36 DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 



— or to learn that the French had laid claim to this part of 

 Madagascar. We were told that a French fleet of five 

 vessels had bombarded the place on the i6th of May, 

 dismantling the fort and destroying the Hova settlement. 

 I visited the fort and deserted village, and among the 

 ruins picked up a Hova grammar and a mutilated copy 

 of the " Moody and Sankey " hymn book printed in the 

 Malagasy language. 



How little do we realize the changes that have taken 

 place within this century ! Less than seventy years ago 

 this people had no written language, but now, thanks 

 chiefly to the missionaries, they not only have books 

 printed in their own tongue, but their children are by law 

 compelled to go to school. 



On the 27th of June we left Majunga, and on the 

 28th reached Nosse Be, steaming into one of the many 

 magnificent bays of Madagascar.* 



The scenery was inspiring ; the mountain peaks and 

 sloping green hills were reflected in the smooth waters of 

 the bay, forming a picture of surpassing beauty. The 

 French have been established at Nosse Be for years, and 

 have made it the seat of government. 



On the following day, after visiting the Governor, we 

 took a walk through the native portion of the town, and 

 as the day was very hot and the town dirty we thought 

 its name — Hellville — a very appropriate one. 



We were, however, fortunate enough to find a merchant 

 who had a small quantity of coal which he was willing to 

 sell at a fair price, and on the 29th took on board, about 



