433 



CHAP. XVI. 



Breakfast at Amboilefo — Intcixoursc with Friends from the Capital. — Hos- 

 pitality at Prince Ramonja's Village. — New Plants collected. — Lodging 

 in the Forest of Alamazaotra. — Noise of the Monkeys or Lemnrs. — Lyco- 

 podiums and other Plants. — Heavy Rains. — Extreme Difficulty of Travel- 

 ling in the Forest. — Meeting with French Priests and Merchants — Accept- 

 able Collection of Plants. — New Species of Platycerum or Stag's-horn 

 Fern. — Amval at Tamatave. — Visit to the Locality of the Ouvirandra 

 Fenestralis. — Crocodiles. — Kindness experienced at Tamatave. — Arrival of 

 the " Castro." — Presents from the Queen. — Departure from Madagascai-. 

 — Hospitality at Mauritius. — Storm on the Ocean. — Rescue of two ship- 

 wrecked Mariners. — Remarkable Meeting with a Native of the Sandwich 

 Islands. — Safe Arrival in England- 



But to return to the narrative of my journey. Several 

 friends who had been my constant companions or daily 

 visitors at Antananarivo, and who were anxious to defer our 

 final separation as long as possible, had travelled by my 

 side during the first day's journey, and passed the night with 

 me under the same roof. While the officers were adjusting and 

 sending off the packages the next morning, we had much 

 serious ^nd affectionate conversation ; and after I had given 

 some of them a small memento of my visit, we bade each 

 other farewell. They retraced their steps to the capital, and 

 I resumed my journey to the coast. 



Amongst the presents I had received at the capital were a 

 number of live animals from the Sakalave country, and other 

 parts. Some of these had been pets with their former owners : 

 among them a little tenrec had been given me by the princess. 

 It had generally slept all day in a box, but frequently got out 

 during the night, seeming greatly to enjoy its nocturnal ram- 

 bles. It fed on insects and rice, and was quite tame. Of these 



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