CHAP. VII. ACCOMMODATIONS AT FOULE POINTE. 181 



tered the court-yard of my friend, who was an officer in the 

 place. Here I was preparing to alight ; but, before being 

 aware, was carried quite into the house, where I was cordially 

 welcomed. One of my attendants was completely loaded 

 with the specimens of plants which I had gathered during 

 the journey, and which I now deposited in one of the 

 large trees for security. The house was well built with 

 native materials. It contained two good rooms, boarded 

 floor, door, and windows with shutters, but no glass. It had 

 a large kind of kitchen with fireplace outside ; and also a 

 fireplace in the smaller or inner room, which seemed to be 

 a sort of store-room and cooking-place, as well as sleeping- 

 room. In one corner was a small bed on a frame like a 

 stretcher. Around the head of the bed, firearms, swords, and 

 warlike accoutrements, were placed. On one side of the room 

 stood some boxes, on the other was the fireplace, and in 

 other parts were bags of rice or millet, baskets of beans, 

 with various tools, agricultural implements, and other valu- 

 able stores. The corner containing the bed was pointed out 

 as my quarters, and I took possession by placing there my 

 carpet-bag and photographic apparatus. Many of the friends 

 of my host, and others whom I had seen at Tamatave, soon 

 came in with repeated expressions of welcome ; and, after a 

 good wash and a hearty supper, we spent the time very 

 agi-eeably together, observing usages which would not have 

 been neglected at home. One of those present had spent 

 some time at Mauritius, and knew a little English. Two 

 others spoke French, so that we could communicate with each 

 other much better than was sometimes the case. My in- 

 quiries related to their past and present circumstances ; and 

 the promptitude and cheerfulness of their replies left me no 

 reason to fear that my inquiries were unwelcome. They, on 

 the other- hand, had many deeply interesting questions to 

 ask, more particularly about the religious belief and practices 



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