+--------+-----------------+------------------+--------

------+
|        |    Number of    |    Aggregate     |   Average    |
| Years. |     Coolies     | amount of wages  |wages per head|
|        |    employed.    |  paid per week.  |  per week.   |
+--------+-----------------+------------------+-------------

-+
|        |                 |        L         |    s.  d.    |
|  1846  |      47,733     |      33,484      |    14   0    |
|  1847  |      48,314     |      35,338      |    14   9    |
|  1848  |      41,777     |      26,627      |    12   9    |
|  1849  |      45,384     |      27,625      |    12   2    |
|  1850  |      47,912     |      31,664      |    12   3    |
|  1851  |      42,275     |      27,832      |    12   2    |
+--------+-----------------+------------------+-------------

-+

In 1826, to make from 25 to 30,000,000 lbs. of sugar, it required 30,000 laborers (slaves); at the present time, with less than 45,000 (from which number fully 5,000 must be deducted as absent from work from various causes), 135,000,000 lbs. are produced, or about five times the quantity under slavery.  The coolies are found to be an intelligent race, who have become inured to the work required, and by whose labor this small island can produce the fifth part of the consumption of the United Kingdom, and that with only about 70,000 acres under cane cultivation.  About 10,000 male immigrants, introduced since 1843, are not now working under engagement, but are following other occupations, and thus become permanent consumers.  Some cultivate land on a small scale, on their own account, but very few plant canes, as it requires from eighteen to twenty months before they obtain any return for their labor; but the most important fact established by this and other official statements is, that only a small number of immigrants leave the colony at the expiration of their industrial residence.  In the manufacture of sugar from the cane, considerable improvement has been effected by the introduction of new methods of boiling and grinding.  The vacuum pan and the system of Wetsell are all tending to economise the cost of production, and to save that loss which for years amounted, in grinding alone, to nearly one-third of the juice of the cane.  The planters begin to find that they can increase the value of their sugar 30 to 40 per cent. by these improvements, and that their future prosperity depends upon carrying them out.  Unfortunately, however, here, as in many other of our colonies, a very large number of planters do not yet appreciate the advantages to be obtained by the adoption of improved machinery and manufacture, or by improved cultivation, and still struggle on under the old system of waste and negligence, which can only result in the ruin and destruction of their property.

In 1827, the number of sugar estates in operation in Mauritius, were 49 worked by water power, 50 by cattle or horses, and 22 by steam—­total 111; in 1836, this number had increased to 186, viz.—­64 moved by water power, 10 by horse, and 112 by steam.  In 1839, the number was 211, of which 138 were worked by steam power—­70,292 acres were then under cultivation with sugar.  There are now about 490 sugar estates, whereof only 231 have mills—­42 are worked by water power, the rest by steam.