348 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XIII. 
Respecting the prince royal, I learned that he is esteemed by 
all classes, even by those who may be politically opposed to 
him, as intelligent, straightforward, and sincere; that the 
people in general are fond of him on account of his frank and 
humane disposition; that the queen is greatly attached to 
him, and has publicly declared that he is to succeed her as. 
sovereign, and that if his life be spared no doubt is enter¬ 
tained of his succeeding to the throne. I learned also that 
the people had of late been much excited and unsettled by 
reports of an intended invasion of the French. After these 
friends left me, others who had been waiting entered, with 
whom I spent some time very pleasantly; but perceiving that 
I was fatigued, they did not remain long. 
On the following morning, I was much struck with the 
difference between the climate of the lower parts of the 
country and this, which was really delightful. The mornings 
and evenings were here agreeably cool, the thermometer on 
this occasion standing at 56° at eight in the morning. About 
noon four officers of the palace came to my house. They 
were dressed in dark-co]oured silk lambas, with rich patterned 
borders. On entering, they said they had been sent by the 
queen to visit me on my arrival at the capital. I thanked 
them, and asked after the health of the queen and her rela¬ 
tives. They answered that her majesty was well, and had 
sent them to inquire how I was after my long journey—- 
whether I was fatigued or ill. They then inquired about 
Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, and the royal family, and 
whether England was prosperous, and there was peace in 
Europe. Soon after I had answered these questions, they 
said the queen had sent me a present of an ox, and poultry, 
with other provisions. I said the queen was very bountiful, 
and was, indeed, receiving me as a friend. When they rose 
and went out I followed them into the courtyard, where a 
slave was holding a fine fat ox by a rope fastened to his horns. 
