These squires, whether private or institutional, thus gained thousands, indeed tens of thousands of hectares. This allowed some to consider that the application of the principle devised by the East India Company is what originated the control by ruling élites over all the lands of the island of Réunion.
These estates, whether personal or corporate, therefore acquired tens of thousands of hectares. This led some to believe that it was the application of the principle developed by the East India Company that gave rise to the control exerted by ruling elites over all the land on the island of Réunion.