Flacq, Mauritius
Sad Story
Mauritius has a sad history with slavery, like
most places on earth. At one peninsula’s
end of the island is a towering mountain of 560 metres with lush
vegetation. It was fairly
inaccessible. Slaves from Africa, brought
in by the Dutch and French had contemptible treatment inflicted upon them
causing many to flee to the forest as well as the mountain. Caves also provided refuge.
In February of 1835, the British rulers abolished
slavery and a delegation was sent which made its way to where the slaves were
hiding at Le Morne, the towering mountain, to announce the end of slavery. Unfortunately, from high up on the mountain’s
peak, the soldiers sent were perceived as slave catchers and many former slaves
decided to take their own lives by jumping from the cliffs. They preferred death over the chains of
captivity.
Sad, isn’t it? It’s tragic.
The landscape of Le Morne and surrounding
area on the south-west side of Mauritius has its own beauty, but some of the
history of the place lacks beauty as you can see. The number of suicides at that time, less
than two centuries ago, is not determined, to my knowledge. Even the loss of one soul intimidated by
brutality under slavery is bad enough in itself.
There are many forms of slavery still
existing in the world, but do consider that when you cave-in to your senses all
the time, you, too, are a slave.
May the Source be with you!
4 km
No comments:
Post a Comment