352 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XIII. 
words: “ 0 Marie ! cojigue sans jpeche ! priez 'pour nous, 
qui avons recours a vous.” At the bottom was the date 
1830. The prince said he had no wish to become a Roman 
Catholic; but I could not help reflecting, that had it so 
occurred that the princess, after wearing the crucifix, had 
become a mother, this might have been ascribed to the 
influence of the symbol, or the efficacy of the Virgin’s in¬ 
tercession ; and thus a very different effect might have 
been produced on their own minds, and on those of many 
of the people. 
We conversed a long time on a number of subjects not 
connected with religion, in some of which the prince was 
deeply interested; and becoming greatly excited, spoke with 
a degree of earnestness and animation which, considering 
the quietness of his manner during the early part of our 
interview, I had scarcely expected. At length the prince, 
accompanied by his friend, took his leave, assuring me of the 
gratitude which he felt for my visit to his country, and the 
extreme pleasure he had derived from our conversation. 
Two companies of friends, who had been waiting in an ad¬ 
jacent house while the prince was with me, came in soon 
after he had left. They had many questions to ask, and 
many messages of kind and cordial welcome to deliver from 
multitudes of others who had not been able to come personally 
to my dwelling. They all expressed themselves gratified by 
the cordial welcome I had received from the queen, as 
evinced by the presents which had been sent to me during 
the day. 
On the following morning, one of my bearers having in¬ 
formed me that they wished to return, I directed them to 
come to me altogether; and then, reading over their names, 
I paid each man the stipulated amount, expressing my gra¬ 
titude for the attention and care they had manifested during 
the journey. They were quite delighted with the sum they re- 
