British Soldiers In Mauritius

[saw119]

I have someone I'm researching who spent nearly 4 years in Mauritious (1860-1864). What were the British Army doing there in the mid 19th century? I know the island was occupied to try and stop French attacks on India Company ships in the early 19th century but was this still the case in the later years of Victoria's reign? Any info greatly recieved.

[Will Mathieson]

Captured by the British Navy from the French in 1810, sugar cane became a main export. 1834 slavery was abolished and most of the 80,000 left leaving a labour shortage, many from India came as indentured workers to work the fields. From 1866-68 malaria from introduced mosquitos killed 40,000.
Maj. H de H Haig R.E. was on the island exploring and wrote of an adventure where they were thought drowned by rising waters while exploring a cave system, only to see them walk up the path late in the day. I have researched this officer because I have his R.E. sword.
More in general:
"Traditionally, the armed forces have played a minimal role in Mauritian national life. In 1859 the British colonial government established the first Mauritian Police Force, with a separate unit for Port Louis. Ordinance No. 16 of 1893 expanded the Police Force, which by 1899 numbered 700 personnel, 300 of whom were stationed in Port Louis and the remainder at eight other locations. The officer corps included one inspector general and seven inspectors while the other ranks had twelve subinspectors. With the exception of about 100 police who carried Martini Henry rifles, the Police Force was unarmed. Europeans, Creoles, and Indians served in the police. Initial recruitment into the police was for a period of not more than three years. The colonial government allowed men of good character to reenlist for a further five years." from: mongabay.com