VISIT TO THE COURT OF THE HOVAS. 123 
Government, and several thousands of her Hova 
subjects, and it was at this time that the English 
fleet, under Commander Brown, manoeuvred off 
Andevoranto. She viewed the ships from the 
coast at Tanimandry with astonishment and de¬ 
light. At Ranomafana may be seen in profusion 
in all the streams the beautiful and delicate lace- 
plant, now familiar to English botanists, by 
reason of the care and success with which the 
specimens taken from this neighbourhood to 
Kew Gardens have been reared and multiplied. 
The pitcher-plant, that curious contrivance of 
nature for condensing the vapour and storing it 
for the refreshment of the thirsty wayfarer, and 
the traveller’s tree, from which a copious draught 
of cool water may at any time be drawn, are 
natives of this locality. 
Leaving the hot springs, the journey is con¬ 
tinued over an irregular and tortuous path, and 
over the range of hills which forms the first of 
a series of terraces, the highest of which, nearly 
two hundred miles distant, is crowned by the 
tombs and palaces of the royal city. The road 
is by no means without its peculiar objects of 
interest; and the stone placed upon the spot 
from which the first view of the distant sea is 
obtained on the downward journey from Imerina, 
is worthy of notice as commemorating the aboli¬ 
tion of the exportation of native slaves for sale. 
