This is a gloriously illustrated and fascinating history of Mauritius - heart of the 'Spice Route' for over 200 years. This is the engrossing story of Mauritius, the exotic Indian Ocean island port of call at the heart of the fabled 'Spice Route'. Although first discovered and visited by the Arabs and the Portuguese, and subsequently colonised by the Dutch, the French and the English, it is the French influence that is most keenly felt in Mauritius today, thanks to France's nearly century-long rule over Mauritius from 1715 to 1810. Combining rich historical detail, rare archival documents, antique lithographs paintings, and portraits, and fascinating stories of well-known figures of the period - like the founder of the colony Governor Mahe de La Bourdonnais, the explorer and botanist Pierre Poivre, and the celebrated explorer Jean-Francois de Laperouse - "Mauritius on the Spice Route" is an invitation to step back in time and discover the fascinating history of this exotic paradise.