to the growth of villages. Gujjrati invested heavily in real estate particularly in the city. In the last decades of the 19th century the increase of investment in plantations by taking control of goods or indirectly through loans or advance on crops. For example IM Sulliman and Ajuma Goolam Hossen directly owned sugar plantations with several factories in 1890. Gujarati participated the company to buy land from owners and their fragmentation into bankruptcy by selling them to former contract workers. Some companies have supported the division while other funding process through loans to interested parties.
Fragmentation had sold small quantities of goods of their properties in 1830 and 1840 but in the mid-1860s, there was great division 1 / 3 of the land would be sold in 1916 which means 37% of the land for planting sugarcane. They were the first non-whites have land in the islands. Sometimes the whites sell hectares of land would be divided into small plots of less than one hectare. Between 1851 and 1881, the Indians move in all fields and thus become artisans of the island, and check all kinds of odd jobs in the lower level class which led to specialization in ethnic activities.
In the conclusion of the nineteenth and the arrival of the British dramatic changes in the original policy, science, economics and Mauritian society in embryo. protect themselves but also for the glory of the British Empire, the British captured the island, set up with ways French culture and everything, even the earth and work very beginning would be submitted to impose policies that are often difficult to implement. Policies as the abolition of the slave trade and later slavery itself. The transition from a flourishing free trade based Race and diversified agriculture to one of a cash crop economy and, finally, the controversial enough for the welfare of a $ unique culture of diverse people from diverse backgrounds emerged giving rise to one of the most beautiful setting in the world.
About the Author
Michael Portillos Great British Railway Journeys on BBC 2 on 12/1/10.