258 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. X. 
his severity as a soldier, I was always impressed with the 
gentleness of his manners and apparent amiableness of his 
disposition, as well as with the strength of his social affections. 
He had paid much attention to the education of his children, 
to whom he always appeared strongly attached. When he 
applied to me during my former visit to take his likeness, he 
stipulated, before he would allow me to take a portrait of him¬ 
self singly, that I should include him and his children in the 
same picture; and he himself arranged the group before the 
camera, causing his eldest son, a fine youth about seventeen 
years of age, to stand at his right hand, then taking a younger 
child on each knee, and causing another to stand between 
them. Nothing but the illness of his wife at the time pre¬ 
vented her being, as he had earnestly desired, included in 
the family picture. 
He was in health and vigour when I left, but had gone 
subsequently to his own land in the interior, and had there 
been seized with the small-pox. As soon as this was known, 
he had, according to the custom of the country, been removed 
from the habitations of men and lodged in a temporary 
dwelling, where he soon died. Some of the members of his 
family afterwards anxiously inquired if I had any copies of 
his likeness, especially the family group. I had only one, 
and this I reserved for his eldest son, who was then in the 
interior; but I told them I thought I had the negative at 
home, and if so I would send them some copies after my 
return, a promise which I hope to fulfil. 
On the 17th, four days after my arrival, a native somewhat 
past middle age came to my house, and, addressing me in 
English, said he was guide and interpreter for travellers, and 
had been sent by the prince to conduct Mr. Cameron and 
myself to the capital. He afterwards told me that when a 
youth he had gone to the Cape of Grood Hope, where he had 
served a number of years in the Cape corps, and had also been 
