126 
MADAGASCAR. 
on the road, and the stay here is usually made 
as short as possible, to escape the effects of the 
malarious waters by which the place is sur¬ 
rounded. We, however, found no ill effects from 
a sojourn of several days on more than one occa¬ 
sion. The house and courtyard which we occu¬ 
pied through the courtesy of the then French 
consul, M. Laborde, were of ample dimensions, 
and were surrounded by a strong fence, and had 
a large coffee plantation at the back, which had 
at one time been a source of considerable revenue 
to the proprietor. But it was gradually going to 
decay, and had been very much neglected of late 
years, in consequence of a dispute with the native 
Government as to the actual ownership of this 
and other estates of M. Laborde. The consul 
claimed right of ownership by virtue of a conces¬ 
sion made by Radama II.; but the Government, 
whilst allowing right of occupation, were not 
inclined to give up all title whatever to the pro¬ 
perty. During the late consul’s lifetime the con¬ 
troversy was never pursued with malignity, but 
his heir claimed the sole right at his death to 
occupy, sell, or otherwise dispose of these estates; 
and his action being supported by the newly ap¬ 
pointed consul in 1880, was really the source of 
all the grievous misunderstanding between the 
two Governments of France and Madagascar, 
which resulted in the bombardment, in June 
