444 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xvi. 



uf a number of the chiefs and others in their ordinary dress, 

 sitting or standing under the verandahs, as they often ap- 

 peared during the after part of the day.* I also printed 

 off proofs from the negatives I had taken at the capital, 

 which I put in glass frames, and sent to their respective 

 owners, who have since acknowledged the pleasure their 

 arrival afforded them. 



Most of the leading persons at Tamatave came to see the 

 likenesses of the members of the Hova court at the capital. 

 Many of the friends of the prince, when they looked at the 

 full-length likeness of him which I had taken, took off their 

 hats and respectfully saluted the picture, pronouncing his 

 name with emphasis, and adding " Veloma Tompoko " "May 

 you live, sovereign or lord." Few of the visitors interested 

 me more than the widow of the late M. Delastelle, daughter 

 of one of the late hereditary chiefs of the Betsimasaraka, or 

 race inhabiting this part of the country, and whose ancestors 

 until within the last half century had been accustomed to 

 regard the ancestors of Radama and the reigning families of 

 the Hovas as gi-eatly theu' inferiors, and the Hovas as by no 

 means their equals. She gazed earnestly at the full-length 

 likeness of the princess, for a long time repeatedly uttering, 

 " And that is Rabodo ! " Several persons came more than 

 once and begged to look at the pictures. 



I often had occasion to notice the manner in which the 

 natives measm'e short periods of time. When asked how 

 long it would require to walk to a certain place, they would 



* It is perhaps but just in connection with this subject to state that my 

 camera — whicli was large, capable of taking a picture sixteen inches s'quare — 

 and the other appiiratus worked well the whole time, and seemed scarcely affected 

 either by the intense and dry heat of the capital or the saturating moisture 

 after the heavy rains on the coast. The camera was of mahogany, and light, and 

 stood much better than cameras of walnut, which I had taken out on my former 

 visits. The apparatus was all made by Messrs. Murray and Heath, of Piccadilly. 



