446 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xvi. 



of Mauritius. The ageut of the prince also presented an 

 ox, as a present to the captain of the ship, with expressions 

 of thanks for the attentions he had shown me on the voyage. 



The evening of the 17th of November, 1856, was the time 

 fixed for our departure ; and after taking leave of the foreign 

 residents, I walked down to the beach, accompanied by 

 the aide-de-camp of the prince, and chiefs and friends to the 

 number of twenty. On my way I met the captain and se- 

 veral friends coming to see if I was ready. We soon reached 

 the shore ; and then, after repeated and most affectionate 

 farewells from my friends, I joined the captain who was 

 already in the boat, and before ten o'clock was in the cabin 

 of the " Castro." Sodra, my faithful attendant, had arranged 

 my berth, and waited to bid me farewell, after which he 

 returned to the shore, having during the day applied in vain 

 to the authorities of the port for permission to accompany 

 me to Mauritius. 



By six o'clock on the 18th we were under weigh. The 

 wind was fair, and during the first three days we passed over 

 two-thirds of the distance to Mam-itius. But calms and con- 

 trary winds detained us at sea sixteen days, and it was not 

 until the 2nd of December that we reached Port Louis. 

 The medical officer who came on board to examine our ship 

 delivered a letter from Commodore (now Admiral) Trotter,, 

 then in the harbour ; and on my way to the shore I called 

 on board the frigate, and spent some time with the commo- 

 dore, whom I had previously met at the Cape of Good Hope. 



On reaching the shore I found that death had again re- 

 duced the circle of my friends ; but I was cordially welcomed 

 by the survivors, and took up my abode beneath the friendly 

 and hospitable roof of M. Lebrun. In company with Com- 

 modore Trotter I visited Eeduit, where I met a number of 

 other friends, and afterwards spent my Christmas with the 

 governor and his family. I also accompanied the Bishop of 



