Mauritius is a former British colony off the coast of South Africa. It was the home of the dodo bird, now extinct, and the setting for imperial rivalries between Britain and France. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were imported from India to work on the sugar plantation. Sugar still plays an important role but since independence, in 1968, the economy has broadened to include manufacturing, financial services and high-end tourism.
 |
| High end tourism is now a vital part of the national economy |
 |
| Small scale agriculture is still important |
(All Photos ©John Rennie Short)
