80 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. IV. 
CHAP. IV. 
Visit to the Governor at Reduit.—Luxuriance of Tropical Vegetation.—Plants 
and Flowers from Europe and Asia. — Arrival of a Missionary from India.— 
Proposed Efforts for the religious Instruction of the Coolies. — Efforts on 
behalf of the Creole Population of Grande Riviere. — Photography in the 
Tropics. — Visit to Mr. Cheron at Plaines Wilhelms. — Fete of the Chil¬ 
dren in the School. — Sugar Works on the Estate. — Place of Worship for 
the Malagasy. — Excursion to the Country. — Spice Plantations at Grande 
Donjon. — Preparations for the Feast of the New Year. — Permission given 
to bury the Skulls of English and Frenchmen fixed on Poles at Tamatave.— 
Visit to Beau Bassin and Wolmar. — Magnificent Species of Artocarpus.— 
Effects of frequent Hurricanes. — Heat of the Weather. —Preparation for a 
Hurricane. — Visit to the Royal Gardens at Pamplemouses. — Splendid 
Avenue of Palms. — Missionary Stations in the Country. — Missionary An¬ 
niversary at Port Louis-The Cemetery. — Fearful Ravages of the Cholera 
at Mauritius. — Departure for Madagascar. 
The Grovernor of Mauritius, Sir J. M. Higginson, had, since 
my return, requested to be furnished with a statement of the 
more general results of our visit, and I went about this time 
to spend two or three days with him at Reduit, his country 
residence on the borders of Plaines Wilhelms, and about seven 
miles from Port Louis. On arriving I received a very cordial 
welcome, and at dinner in the evening I met Mr. and Mrs. 
Rawson, Mr. Kerr, and Mr. Tupper. Mr. Rawson, whose 
hospitality I had already experienced at Cerne, his charming 
residence on the northern border of Plaines Wilhelms, was the 
treasurer of the colony, and Mr. Kerr the auditor-general. Mr. 
Tupper, an invalid clergyman, travelling for his health, was 
brother to the author of “ Proverbial Philosophy ” and other 
well-known publications. The evening passed very pleasantly, 
conversation being occasionally enlivened by music and sing¬ 
ing. The temperature of the rooms was delightful. Reduit 
