363 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XIIT- 
to the grounds, all took off their hats. We first stopped to 
look at a stone house of rather small dimensions, in course of 
erection, and then passed along through avenues of bananas 
and vines. The latter were planted in circular holes about 
two yards across, and eighteen inches or two feet deep, which 
mode, I was told, prevented their being burnt up in the hot 
season. They appeared to require pruning, but were said to 
bear good grapes. In about ten minutes we reached the 
house, a moderate-sized, but well built cottage, encircled with 
a wide verandah, and standing on the margin of a piece of 
water thronged with water-fowl. On alighting, the officers 
and others formed a circle in front of the house. The prince 
entered the circle, and when the princess arrived, he assisted 
her from her palanquin, and drawing her arm within his own, 
they entered the house together, when the prince, turning 
round, invited the company to enter. 
On again presenting myself before the prince and princess, 
and acknowledging the pleasure which the excursion had 
afforded me, they said the queen had told them to ask me to 
join them, in order that I might see the country. They then 
made many inquiries about England, especially about the 
Queen and Prince Albert, how many children they had, their 
various ages, &c.; and both, but especially the princess, ex¬ 
pressed much interest when I mentioned the rumour that the 
Princess Eoyal of England was to be connected by marriage 
with the royal family of Prussia. Then they asked about the 
war — how many troops had been engaged, how many killed, 
whether it was thought that peace would continue, and whether 
the people of England were pleased with it, &c. The princess 
conversed with gentleness and affability. I noticed while 
they were standing together that if not slightly taller, she was 
the senior of the prince. There was a table in the room 
spread with sweetmeats, biscuits, and fruit, and with silver 
plates and knives, and silver forks. The princess moved to 
