308 CAMELS 



ground is the rova and Hova town. Between the two, and to 

 the north, is a beautiful park-like expanse, thickly studded 

 with magnificent trees, chiefly mangoes, which here grow to a 

 great size, as well as baobabs, and clumps of cocoanut-palms 

 and a few fan-palms. A fort crowns the crest of the hill to 

 the north ; and altogether, we were agreeably surprised with 

 Mojanga. Just as we had cast anchor, we were surprised to 

 see several camels brought down to the sea for a bath. They 

 were imported from Aden some time ago by a French firm, but 

 had not proved a success, commercially, for Madagascar has 

 too damp a climate for animals accustomed to the sand and 

 gravel of the Arabian desert. We had not landed many minutes 

 before our brother missionary, Mr Pickersgill, then stationed at 

 Mojanga, came down and gave us a hearty welcome and every 

 assistance with our baggage, etc. Our little family party 

 found quarters in the verandah of the house of a Madame Beker, 

 very near the shore, while the others went to stay with Mr 

 Pickersgill near the rova. This house was of coral rock, plas- 

 tered, but was so hot that we preferred the verandah, which was 

 roofed with fan-palm leaves and surrounded with the same 

 slight materials. We were glad of the quiet and rest we had 

 there for a week after our two or three weeks' travelling by 

 land and river. 



The following morning, Sunday, the mail steamer, Packumba, 

 came in about midday, but left again for Mozambique in the 

 afternoon. On going on board to see the ship we were to sail 

 in, we found that her main deck was arranged so as to take a 

 great number of passengers, the iron plating at the sides all 

 turning up on hinges to allow a free passage of air. I was glad 

 to be able to preach to a large congregation in the native church 

 during the afternoon. 



The week at Mojanga passed away rapidly, for we had plenty 

 to do in rearranging and labelling luggage, disposing of our 

 palanquins, bedding, and other no longer needful property, and 

 preparing for our voyage. At this town we found ourselves 

 in quite a different place and surroundings from what we had 

 seen everywhere else in Madagascar. We were in the midst of 

 an Indian and Mohammedan population, the traders here being 

 mostly Banians and a large proportion of them British subjects. 

 Hindoo speech, dress, ornament, and customs met us at every 



