chap. iv. PLACE OE WORSHIP EOR THE MALAGASY. 
91 
vacuum pans were in operation, by which means some thou¬ 
sand pounds of sugar, finely crystallised and beautifully white, 
were produced every day. On returning I found several of 
the scholars who had been successful at the examination wait¬ 
ing for the fulfilment of a promise I had made them on the 
previous day, of taking their likenesses, and with some I suc¬ 
ceeded, apparently much to their satisfaction. In my evening 
walk I was much amused to see the various pursuits carried 
on in different parts of the establishment, rendering it alto¬ 
gether very much like a village. By the road-side was a shop 
kept by one of M. Cheron’s relatives, in which clothing, 
cutlery, crockeryware, and groceries were sold. There were 
also, in other parts of the premises, a carpenter’s shop, a 
smith’s, a wheelwright’s, and a cooper’s. Later in the even¬ 
ing, my photographs and stereoscope seemed to afford the 
different members of the family great entertainment, and 
M. Cheron contributed much valuable information relative 
to the former state of the neighbourhood. 
A few days after my return from Plaines Wilhelms, I ac¬ 
companied M. Le Brun to the opening of a new place for 
religious instruction amongst the Malagasy residing in the 
camp or suburb, along the foot of the signal hill. Many of 
the former slaves in the island were natives of Madagascar, 
or the descendants of such. A number of the Malagasy still 
retain their native language, and to this number additions 
are made of those who from time to time have reached the 
colony in search of employment, and it was thought desirable 
to provide a place in the midst of their own location in which 
religious instruction might be given to the adults, in addition 
to that already provided for their children. With this view 
the building now appropriated to religious worship had been 
provided. The services here on the Sabbath and week days 
are still continued. 
The day after the house for Malagasy worship was opened, 
