386 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR chap. xiv. 



health, and on a sign from one of the attendants, the band in 

 the verandah played the Malagasy " Grod save the Queen." 

 The dinner commenced with soup, after which an almost 

 endless variety of viands were served. There must have been 

 upwards of thirty different dishes handed round in succession : 

 beef in every form, poultry, game, made dishes in great 

 variety, with pastry, all exceedingly well cooked, especially the 

 rice, and the rolls of bread. There was not much wine on the 

 table, the drinking was very moderate, and there were but few 

 toasts. The utmost propriety characterised the deportment 

 of all present ; although there were many of the younger 

 members of the aristocracy at the table, the entertainment 

 was more lively, and much less formal, than some at which I 

 had been present in the country. After the dessert, tea was 

 served in small coffee cups, perhaps instead of coffee, from the 

 supposed preference of the English for tea. 



After the dinner, the chief officer rose, and delivered a 

 speech expressive of the good feeling and hospitality of the 

 Queen of Madagascar towards the subjects of other govern- 

 ments, strangers from across the sea, visiting her country. 

 This was said in allusion to m}'- presence amongst them ; and 

 then, stating that it had been the wish of the queen and the 

 Malagasy government to preserve friendship with all foreign 

 nations, he asked why it was that they were so frequently 

 disturbed by reports that the French were coming to take 

 their country. He said that reports to that effect had been 

 recently brovight, and were now in circulation amongst the 

 people ; and then appealing to me as recently from Europe, 

 he asked if I knew whether these reports were true, and if so, 

 why was it that the IMalagasy were to be attacked ? 



Appealed to so directly, I could not decline offering a few 

 words on the subject ; and after thanking the queen for the 

 kind attention and hospitality I had experienced, and ob- 

 serving that the cultivation of peaceable and friendly feelings 



