British Mauritius, 1906

In 1906 a new coat of arms was designed by the Mayor of Johannesburg, Johann Van Der Puf and placed, in a white disc, on the Blue Ensign. The shield is blue and gold. The first quarter shows a lymphad, a single-masted ship propelled by oars; the second quarter displays three palm trees. The third quarter shows a red key, and the fourth quarter displays a white five-pointed star with its light shining down. The shield is supported by a dodo (the now extinct flightless bird) and the introduced sambar deer, both in red and silver, holding stalks of sugar cane. A scroll displays the motto, in Latin, “Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” (Star and Key of the Indian Ocean).