368 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xiii. 



to the grounds, all took off tlieir hats. We first stopped to 

 look at a stone house of rather small dimensions, in course of 

 erection, and then passed along through avenues of bananas 

 and vines. The latter were planted in circular holes about 

 two yards across, and eighteen inches or two feet deep, which 

 mode, I was told, prevented their being burnt up in the hot 

 season. They appeared to require pruning, but were said to 

 bear good grapes. In about ten minutes we reached the 

 house, a moderate-sized, but well built cottage, encircled with 

 a wide verandah, and standing on the margin of a piece of 

 water thronged with water-fowl. On alighting, the officers 

 and others formed a circle in front of the house. The prince 

 entered the circle, and when the princess arrived, he assisted 

 her from her palanquin, and di'awing her arm within his own, 

 they entered the house together, when the prince, turning 

 round, invited the company to enter. 



On again presenting myself before the prince and princess, 

 and acknowledging the pleasure which the excursion had 

 afforded me, they said the queen had told them to ask me to 

 join them, in order that I might see the country. They then 

 made many inquiries about England, especially about the 

 Queen and Prince Albert, how many children they had, their 

 various ages, &c. ; and both, but especially the princess, ex- 

 pressed much interest when I mentioned the rumour that the 

 Princess Eoyal of England was to be connected by marriage 

 with the royal family of Prussia. Then they asked about the 

 war — how many troops had been engaged, how many killed, 

 whether it was thought that peace would continue, and whether 

 the people of England were pleased with it, &c. The princess 

 conversed with gentleness and affability. I noticed while 

 they were standing together that if not slightly taller, she was 

 the senior of the prince. There was a table in the room 

 spread with sweetmeats, biscuits, and fruit, and with silver 

 plates and knives, and silver forks. The princess moved to 



