CHAP. X. WONDER EXCITED BY THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 261 



while it would heighten their sense of the amazing resources 

 of civilised nations, and the many advantages to be derived 

 from upright and amiable intercourse with them. 



With this object in view, I had asked Mr. Cook, chairman 

 of the International Telegraph Company, with whom I had 

 some previous acquaintance, if it would be possible to acquire 

 sufficient skill in manipulation during the two or three months 

 I might remain in England to enable me to exhibit the work- 

 ing of the telegraph to the Malagasy. He kindly introduced 

 me to Mr. Latimer Clark, the engineer of the company, who 

 very readily directed me to the most useful publications on the 

 subject, and gave me access to the working premises of the 

 company, where I was shown the several parts of the ma- 

 chinery and instructed in the most simple methods of work- 

 ing the telegraph. I had also obtained from the company the 

 needful batteries, instruments, and two miles of galvanised 

 wire, which I had taken out with me. When these were 

 opened at the custom house and their use became known, it 

 was some time before any other business could be attended to, 

 so anxious were the chiefs present to look at them, and learn 

 their mode of operation. 



The governor and his companions had heard of the tele- 

 graphic apparatus, and he had repeatedly expressed his desire 

 to come and see it. He now asked if I could show it to him, 

 and also the photographic camera ; but as there was a perfect 

 crowd at my own residence, the instruments were, at his sug- 

 gestion, taken to the house of M. Provint, a friendly mer- 

 chant, whose kindness and hospitality I had uniformly shared. 

 Here the governor and his friends examined, most minutely 

 and attentively, the different parts of the apparatus, particu- 

 larly the connecting of the wires with the batteries, the instru- 

 ments and the mode of working them, and seemed to be at a 

 loss to express his astonishment and delight, when informed 

 that the movements of the needles which they saw produced 



s 3 



