THE GOVERNOR 25 



The motion was not unpleasant, as the men keep step together. 

 Every few minutes they change the poles from one shoulder to 

 the other, lifting them over their heads without any slackening 

 of speed. 



A few minutes brought us to the fort, at the southern end of 

 the town ; this was a circular structure of stone, with walls 

 about twenty feet high, which were pierced with openings for 

 about a dozen cannon. We had to wait for a few minutes until 

 the Governor was informed of our arrival, and thus had time to 

 think of the scene this fort presented not twenty years before 

 that time, when the heads of many English and French sailors 

 were fixed on poles around the fort. These ghastly objects were 

 relics of those who were killed in an attack made upon Tamatave 

 in 1845, by a combined English and French force, to redress some 

 grievances of the foreign traders. But we need not be too hard 

 on the Malagasy when we remember that, not a hundred years 

 before that time, we in England followed the same delectable 

 custom, and adorned Temple Bar and other places with the 

 heads of traitors. 



Presently we were informed that the Governor was ready to 

 receive us. Passing through the low covered way cut through 

 the wall, we came into the open interior space of the fort. The 

 Governor's house, a long low wooden structure, was opposite to 

 us ; while, on the right, he was seated under the shade of a large 

 tree, with a number of his officers and attendants squatting 

 around him. They were mostly dressed in a mixture of European 

 and native costume viz. a shirt and trousers, over which were 

 thrown the folds of the native Idmba, an oblong piece of calico 

 or print, wrapped round the body, with one end thrown over 

 the left shoulder. Neat straw hats of native manufacture 

 completed their costume. The Governor, whose name was 

 Andriamandr6so, was dressed in English fashion, with black 

 silk " top hat " and worked-wool slippers. He had a very 

 European-looking face, dark olive complexion, and was an 

 andnana that is, one of a clan or tribe of the native nobility. 

 He did not speak English, but through Mr Procter we ex- 

 changed a few compliments and inquiries. I assured him of the 

 interest the people of England took in Madagascar, and their 

 wish to see the country advancing. Presently wine was 

 brought, and after drinking to the Governor's health we took our 



