Queen Elizabeth II 25th Anniversary Coronation First Day Cover, Mauritius postmarked on May 11, 1978.
Mauritius
Built by volcanoes, Mauritius rises east of Madagascar from coral beaches and feathery casuarina trees to a large, fertile plateau and a few craggy peaks. The population is 900,000, two-thirds Indian, one third Creole.
Although known to Phoenicians, Arabs, Malays and Portuguese, the first settlers were Dutch. Arriving in 1598, they found ebony forests and dodos, the flightless relatives of the pigeon with turkey-like bulk, depicted in this Omnibus issue. Cattle, pigs, dogs and rats escaped and multiplied greatly, so that by 1680 they (and the Dutch appetite) had eradicated the defenceless bird. Wild oxen and deer also contributed to the 3 kilos of meat allocated daily to settlers, who (to the dismay of their governor) were frequently bedridden from such gorging. The ebony forests were also soon largely gone, cleared under threat of gun and whip by African and Malagasy slaves. After 1680 there followed a cyclone, a few visits from pirates, and attacks from escaped slaves (or 'maroons'), who burnt the Dutch fort down. In 1710 the Dutch departed, leaving only the maroons and the name 'Mauritius' to commemorate Prince Maurice of Nassau.
Next, in 1721, came the French, who set about killing the maroons, introducing sugar plantations, and large numbers of slaves. Also, like the British in the Caribbean, they brought piracy, such that by 1800 Mauritius was a pirate kingdom. Between 1793 and 1802, £2^ million was taken in English cargoes alone, much of which was sold to American traders.
During the Napoleonic war Britain seized Mauritius, and with the abolition of slavery 25 years later, Creoles refusing point-blank to continue working the fields (preferring farming, fishing or unskilled labour), they began bringing indentured workers from India. Mauritius has since made enormous strides in education, health and standard of living, and in 1968 achieved independence.
Also shown in this issue is the Bohun Antelope, supporter of the arms of Mary, wife of Henry IV. The Bohuns were Normans from the Cotentin Peninsula, powerful until 1373, when Humphrey (Mary's father) died without male issue. Henry reached the throne usurping it from Richard II, and experienced many rebellions, including that of Owen Glen- dower against his repressive rule in Wales.
