chap. vii. ACCOMMODATIONS AT FOULE POINTE. 
181 
tered the court-yard of my friend, who was an officer in the 
place. Here I was preparing to alight; but,, before being 
aware, was carried quite into the house, where I was cordially 
welcomed. One of my attendants was completely loaded 
with the specimens of plants which I had gathered during 
the journey, and which I now deposited in one of the 
large trees for security. The house was well built with 
native materials. It contained two good rooms, boarded 
floor, door, and windows with shutters, but no glass. It had 
a large kind of kitchen with fireplace outside; and also a 
fireplace in the smaller or inner room, which seemed to be 
a sort of store-room and cooking-place, as well as sleeping- 
room. In one corner was a small bed on a frame like a 
stretcher. Around the head of the bed, firearms, swords, and 
warlike accoutrements, were placed, On one side of the room 
stood some boxes, on the other was the fireplace, and in 
other parts were bags of rice or millet, baskets of beans, 
with various tools, agricultural implements, and other valu¬ 
able stores. The corner containing the bed was pointed out 
as my quarters, and I took possession by placing there my 
carpet-bag and photographic apparatus. Many of the friends 
of my host, and others whom I had seen at Tamatave, soon 
came in with repeated expressions of welcome; and, after a 
good wash and a hearty supper, we spent the time very 
agreeably together, observing usages which would not have 
been neglected at home. One of those present had spent 
some time at Mauritius, and knew a little English. Two 
others spoke French, so that we could communicate with each 
other much better than was sometimes the case. My in¬ 
quiries related to their past and present circumstances; and 
the promptitude and cheerfulness of their replies left me no 
reason to fear that my inquiries were unwelcome. They, on 
the other hand, had many deeply interesting questions to 
ask, more particularly about the religious belief and practices 
