30 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. ii. 



that a fleet was coming against them. They were assured 

 that we had never heard of any such intention, and did not 

 believe there existed any foundation whatever for the report. 

 They then inquired about the state of feeling between Eng- 

 land and America, and said they had heard that the latter 

 were about to invade the territories of the English in India, 

 and, adverting again to the friendship of the English, they all 

 said it would be good for them, and for the people at Mau- 

 ritius, if friendly and commercial intercourse were restored. 



After other minor topics had been discussed, the judge rose 

 to return ; and we walked in the same direction to the house 

 of Mr. Provint, a French merchant residing at Tamatave, by 

 whom we were welcomed ; and a short time afterwards we took 

 our leave. The judge accompanied us to the road, and, with 

 much apparent good-will, gave us his parting salutation, at 

 the same time bidding some of the officers attend us to the 

 beach. There was no suitable conveyance at hand belonging 

 to the ship ; but the officer in charge of a large government 

 canoe lying on the beach placed it at our disposal, and sent a 

 strong crew to convey us safely to our vessel, which we reached 

 soon after sunset. 



The chiefs appeared to have been pleased with the oppor- 

 tunity of conversing freely with persons in whose statements 

 they felt they could fully confide, and whom they acknow- 

 ledged they regarded as their friends ; and we could not help 

 desiring that this occasion might prove the earnest of many in- 

 terviews equally satisfactory, and on more important subjects. 



The next morning fresh provisions were readily allowed for 

 the ship, and towards noon we went again on shore, and were 

 met by our friend the harbour master, whom we accompanied 

 to his house, where we walked with him over his garden. 

 He informed us that our letters had been sent to the capital 

 on the preceding day, and that answers might be expected 

 in fifteen or sixteen days. He appeared anxious to know the 



