CHAP. X. DETENTION AT CEYLON. 263 



the Indian Ocean to Ceylon, landed at Pointe de Galle, on 

 the 21st of April, thirty-two days from Southampton. 



A severe hurricane had disabled the vessel sent from 

 Mauritius for the mails from England and India, in conse- 

 quence of which we were detained nearly five weeks in Ceylon. 

 This afforded me an opportunity of observing, to a limited 

 extent, the varied scenery and luxuriant vegetation of that 

 beautiful island ; of visiting some of the shrines of idolatry, 

 and the scenes of missionary labour ; as well as of receiving 

 the hospitality and kindness of missionary friends in this part 

 of the island. Deeply as I regretted at the time this deten- 

 tion at Ceylon, I could not but feel grateful when I afterwards 

 learned that by the delay thus occasioned I had avoided the 

 perils of the sea, as well as the ravages of the cholera, which 

 had again visited Mauritius, almost immediately before my 

 arrival. 



On the 24th of May I left Colombo on board the " Star of 

 the East," and reached Mauritius on the 17th of June. Here 

 I experienced a repetition of the generous hospitality which 

 had been shown during my former visits; and though dis- 

 appointed at finding that engagements at the Cape prevented 

 Mr. Cameron from joining me, I prepared without delay for 

 departing alone for Madagascar. The assistance of friends was 

 cheerfully afforded in the needful preparations for the voyage. 

 Messrs. I'Estrange and Co. generously gave me a passage in the 

 " Castro," one of the best vessels in the trade, and on the 9th 

 of July I embarked in the same vessel in which I had returned 

 from Madagascar in 1854. 



Three days of pleasant sailing brought us in sight of the 

 coast, and by noon on the following day we anchored off 

 Tamatave, where the officers of the port and other natives, 

 as well as the European residents, expressed their pleasure at 

 my arrival. 



The next morning, when I went on shore to inquire after a 



