116 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 



CHAP. V. 



Second Voyage to Madagascar. — Quarantine on account of the Cholera at 

 Mauritius. — Residence on Shore. — Visit to a sick Chief. — His Secretary. 

 — Presents from the People. — Correspondence with the Government at 

 the Capital. — Hospitality of M. Provint. — Evening Walks. — Drawers of 

 Water. — Cattle Market. — Mode of embarking and landing Cattle. — Ar- 

 ticles sold in the daily Market. — House of the Son of the Chief Judge. — 

 The National Festival of the New Year. — Presents. — Visitors from the 

 Capital. — Annual Festival Dinner by the Governor. — Dresses of the Com- 

 pany. — Eating of the Jaka preserved since the last Annual Festival. — 

 Accounts of the destructive Progress of the Cholera at Mauritius. — Death 

 of Mr. Kelsey. — Visit to the Capital prohibited on account of the Cholera 

 at Mauritius. — Astonishment of the Natives on witnessing the Effects of 

 Photography. — Remarkable Countenances of many of the People. — Ap- 

 plication for Medicine. — Tooth-aches. — Varieties of native Medicine. — 

 Poisonous Fish. — Serpents. — Habits of the Aye- Aye. 



The weatlier was fine, the wind fair for our voyage, and the 

 sea by no means rough ; yet again I suffered much from sea 

 sickness ; happily the voyage was short, and on the evening of 

 the third day we were within ten miles of our port, and as 

 there were indications of a change of wind the captain, who 

 was himself an invalid, anchored for the night in twenty 

 fathoms of water. The next morning the wind was contrary, 

 and it was past noon on the 12th of June before we entered 

 the bay. During the next day the custom-house officers came 

 on board to inquire about the cholera at Mauritius, and to 

 examine the health of the crew. They informed the captain 

 thaV until farther orders there could be no communication 

 with the shore, a decision which, however inconvenient to our- 

 selves, was highly commendable so far as the safety of the 

 people was concerned. 



After being eight days in quarantine we went on shore, and 

 as soon as I had received permission to land my things they 



