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Writer's picturePauline

I. THE SEND-OFF

Have you ever wondered how the Dutch came to know about Mauritius? The island is barely a dot on the world map and yet, they managed to come across it, by chance, if I may say. I guess that's what exploring is all about. Discovering new lands and creating exciting and dangerous adventures. Mauritians, like myself, have heard about the events that led to the "discovery" of our island. However, we don't know everything. I've decided to change my writing a bit, at least for this article.


With that being said, I would like to say that this is a story based on historical events. Many of these characters have existed while others have been created out of pure imagination. What I wrote is not meant to hurt nor criticize anyone. It is simply the history of my country the way I see it.

ONWARD TO THE EAST

In 1498, a new sea route to the East, “Cape Route”, was discovered by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. It was longer than the original Silk Road, but at least they did not have to venture into foreign territories and risk their heads. With this new sea route they could easily exploit the riches of the East, or so they thought. You may wonder about the relevance of all these details about trade here. Well, let us say that they all contributed to the discovery of Mauritius.


A hundred years later, in 1598, a Dutch company called Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company) had learned through its spies that the Portuguese were using an alternative route that led them to India. The V.O.C lost no time and immediately sent an expedition of eight ships towards the East demanding them to use this new sea route. The ships would be under the command of Admirals Jacob Cornelisz van Neck and Wybrant van Warwijck.


“It’s too risky. None of us has travelled this far before, who knows what sort of creatures we could find in these open waters!” exclaimed Jacob.


“Do not be a fool, Jacob!” replied Warwijck.


“I’m telling you, we should not go. I have a bad feeling about this. Do the men know where we’re heading?”


“Yes, they know that we are going to India, but I did not mention that we would be going into the open seas.”


“But they deserve to know! They-”


“The Portuguese have been using this route for a hundred years now and nothing happened to them-”


“You do not know that!”


“Enough, Jacob! The Company ordered us to lie! Besides, if the Portuguese can do it, so can we. Come on, call your men. We’ll leave at dawn.”


And leaving they did. A little crowd had gathered at the port to watch them leave. It was always hard to watch your husband, brother, son or friend leave for a voyage. These could take years and sometimes the men never returned. The crowd watched as the ships slowly disappeared from sight.

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