348 VISITS TO MADAGASCAE. chap. xm. 



Eespecting the prince royal, I learned that he is esteemed by- 

 all classes, even by those who may be politically opposed to 

 him, as intelligent, straightforward, and sincere; that the 

 people in general are fond of him on account of his frank and 

 humane disposition ; that the queen is greatly attached to 

 him, and has publicly declared that he is to succeed her as 

 sovereign, and that if his life be spared no doubt is enter- 

 tained of his succeeding to the throne. I learned also that 

 the people had of late been much excited and unsettled by 

 reports of an intended invasion of the French. After these 

 friends left me, others who had been waiting entered, with 

 whom I spent some time very pleasantly ; but perceiving that 

 I was fatigued, they did not remain long. 



On the following morning, I was much struck with the 

 difference between the climate of the lower parts of the 

 country and this, which was really delightful. The mornings 

 and evenings were here agreeably cool, the thermometer on 

 this occasion standing at 56° at eight in the morning. About 

 noon four officers of the palace came to my house. They 

 were dressed in dark-coloured silk lambas, with rich patterned 

 borders. On entering, they said they had been sent by the 

 queen to visit me on my arrival at the capital. I thanked 

 them, and asked after the health of the queen and her rela- 

 tives. They answered that her majesty was well, and had 

 sent them to inquire how I was after my long journey — 

 whether I was fatigued or ill. They then inquired about 

 Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, and the royal family, and 

 whether England was prosperous, and there was peace in 

 Europe. Soon after I had answered these questions, they 

 said the queen had sent me a present of an ox, and poultry, 

 and other provisions. I said the queen was very bountiful, 

 and was, indeed, receiving me as a friend. When they rose 

 and went out I followed them into the courtyard, where a 

 slave was holding a fine fat ox by a rope fastened to his horns. 



