Seychelles people

The people of the Seychelles are known as Seychellois — or, in Creole, Seselwa. Interbreeding among the various immigrant races has been common, so they carry a mixture of African, European, Indian, Chinese, and Arab genes. Most of them are light to dark brown.

The country's Gross Domestic Product per head was estimated at about $6,620 in 1995, making it a middle-ranking country. Compared with Africans, the people are well off. They all seem to live in proper houses or flats. I saw no beggars.

However, they're not Africans and they don't normally see Africans. What they see are tourists, who are conspicuously wealthier than they are; and most of the jobs available to them consist of serving tourists in some way. Like most people everywhere, I suppose they'd prefer not to be invaded by tourists, but they need the money. Tourism brings in most of the national income; I think fishing is the second-biggest industry.

Most Seychellois are cautiously polite to tourists, rather than actively friendly. This attitude is understandable when you bear in mind the characteristics of the average tourist. (You and I, of course, have nothing in common with the average tourist. Perish the thought.)