SEYCHELLES, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, situated between 3° 40' and 4* 50' S. lat., 10' and 56° E. long. These islands rest on a bank of coral and sand, which extends from north to south about 200 miles, and from east to west from 30 to 40 miles. It is a kind of platform in the sea, on which the superstructure of the islands has been raised. The general depth of water on the bank varies between 12 and 40 fathoms. The number of islands alto gether is about 30, but most of them are small. They afford many excellent harbours, which are never visited by tornadoes, and may at all seasons be considered perfectly safe. The largest islands are— Mahe (30,000 acres), Praslin (8000 acres), Silhouette (5700 acres), Digue (2000 acres), and Curieuse (1000 acres). The total population is about 7000, of whom about 600 are whites ; the rest are blacks and coloured persons.
The surface of the islands is irregular, presenting a diversity of hills, rocks, and ravines, without any considerable extent of level ground. The rocks are granitic. The soil is generally thin, but good, and produces wild fruits and vegetables in abundance. Among the natural productions are cocoa-nuts, pine-apples, cucumbers, and red pepper. But the most remarkable production is the coeo-do-mar, or Seychelles cocoa-nut, formerly supposed to be produced at the bottom of the sea, whence it took its name. The nuts weigh from 20 to 25 lbs. each, and contain a white jelly-like substance, which is eaten, but is tasteless. The shells, the fibrous covering, the leaves, and stalks of this palm-tree, are all used for various purposes. Another production is the Mahe wood, which is not inferior in colour and solidity to mahogany, and is equally well-adapted for cabinet-work, but is not found iu sufficient quantity to allow of much being exported. The grains most cultivated are rice and maize. Mandioc
is also grown, as well as cotton, coffee; tobacco, and the sugar-cane. Cattle and sheep are in considerable numbers. The climate is fine and healthy, aud the heat not oppressive. The thermometer varies between 64° and 84° Fahr.
The island of Mahe is about 16 miles in length, and from threo to four miles in width. The rugged chain of granitic hills which extends through its centre is in its highest parts about 400 feet above the sea. The town of Mah6, which is the resideuee of the government agent, is on the north-cast side of the island. It is irregularly built, in a small glen, and contains only a few good houses. It is not far from a deep bay inclosed by a semicircle of tolerably high land. A few small vessels belong to the island, and many large schooner-rigged boats and numerous canoes. The smaller islands are only visited occasionally to obtain cocoa-nuts or turtles.
The Seychelles were partly explored in 1743, by order of Mahe de la Bourdonnsis, then governor of Mauritius. About the year 176S the French formed a colony on the island of Mahe. The Seychelles were captured by the British in 1794, but were not occupied till the capture of Mauritius in 1810. By the treaty of Paris, in 1815, they were ceded to the British, together with Mauritius. They are under the governor of Mauritius. 1.31sunintra.]