CHAP. IV. VISIT TO BEAU BASSIN. 07 



A somewhat curious, but official, transaction which took 

 place about this time may serve to show the wide difference 

 which exists between the political or diplomatic negotiations 

 of one country and those of another. Anxious to evince 

 their entire cordiality in the friendly relations recently 

 established, the government of Madagascar sent to the go- 

 vernor of Mauritius informing him that as the trade was 

 reopened they wished to be friendly with all ; and he was 

 therefore at liberty, if he chose, to send for the skulls of 

 his countrymen and of the French that were fixed on poles 

 at Tamatave, and to have them buried -in such manner as 

 he preferred. Accordingly a non-commissioned officer was 

 soon afterwards sent to Tamatave for this purpose. But on 

 arriving he found that the skulls had been previously 

 removed by the French, and buried at the Isle of St. Mary's. 



At the close of the first week in January, I had the 

 pleasure of welcoming to Mauritius iNIr. and Mrs. Kennedy, 

 who, after a visit to England for the sake of health, were 

 on their way to Benares, in India, as missionaries. They 

 were hospitably entertained at Mr. Kelsey's, as were also Mr. 

 and Mrs. Hall, who subsequently arrived on their way to 

 their important field of missionary labour at Madras, and 

 who, after a very brief but pleasant season of intercourse, 

 resumed their voyage. 



The weather was now becoming increasingly oppressive, 

 the thermometer in the shade averaging 90° and upwards, and 

 I was glad towards the close of the month to repeat my 

 visit to Beau Bassin, the residence of Mr. Bro^vnrigg, situ- 

 ated on Plaines Wilhelms, about six miles from Port Louis. 

 My welcome, as on a former occasion, was most cordial. 

 The comfortable pavilion which I had before occupied was 

 again appropriated to my use; and besides the refreshing- 

 coolness of the air, as compared with that of Port Louis, I 



H 



