274 VISITS TO MADAGASCAE. chap. xi. 



When the bearers had taken charge of their packages, 

 Beoli took me to the chiefs of each small party, which con- 

 sisted of about ten men, and requested me to write do\vn the 

 names of these chiefs, who, he said, would be responsible 

 for the safety of the packages carried by the men of their 

 party. At eight o'clock the first company of about forty men 

 left the yard; and about three hours afterwards, a second 

 party set out with the remainder of the packages. The 

 governor sent to wish me a safe and pleasant journey, and to 

 inform me that he had sent three soldiers with an ox to 

 Hivondro, where I expected to halt for the night, and where 

 the ox might be killed as provision for the commencement of 

 the journey. The second in command also sent to say, that 

 he had given orders for a bullock to be presented to me at 

 two different stages on the route. A number of the chiefs, and 

 some of the foreign residents also, came to take leave ; and one 

 young chief, who had shown me many attentions, and ren- 

 dered me much assistance, when he had taken leave, and I 

 asked him if there was any thing I could give him as a token 

 of my sense of his kindness, said he had nothing to ask of me 

 unless it was a little book which he had seen belonging to 

 my servant on a former visit. 



Soon after one o'clock I shook hands with my friends, 

 entered my palanquin, and set out on my journey to Antana- 

 narivo. The people of the village offered their salutations 

 and good wishes as we passsd along towards the plain to the 

 north-east of Tamatave. My palanquin was very much like 

 a sailor's cot fixed to a strong wooden frame, and furnished 

 with poles projecting four or five feet at each end, like the 

 poles of a sedan chair. About a foot above the upper edges 

 of the cot, a sort of roof or covering was formed of fine rofia 

 cloth, and curtains of the same material were fixed along the 

 sides. These were turned over the top in fine weather, but 

 could be let down so as effectually to exclude the rain. Four 

 bearers carried the palanquin, a relay of four more walked by 



