OtT& CARGO. 2<TJ) 



chiefs who ruled that part of the coast. The 

 reply from the queen was, that the sculls must 

 remain where they were placed, and that if Brit- 

 ish merchants and seamen found themselves in- 

 jured in feelings by this display, they need not 

 come there to trade. As Tamatave is important 

 on account of its nearness to Port Louis, and the 

 quantity of bullocks brought there from the inte- 

 rior, it was resolved to pocket the aifront and con- 

 tinue the trade. 



We remained but three days in the bay. Our 

 passage to Port Louis lasted seventeen days. The 

 fair wind down was of course dead ahead when 

 returning, and we were forced to beat to wind- 

 ward every inch of the way. 



It is singular how quickly on board ship the 

 most ferocious animal becomes tame and docile. 

 The cattle of Madagascar are noted for their wild- 

 ness and savage temper. Yet we were scarcely a 

 week at sea ere every one of the one hundred and 

 twenty which formed our cargo knew the voice 

 of his attendant, and was perfectly tractable and 

 obedient to command. 



Before we reached Port Louis many of the finest 

 animals, who were much caressed by the crew, 

 grew to know individual visitors to their places 

 of confinement. I remember well one noble fel- 

 low, who had killed a Madagascar man on shore 

 befure we took him on board, and who for two or 

 three days gave the cattle tenders more trouble 

 than any half dozen others. He was as fine 



