384 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. ciup. xiv. 



inquiries respecting the sources of prosperity in our own and 

 other countries. This conversation increased the good opinion 

 I had previously formed of his understanding and capacity, 

 while it confirmed my views of the correctness of many of 

 his opinions, the marked humanity of his feelings and his 

 earnest desire after the true prosperity of his people. Much 

 that he said strengthened my hopes of the welfare of Mada- 

 gascar if his valuable life should be preserved. 



While we were talking, a present of a couple of baskets of 

 small lobsters arrived from the princess. I returned an ac- 

 knowledgment by the bearer, and assured the prince of my 

 sense of her kindness. He said she was pleased with what 

 she had seen of me, and would come with him some evening 

 to my house. I said I should be glad to see the princess, but 

 being only a traveller, and a sojourner for a short time in the 

 capital, I could offer no suitable entertainment. He said 

 it would not be for the entertainment that the princess would 

 come, but to express her pleasure at the arrival of a friendly 

 visitor from England, and to hear our conversation. The after- 

 noon was far advanced before the prince and his companion left. 

 I had not many visitors that evening, most of my friends being 

 engaged in another direction. 



The next day I received a note from the palace conveying an 

 invitation to a dinner, to be given by the queen on the following 

 day at a house adjacent to the palace, and lately occupied by 

 one of her chief ministers, whose son had already paid me more 

 than one visit. As illustrating the wealth of some of the Mala- 

 gasy nobles, I was told that the late owner of the house to which 

 I had been invited, was, at the time of his death, said to be 

 possessed of 30,000 dollars, 1,000 slaves, and 3,000 head of 

 cattle, besides sheep. This property had been divided after 

 his death between his widow and children, a son and two 

 daughters. Wealth equal in amount to that here stated, is 

 probably confined to a limited number of the highest nobles 



