TO TAMATAVE. 277 



go to Arracan, while I looked for another vessel. 

 And he, who was nearly at the end of the little 

 money he had brought on shore with him, reluc- 

 tantly accepted my offer. 



On the following day, the captain stating him- 

 self willing to make the exchange, Joe took big 

 things on board. The vessel sailed, and I saw his 

 face no more. 



Two days afterward I procured a berth as sea- 

 conny on board a Tamatave bullock trader. The 

 news had just arrived at the Isle of France that 

 die despotic queen of Madagascar, who had for a 

 long time kept every trading port on the eastern 

 side of her island hermetically sealed to foreign 

 vessels, had at length been induced to open the 

 harbor of Tamatave to trade. 



The Isle of France is entirely dependent on 

 Madagascar and the African coast for beef-cattle. 

 None are raised on the island, which is devoted 

 almost entirely to the culture of sugar. The 

 Madagascar coast is only three days' sail distant, 

 while the nearest point on the African coast can 

 not be reached under twelve days. Of course the 

 Madagascar trade is of great advantage to the^ 

 Mauritius. 



All was at once bustle and business among the 

 bullock traders, on receiving the news cf a re- 

 newal of trade. Our vessel was among the first 

 to reach the newly opened port. The trade winds 

 swept us down in three days and a half. We 

 found cattle enough on the white beach before the 



