 However, the scale of the system that was put into operation in Mauritius was unprecedented.It immediately spread throughout the colonies of the British Empire, and was imitated by other European powers, while the Indian labor force was also employed beyond the sugarcane fields, in such workplaces as mines and even railways.The global system of indentured labourers was abolished in 1918, although in Mauritius, the Immigration Depot still continued operating until 1923.