12 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. cuap. i. 



the bay, the long and lofty flat -topped Table Mountain rising 

 immediately behind the city to an elevation of 3582 feet 

 above the sea, and the green and woody aspect of the country 

 towards Rondesbosche became successively objects of attrac- 

 tion and i^leasure to the many curious or deeply interested 

 gazers who watched the shore. It was Sunday, and, hastening 

 from the vessel to the residence of Mr. Thompson, I was 

 happy to resort with him and his family to the house of Grod, 

 to render thanks for the protection and blessing I had ex- 

 perienced. 



Considerable excitement prevailed at this time amongst all 

 classes at the Cape in consequence of the recent arrival of the 

 Charter of Constitution for the colony, conveying to the colo- 

 nists the long desired responsibilities and benefits of self-go- 

 vernment. Some few doubted whether the change thus 

 effected would prove advantageous to the colony, but by far 

 the greater portion of the community accustomed to give ex- 

 pression to their opinions on such subjects, it was regarded 

 with feeling of unmingled satisfaction. The constitution 

 itself was considered as conceived in the most wise and gene- 

 rous spirit, and the powers it vested in local legislative bodies, 

 to be created by its authority, as ample and efficient as the 

 most sanguine advocate of improvement and progress could 

 desire. 



Two days after our arrival the Queen's birthday was cele- 

 brated with unusual demonstrations of loyalty, and a general 

 illumination of the city at night. But to me the most pleas- 

 ing part of the proceedings was the treat given by the muni- 

 cipality to the children of all the day and Sunday schools in 

 Cape Town. They were assembled on the parade, where the 

 children, between 3000 and 4000 in number, walked in pro- 

 cession past the temporary erection in which the Lieutenant- 

 Grovernor and his suite, with the officers of the municipality, 

 were assembled. The children of each school walked together, 



