52 VISITS TO MADAGASCAE. chap. in. 



of their language, been invited by the merchants to proceed 

 with Mr. Mangeot, one of their own number, to Tamatave, to 

 pay this money, and to arrange with the native authorities for 

 the renewal of the trade, sailed from Port Louis in the 

 "Nimble" on the 10th of October; and thus afforded an op- 

 portunity, of which advantage was readily taken, to commu- 

 nicate farther with our friends in Madagascar. 



The harbour of Port Louis is capacious and secure. The 

 town is situated at the head of the bay, and is enclosed on the 

 east, the north, and the south, by mountains at no great 

 distance from the shore. The highest of these is the Pouce, 

 a mass of ancient volcanic rock, which rises immediately 

 behind the town to an elevation of 2800 feet, and from this a 

 range of volcanic mountain extends towards the sea in a south- 

 west direction, terminating in a high steep point, on which 

 the signal station, announcing the approach of vessels to the 

 port, is fixed. A sort of spur of the Pouce stretches in a line 

 towards the head of the bay, and is surmounted, at its western 

 extremity, by the citadel which overlooks the harbour and 

 town. Another mountain range, behind which the summit 

 of the Peterboth is seen, extends to the north-west, and thus 

 includes, as in a semicircle. Port Louis and its picturesque 

 environs. The government house is situated at the upper 

 end of a broad open space called the Place d' Amies, planted 

 on each side with trees, and extending about 500 yards from 

 the landing-place towards the mountains. Viewed from the 

 harbour, the warehouses near the shore and the buildings in 

 the centre of the town, look stately and imposing. The camp 

 or town of coolies, with here and there the cupola or minaret 

 of a mosque, stretches to the left, and the camp or town of 

 Creoles extends to the right, and exhibits the painted 

 wooden cottages of the former slaves and others in the midst 

 of small cultivated gardens, enclosed with walls of loose stones, 

 and extending to some distance upwards from the base of the 



