CHAP. IV. 
VISIT TO BEAU BASSIN. 
97 
A somewhat curious, but official, transaction which took 
place about this time may serve to show the wide difference 
which exists between the political or diplomatic negotiations 
of one country and those of another. Anxious to evince 
their entire cordiality in the friendly relations recently 
established, the government of Madagascar sent to the go¬ 
vernor of Mauritius informing him that as the trade was 
reopened they wished to be friendly with all; and he was 
therefore at liberty, if he chose, to send for the skulls of 
his countrymen and of the French that were fixed on poles 
at Tamatave, and to have them buried in such manner as 
he preferred. Accordingly a non-commissioned officer was 
soon afterwards sent to Tamatave for this purpose. But on 
arriving he found that the skulls had been previously 
removed by the French, and buried at the Isle of St. Mary’s. 
At the close of the first week in January, I had the 
pleasure of welcoming to Mauritius Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, 
who, after a visit to England for the sake of health, were 
on their way to Benares, in India, as missionaries. They 
were hospitably entertained at Mr. Kelsey’s, as were also Mr. 
and Mrs. Hall, who subsequently arrived on their way to 
their important field of missionary labour at Madras, and 
who, after a very brief but pleasant season of intercourse, 
resumed their voyage. 
The weather was now becoming increasingly oppressive, 
the thermometer in the shade averaging 90° and upwards, and 
I was glad towards the close of the month to repeat my 
visit to Beau Bassin, the residence of Mr. Brownrigg, situ¬ 
ated on Plaines Wilhelms, about six miles from Port Louis. 
My welcome, as on a former occasion, was most cordial. 
The comfortable pavilion which I had before occupied was 
again appropriated to my use; and besides the refreshing 
coolness of the air, as compared with that of Port Louis, I 
H 
