37-1 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xiv. 



CHAP. XIV. 



Audience of the Queen at the Palace. — Salutation to the Queen. — Allusion 

 to Presentation to Queen Victoria. — Offering of the Hasina. — Declaration 

 of the Friendship of the English towards the Malagasy. — The Queen's 

 Keply relative to the Constancy of the English. — Assurance of Friendship 

 and Goodwill fi"om the English Government. . — Desire of the Queen for 

 Amity with all Nations. — Description of the Palace. — The Queen's Ap- 

 pearance, Dress, and Regal State. — The Members of her Court. — Satisfac- 

 tion of the Queen with my Visit. — Bi-eakfast with M. Laborde. — Conver- 

 sations with the Prince. — Wealth of Malagasy Nobles. — Dinner given by 

 the Queen. — Number of Dishes. — Native Plate. — Music. — Speeches after 

 Dinner. — Sovereign Rights of Nations. — Visits of the Sick. — Intercourse 

 with Natives who had visited Bourbon. — Photographic Difficulties. — Pre- 

 sents for the Queen. — Portraits of the Queen and Prince Consort peculiarly 

 gratifying. — Invitation to the Palace. — Music. — Sakalave Dance. — Native 

 and European Dances. — Gorgeous and splendid Costume of the Court. 



Early on the morning of the 5th of September, a present of 

 poultry came from the queen, and a note from a friend in the 

 palace to say that the queen would see me during the day. 

 I venture to insert the note conveying this intelligence as 

 evidence of the absence of all circumlocution in the official 

 and semi-official communications from the Malagasy seat of 

 government. The note was as follows : — 



" Friday Morning. 

 " My dear Friend, — I inform yovi as a friend that the 

 queen will give you an audience to-day in the palace ; con- 

 sequently when you are ordered to come up, put on your best 

 dress, &c. &c., and take a gold sovereign and a dollar. How 

 are you this morning? 



" Yours truly, 



«R ." 



