CHAP. XIII. INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE RAMONJA. 353 



ceived, and said if, when I wanted to return, I would send them 

 word, tliey would come up from Tamatave, to carry me down 

 to the coast. I thanked them for the offer of their services, 

 and asked them what they were going to do \vith their money. 

 Most of them said they were going to buy something to take 

 home ; and as specimens of the purchases they made, no 

 fewer than three parties came during the day with gold ear- 

 rings of native manufacture, to ask me if they were really 

 gold. 



After dismissing the bearers of my palanquin and personal 

 baggage, I paid the bearers of my packages, each according to 

 the distance he had come, and they all appeared well satisfied 

 with the sum they received. I also presented a small sum to 

 the officers, as an expression of my sense of their attention 

 during the journey. The packages had not yet all arrived, 

 but were daily expected. 



As much of this day as I could command, I devoted to 

 writing letters for England and Mauritius, to send by my 

 bearers to Tamatave, and also to packing the few ferns and 

 plants which I had collected on my jom*ney. In the evening 

 I had a very pleasant visit from the Prince Eamonja, and one 

 of his relatives. After the first greeting, he almost involun- 

 tarily acknowledged the goodness of God in causing us to 

 meet together. He then conversed with much earnestness 

 but gentleness of manner, making many inquiries after the 

 English who had formerly resided at the capital, and the 

 many friends in England of whom he had heard. He spoke 

 also of the afflictions he had suffered, and his bereavements in 

 the loss of his children by death. He inquired much about 

 the state of things in England, and expressed his hopes for 

 the prosperity of Madagascar. I was much impressed with 

 his intelligence and amiable feeling. During my former 

 visits, I had heard of his impaired sight, and had now the 

 pleasure of presenting him with an excellent pair of gold 



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