46 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR 
ciiap. ii. 
which he required a receipt. He also gave us the replies to 
our own communications. Having formally delivered the 
letters, the judge and officers retired, and shortly afterwards 
we proceeded to the beach, where Mr. Cameron read the letters 
from the government. They were courteous and kindly ex¬ 
pressed, but stated that there was much public business of 
the queen’s on hand which required considerable time to 
finish, and recommended us to return across the water lest we 
should be overtaken with sickness.* 
There was in this answer no direct refusal of permission, 
but a declaration that the parties were much occupied, and a 
recommendation to us to leave the island. We could not but 
feel regret at being obliged to return without visiting the 
capital and remaining longer amongst the people; but no 
alternative was left, and, desiring to acquiesce in what ap¬ 
peared to be the intimation of the Divine will, we prepared 
for our departure. Our friends did not seem disappointed, 
but regarded the replies as more friendly, and even more 
favourable to our object, than they had expected, considering 
that the edict forbidding all intercourse with foreigners was 
still in force, the indemnity or compensation required by the 
queen not having yet been paid. In the opinion of some of 
our friends, more good might result from our visit to the 
coast than if, at that particular time, we had gone to the 
capital. 
Two days afterwards M. De Lastelle invited us again to a 
breakfast, which was truly sumptuous. We had much con¬ 
versation relative to the fever and other diseases to which the 
natives are subject, and the medical properties of many of 
their plants. Mr. Cameron and I had shown the natives 
some photographic pictures which we had taken, and several 
of the officers looking at some we had with us on that occa- 
* The Malagasy fever, so prevalent, and often fatal, on the coast at certain 
seasons of the year. 
