382 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xiv. 



I had mentioned, when conversing with the princess at 

 Isoaierana, that I had some pieces of music with me, and in 

 the course of the evening a messenger came from the palace 

 to request that I would send them ; also any more copies of 

 the London Illustrated News which I might have by me; 

 and I was glad to supply them, with such pieces of music as a 

 kind friend, Mrs. Bartholomew, a lady not unknown in the 

 musical world, had given me in London before my departure. 

 I was afterwards told that a new piece of music was highly 

 prized, and that the additions which my friends had enabled 

 me to make to the music used at the palace had been par- 

 ticularly acceptable. The evening of this day I devoted to 

 writing my journal, as far as the visits of friends would allow, 

 but they came in such numbers as to occasion some anxiety 

 to my companions. 



I had been invited by the French gentleman whom I met 

 at the palace to breakfast with him on the following morning ; 

 and about nine o'clock one of the officers of the palace called 

 to accompany me. He informed me that the queen and her 

 court were pleased with the statement I had made on the 

 previous day, adding, that all were delighted with the pieces 

 of music I had sent, and that the queen had said she should 

 some day send for me to hear the music, and see the dancing 

 at the palace. On reaching the house of M. Laborde we 

 found the prince and one of his aides-de-camp already there. 

 I was also introduced to M. Hervier the French Roman Ca- 

 tholic priest, whom I had met at the palace the day before. 

 Here I also met M. Laborde's son, a young man about twenty, 

 recently returned to Madagascar, after completing his educa- 

 tion in France. In a short time we sat down to a veiy 

 sumptuous breakfast served in the first style ; a small band 

 of music plajdng outside the house during the time. Before 

 commencing the breakfast the health of the queen was pro- 

 posed, and, when my glass was filled, I apologised for not 



