68 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. hi. 



slender, elastic, and gracefully foliaged stems at the top^ 

 formed a naturally pointed arcli of peculiar elegance and 

 beauty. At other times the sides of the road were covered 

 for a considerable distance with the agave, or American aloe, 

 of gigantic size, and in every stage of progress towards 

 flowering, in some instances intersjoersed with the more 

 slender and graceful forms of the Fourcrsea and other smaller 

 species. On our right the sugar plantations, covered with 

 tall, green, waving canes, stretched away four or five miles 

 towards the sea ; and on our left, at the distance of from 300 

 yards to a mile, the dark brown sterile or wooded mountains 

 towered, often in fantastic forms, high up into the bright blue 

 sky. The object of this visit was to be present at the an- 

 niversary of the Protestant chapel here, of which the Eev. 

 P. Le Brun, son of my worthy host at Port Louis, was the 

 minister. 



Soon after ten we walked to the chapel of this rural dis- 

 trict. It is a neat substantial stone building, standing near 

 the road, on land originally purchased by the London Mis- 

 sionary Society for the use of the Christian refugees from 

 jNIadagascar, several of whom, including Rafaravavy, at one 

 time resided here. The chapel, which will hold three or four 

 hundred persons, was filled with coloured people, respectably, 

 and in some instances gaily, dressed. They listened with at- 

 tention to a plain, affectionate, and instructive sermon from 

 M. Le Brun, Senior. There was a large gathering of singers, 

 and the simple melody of one of the Swiss tunes seemed alike 

 agreeable and appropriate. The service closed soon after 

 noon ; and when we left the building it was truly gratifying 

 to witness the air of contentment and kindly feeling which 

 marked the cheerful countenances and cordial salutations of 

 the crowds outside, who had met together on this occasion 

 from the adjacent country and more distant parts. It was 

 also particularly pleasing to observe the grateful esteem and 



