chap. xm. INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE RAMONJA. 
353 
ceived, and said if, when I wanted to return, I would send them 
word, they would come up from Tamatave, to carry me down 
to the coast. I thanked them for the offer of their services, 
and asked them what they were going to do with their money. 
Most of them said they were going to buy something to take 
home; and as specimens of the purchases they made, no 
fewer than three parties came during the day with gold ear¬ 
rings of native manufacture, to ask me if they were really 
gold. 
After dismissing the bearers of my palanquin and personal 
baggage, I paid the bearers of my packages, each according to 
the distance he had come, and they all appeared well satisfied 
with the sum they received. I also presented a small sum to 
the officers, as an expression of my sense of their attention 
during the journey. The packages had not yet all arrived, 
but were daily expected. 
As much of this day as I could command, I devoted to 
writing letters for England and Mauritius, to send by my 
bearers to Tamatave, and also to packing the few ferns and 
plants which I had collected on my journey. In the evening 
I had a very pleasant visit from the Prince Ramonja, and one 
of his relatives. After the first greeting, he almost involun¬ 
tarily acknowledged the goodness of God in causing us to 
meet together. He then conversed with much earnestness 
but gentleness of manner, making many inquiries after the 
English who had formerly resided at the capital, and the 
many friends in England of whom he had heard. He spoke 
also of the afflictions he had suffered, and his bereavements in 
the loss of his children by death. He inquired much about 
the state of things in England, and expressed his hopes for 
the prosperity of Madagascar. I was much impressed with 
his intelligence and amiable feeling. During my former 
visits, I had heard of his impaired sight, and had now the 
pleasure of presenting him with an excellent pair of gold 
