Since the French rule till the British Colony there has been quite some very strong and exemplary Churches built throughout the island, and these structures, till now, are as dominantly eye-catching in wherever region they are found. We have wandered around the island to archive them where possible. This article is NOT MEANT FOR ANY …
This part of history is somewhat unfamiliar, but during the second World War (1939 – 1945), the No. 174 (Mauritius) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a fighter-bomber unit in World War II. The squadron formed on the 2nd March 1942 at RAF Manston and equipped with Hurricanes and then rocket armed Typhoons in April 1943. It was involved in attacks on shipping and V-1 flying …
As written about quite recently, the months of June to December are the Sugar Cane Harvest season in Mauritius and around the island we will certainly spot both mechanical and manual harvesting of cane. Depending on the owners and facilities at their disposition, some would still employ manual workers who will be present very early …
If there is one little and super economical transport that many Mauritians have used and some are still using is certainly the Honda PC50, much known as the ‘mini honda’. The Honda PC50 is a moped produced in Japan from May 1969 until February 1977. It is well known for being highly fuel efficient with …
A video documentary about the Trains Era in Mauritius by Wassim Sookia. It is true that not many of us, of the current generation, have known the railways era in Mauritius, but most of us have certainly heard about it from tales of parents and grandparents. The last passenger train was on 31 March 1956 and the overall railways ended in 1964 with its dismantling thereon. This video documentary will certainly let us live through this golden time once again!
First published: 13/07/2013
It is 5:30 in the afternoon and while most people are back from work, certain people are just starting daily work. Among those extinct traditional jobs, like, the milkman, the mercantile seller, the coal seller etc, there are a few that still remains, even though becoming very rare. The bread seller and the newspaper selling …
The Taylor Smith Football team back in 1968/69, Champions of the time. Football during the 1950s – 1980s has been one of the most praised sports in the island, both as a sporting activity and as an entertainment for its audience. Stadiums during those times were full and the thrill of the moment was something …
These old colonial buildings certainly dates back to the early British period and it is sad how they are no longer preserved as they should. Some are even at the point of crumbling down. La Chaussée street in Port Louis was among the busiest streets even back then and is still today and so many …
The Vacoas Train Station now no longer exists and has been replaced by the actual bus terminal. In the early 1980s we could still see the Post Office building, which was the actual Train Station before that, but due to development, the building was pulled down. The building is exactly what we can still see …
Mobile trades exist since the ancient of times and even now this activity is still being practiced. However, with time, the content of the trading activity has evolved drastically to the point that some have completely disappeared. In Mauritius, the milk seller (milkman), the coal seller, the tin-can seller, and some others are no longer …
The Old Curepipe Market back in the late 1960s. After the cyclone of 1975, Gervaise, the Curepipe Market which was once a magnificent colonial structure was so severely damaged that it had to be pulled down and was then redesigned and built as the current one we can still see today in 2014. Even though …
The Horse Racing has been an iconic activity in Mauritius since the early British Colonial Times. Fans of Horse Racing will definitely not miss the season starting in March and ending in December every year, and even though considered a hobby or entertainment for most, it is still a very addictive passion for a few. …
A post-cyclonic scenery of the northern village of Cap Malheureux where small boats have been gathered a little ashore and the coconut trees along the beach have been almost robbed of their “branches” and leaves, but still beautiful though dramatic. Some geographical information: Cap Malheureux is a village in Mauritius located in Rivière du Rempart …
Grand Bay being a very well considered coastal fishermen village in the North has known and is still knowing lots and lots of changes. From the early days till the late 1960s, the village could easily be compared to other similar villages but as from the early 1970s, development in all aspects has set Grand …
A bird-eye view on ‘Citée Vallijee’ construction nearing completion round 1967, and a complete difference from what the actual ‘Citée Vallijee’ looks like. After the cyclones of 1960, Alix & Carol, many families were homeless and the government then decided to construct cheap and quick housings to remedy to the situation. At that time the …
The Mauritius Government Railways started operating since 1864, but unfortunately after a century of operation it was dismantled in 1964, during which the Passenger carriages knew an end in 1956. The Last Passenger train departed on the 31st of March 1956. Goods Trains continued to operate until 1964 where it was then all removed. The …
Descendants of the early Indian immigrants in the country in the early 1930s. At that time, indentured labourers were brought from India to work in the fields and on the Sugar Estates which were knowing an economical boom. These immigrants left their native lands in the search for a better life, but not all of …
By definition, VAGRANT refers to an itinerant person without a home or regular employment, roaming from here and there, and during the Colonial times, a ‘vagrant’ included those indentured or ex-indentured labourers, or new or old immigrants who did not possess a valid pass or ‘id card’ if it can be said so. At the …
La construction navale débuta à l’île Maurice avec l’arrivée des hollandais en 1598. Avec l’implantation des français en 1721, le personnel des premiers chantiers vinrent de France et de l’Inde. De nombreux esclaves malgaches, africains et indiens furent formés aux métiers de charpentiers de marine, de calfats, de cordiers et de voiliers par ces derniers. …
Le 7 juillet 1810, ce fut l’arrivée d’une vingtaine de navires anglais venant de l’ile Rodrigue sur les côtes nord et ouest de l’Ile Bonaparte (Ile de la Réunion). Celle-ci fut prise le 8 juillet et un acte de capitulation signé le jour même. Quelques semaines plus tard le gouverneur anglais de l’ile Bourbon, Robert …