264 A MILITARY ESCORT 



Secondary rocks here on the coast, in stratified sandstone tilted 

 up at a very high angle. 



A day and a half's journey from Vangaindrano brought us to 

 another Hova military post, a town called Ankarana, which is 

 situated on a ridge about four hundred feet above the general 

 level of the surrounding country, forming a striking feature 

 in the landscape. Ascending a slippery and steep road in the 

 red clay, I found myself at one o'clock on the top of the ridge 

 and close to the stockaded rdva, or Hova fort, a much larger 

 place than I had expected to see, as hardly anything of the town 

 could be seen from below. Mr Street, being ill with fever, had 

 gone on before, while I brought up the rear. Coming to the 

 gate of the stockade, my men were about to take me in at once, 

 but the people near requested me to stop, as the officers were 

 coming out to escort me in. This I rather unwillingly did, as a 

 very heavy shower came on just then. Presently the rolling of 

 drums announced their approach. First came a file of soldiers, 

 then a number of officers, then the lieutenant-governor in palan- 

 quin, and then the governor in ditto, a little active old man in 

 regimental red coat and cocked hat. They all came forward and 

 shook hands, and evidently it was intended that the queen 

 should be saluted and polite speeches made ; but the rain 

 pelted down so furiously just then that they thought better of 

 it, and we made our way through the double stockade into the 

 Hova town with its lines of houses, and then into an inner 

 stockade enclosing the government house and flagstaff and 

 several large houses. We took shelter under the raised verandah 

 of one of these, while a dozen unfortunate individuals, soldiers 

 and petty officers, had to stand out in the pouring rain and 

 " present arms," " support arms," etc., and then, of course, 

 came inquiries after the queen and the great people at their 

 capital. 



The governor then led me into the temporary Idpa, a large 

 rough-looking room, where was a table spread with dishes, 

 plates, etc. He apologised for there being no meal ready for 

 us, as our coming was unexpected, but wine and biscuits were 

 brought and we drank the queen's health, and they drank ours, 

 a flourish of music and drums following each toast. This 

 extreme politeness, so soon after the marked discourtesy shown 

 us at Vangaindrano, astonished and amused me not a little. I 



