204 REVIEWS — THREE VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 



Three Visits to Madagascar during the years 1853, 1851, 1856, «w- 

 eluding a Journey to the Capital ; luith Notices of the Natural SiS' 

 tory of the Country ^ and of tlie present Civilization of the People. 

 —By the Eey. William Ellis, P. H. S., author of "Polynesian 

 Eesearches." Illustrated by wood-cuts, from photographs, &c. — 

 London : John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1858. 



Among the books which have lately issued from the press, few 

 can claim a higher degree of interest than Mr. Ellis' narrative of 

 his visits to Madagascar ; a country so long known, yet remaining so 

 strange to the more cultivated nations of Europe and America. Po- 

 pulous, and possessing a certain type of civilization, with a climate 

 favorable to the wondei'S and glories of vegetation ; offering inviting 

 prospects of commercial advantage not yet brought within the reach 

 of those who desired to try their reality ; and with a religious history 

 highly obscure, yet fitted to excite an intense interest : could hardly 

 have been visited at all, certainly could not have been visited by an 

 intelligent and enquiring, as well as enterprising traveller, without 

 his communications respecting it being welcomed by numbers, and 

 his subject ensuring his success as an author. "With these accidental 

 advantages, Mr. Ellis unites the zeal, judgment, and experience which 

 fitted him for the more weighty part of his duties, and the genuine 

 love of nature, and careful preparation for profiting by what he ob- 

 served, which must make his work attractive to the naturalist and the 

 anxious inquirer respecting little known regions, as well as peculiarly 

 interesting to all who desire the progress in the world of our holy 

 faith, or can estimate and honour the firmness and devotedness of the 

 martyr. 



We cordially recommend Mr. Ellis's book to all thoughtful read- 

 ers, and whilst leaving its most important parts to be studied in its 

 own pages, we shall present a few extracts relating to scenery, man- 

 ners and natural objects, which are suitable to our pages, and may 

 afford entertainment to the reader, though removed from their context. 



A MADAGASCAR DWELLING. 



" The house of the harbour-master was a well constructed native 

 dwelling, about forty feet long and between twenty and thirty feet 

 high, with a door in the centre and a window on each side ; the 

 whole front shaded by a broad verandah, and the house thatched with 



