340 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XII. 
the village presented me with a sheep and some poultry, &c., 
in the name and by the order of the proprietor of the place, 
now residing at Tananarivo, and whom he designated as the 
“friend of the queen. 
August 25th. — I had passed a restless night, partly from 
a slight fever and partly from a multitude of thoughts. 
The sheep which had been presented on the previous day 
was now killed; and as my eyes were exceedingly painful, 
and the weather unfavourable, we did not proceed until 
after breakfast. My bearer was still suffering, but hoped 
by the help of his companions to follow us to the next 
resting-place. Before setting out, a messenger arrived from 
one of the officers of the government to say that I was to 
proceed to a village which was named, at the foot of the hill 
on which the capital stands, when an officer would be sent to 
conduct me to the house appointed for my residence. About 
ten o’clock we set out, traversing the labyrinth of paths 
between the houses of the village; and, passing through an 
opening in the walls, crossed over three or four deep ditches, 
and then continued our way along smooth, well-beaten paths, 
and over an undulating plain, covered with long thick grass. 
The officer who had arrived accompanied me in his palanquin. 
The morning was cold, with drizzling rain when we started; 
but the weather improved as we advanced. The aspect of the 
country was sterile. No trees or bushes were visible except a 
few around the houses; but large portions of the land were 
under cultivation. The absence of trees in Imerina makes 
fuel very scarce, and I saw several persons employed in cut¬ 
ting long dry grass, and tying it up in bundles: these are daily 
sold in the markets of the capital for fuel. I saw only a few 
cattle, but occasionally noticed small flocks of sheep of a red¬ 
dish brown colour, and covered with hair. 
We passed during our journey to-day several tombs of the 
Hovas. They consist generally of a square raised platform. 
