358 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XIII. 
with the presents which I had received. I, however, made out 
the best list I could. 
We then spoke of the things that would be likely to in¬ 
terest the chiefs and people, and be desired by them. Several 
of the people had already applied to me for medicine. My 
friend said some of the chiefs and people would be very glad 
to have medicine, and he should wish for some kinds himself; 
but I had better not say anything about that to the queen, as 
one of her favourite officers had lately died after taking some 
medicine given him by a foreign resident. We then spoke 
about the electric telegraph; but he said some of the officers, 
when it was first talked about, were very much interested, 
but the queen had said she did not care about it. We then 
referred to photography. He said the queen and some of 
the people had a superstitious idea to the effect that if their 
likenesses were taken they would soon die; that the like¬ 
ness resembled the spirit of a person, and when that was 
gone said, “Why what is there left?” I began to think 
“Othello’s occupation’s gone;” but I referred to the like¬ 
nesses I had brought with me of persons still living, and my 
visitor acknowledged that it was only a superstitious idea, and 
said he should like to have his own likeness taken, and would 
show it to the queen. His opinion of the dignity of photo¬ 
graphy seemed also to be a little changed when I told him 
there was a photographic society in England, of which our 
own sovereign Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were the 
patrons, and persons of rank and title members. He then 
talked about education amongst the people, which is here 
carried on only in the family circle. At length he left me, 
and I promised him some medicine which he had mentioned. 
Late as it was, two kind friendly families came to visit and 
talk with me, bringing, as usual, their presents. I did not 
slight their kindness by declining their gifts; but I sent the 
presents I received to other persons to be taken care of. 
