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chap. in. ATTRACTIVE NOVELTIES AT PORT LOUIS. 53 signal mountain. The aspect of these several localities indi cates the widely different classes comprised in the population of Port Louis, and at the same time imparts an agreeable variety to the prospect. But it is chiefly on landing that a scene peculiarly novel and striking meets the eye of a stranger from Europe. On the custom-house quay all is activity and bustle, even in the hottest part of the day. Gangs of Coolies are toiling, and sing in a low monotonous tone, as they empty the barges or lighters that lie along the edge of the wharf, and deposit their contents under large sheds on the shore. Weighers are busy at the public scales; clerks, and custom-house officers, and merchants or traders of India or Europe, Arabs, Parsees, English, French, Mauritian and Chinese, all in their dis tinctive costumes, may be met with there, some with the high-crowned hat and stiff angular dress of the European, others in the loose flowing white robe and turban of India or Arabia,—most of the former, and some of the latter, seeking protection from the fierce rays of the sun under large um brellas. On the outside of the custom-house premises numbers of muleteers with their carts may be seen during the greater part of the day waiting to be hired, while others within are loading or removing the goods on which the dues have been paid. Most of the labourers about the wharves and ware houses are either Coolies or Chinamen. The latter appear generally more robust and hardy than the former, yet both are employed in working all day under the scorching sun without appearing to suffer inconvenience. There are upwards of 10,000 Indians in Port Louis, and an equal number of ex apprentices. In 1851, the whole population of Port Louis was about 50,000, but it has probably much increased since that time. The same activity characterises the business parts of the
