384 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR 
CHAP. XIV. 
inquiries respecting the sources of prosperity in our own and 
other countries. This conversation increased the good opinion 
I had previously formed of his understanding and capacity, 
while it confirmed my views of the correctness of many of 
his opinions, the marked humanity of his feelings and his 
earnest desire after the true prosperity of his people. Much 
that he said strengthened my hopes of the welfare of Mada¬ 
gascar if his valuable life should be preserved. 
While we were talking, a present of a couple of baskets of 
small lobsters arrived from the princess. I returned an ac¬ 
knowledgment by the bearer, and assured the prince of my 
sense of her kindness. He said she was pleased with what 
she had seen of me, and would come with him some evening 
to my house. I said I should be glad to see the princess, but 
being only a traveller, and a sojourner for a short time in the 
capital, I could offer no suitable entertainment. He said 
it would not be for the entertainment that the princess would 
come, but to express her pleasure at the arrival of a friendly 
visitor from England, and to hear our conversation. The after¬ 
noon was far advanced before the prince and his companion left. 
I had not many visitors that evening, most of my friends being 
engaged in another direction. 
The next day I received a note from the palace conveying an 
invitation to a dinner, to be given by the queen on the following 
day at a house adjacent to the palace, and lately occupied by 
one of her chief ministers, whose son had already paid me more 
than one visit. As illustrating the wealth of some of the Mala¬ 
gasy nobles, I was told that the late owner of the house to which 
I had been invited, was, at the time of his death, said to be 
possessed of 30,000 dollars, 1,000 slaves, and 3,000 head of 
cattle, besides sheep. This property had been divided after 
his death between his widow and children, a son and two 
daughters. Wealth equal in amount to that here stated, is 
probably confined to a limited number of the highest nobles 
