Mauritius: A Journey Through Its Fascinating History – Part One

The origins and colonisation of Mauritius: in search of hidden treasure

Picture yourself sailing the restless waters of the Indian Ocean, in search of adventure and discovery. That is the essence of Mauritius, an island gem with mysterious origins. Let us cast off and dive into a history full of twists, European rivalries and exotic names.

In the mists of time, Arab navigators brushed the shores of Mauritius in the ninth century. But they took no selfies on the fine sand beaches and planted no colourful parasols. These pioneers preferred to keep their passage quiet, leaving the island to bask in its tropical anonymity.

Mauritius could not, however, escape the call of European glory. In the sixteenth century the Portuguese claimed their share of the island cake and named it “Cirne”. But like a ghost ship, they soon vanished, leaving behind an orphaned island in search of conquerors.

It then fell to the Dutch to make their dramatic entrance into the history of Mauritius. They landed in 1598, raised their flag and named the island “Mauritius”, in honour of Prince Maurice of Nassau. They planted crops, like improvised gardeners, and the island quickly became a Dutch playground. But as in any good drama, they eventually brought down the curtain and left the Mauritian stage in 1710.

…… Read part two