333 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR 
CHAP. XII. 
accessible, in order that I might have rendered the picture 
permanent. 
Friends from the capital met us as we approached, and, 
after cordial greetings, we entered this feudal-looking village, 
passing along narrow, intricate passages, until we halted at 
the house in which I was to lodge, and which belonged 
to the resident head man of the place, the chief to whom 
the large house belonged being absent at the capital. The 
house to which I had been conducted was large and well 
built. Part of the floor was covered with matting. A neatly- 
framed four-post bedstead, on which mats were spread, with 
a native-made chair by its side, occupied one corner; another 
sleeping-place, of an inferior kind, occupied the opposite end 
of the house; while large water-jars, and other useful ar¬ 
ticles, filled up the intervening space. There was a raised 
hearth near the centre; and amongst the furniture and 
ornaments, some of which were curious, I observed a large 
drum, hanging from a peg near the top of the wall. This 
drum was of native manufacture, the barrel being formed out 
of a solid piece of wood. The chief himself soon entered, and 
gave me a cordial welcome, while crowds of the villagers 
gathered round the house to gaze at the stranger. 
One of my bearers, who had previously complained, was 
so ill during the previous night, as to be unable to travel 
with us in the morning: but with the help of companions, 
who had carried him part of the way, he arrived soon after 
noon. He was lodged in an adjacent house; and, as soon 
as I was aware of his illness, I went and found him suffering 
severely. I gave him some medicine, and expressed my 
regret that he or his companions had not informed me before, 
as the fever, from which he was then suffering so much, 
might probably have been prevented. 
During the afternoon several friends from the capital arrived 
with a present of poultry, &c., and a letter from friends there 
