HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
41 
gascar, in the country of Youngoule.’ I desired the favour 
of one who was going to the sea-side, to deliver this leaf to 
the first white man he saw; and when he returned, I asked 
him what answer he had brought. 4 None at all,’ replied 
he; 4 for I suppose the white man did not like it, since he 
threw the leaf away, though I am sure it was as good, if 
not better, than that which you gave me: it is true I drop¬ 
ped pour's, but then I pulled one of the best I could find 
off a tree.’ ” 44 My heart,” says Drury, 44 was ready to 
break at this disappointment; whereupon I turned from 
him, and went directly into the woods to give vent to 
my tears.” 
Some years after this bitter disappointment, Drury ob¬ 
tained his long-wished-for liberation; and the circumstances 
of this event are best described in his own words. Aware 
that two ships were then waiting for slaves at Youngoule, 
every intelligence respecting them obtained an interest in 
his mind, such as none but a captive could have experienced; 
and he feelingly relates the circumstances of his final escape 
from slavery in the following words:— 
44 1 was sitting with my master one evening, when two 
men came in with a basket of palmetta leaves sewed up, 
and delivered it to the chief, who opened it, and finding 
a letter, asked the men what they meant by giving him 
that ? 4 The captain,’ they said, 4 gave it us for your white 
man, but we thought proper to let you see it first.’ 4 Pray,’ 
said the chief, 4 give it all to him. Here, Robin, your 
countrymen have sent you a present; what it is I do not 
know, but to me it appears of very little value.’ Accord¬ 
ingly I took the basket; and with the letter there were 
pens, ink, and paper, in order to my returning an answer. 
The superscription was this:— 4 To Robert Drury , in the 
island of Madagascar .’ 
