390 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xiv. 
Hourse. He spoke much of the life he had led on board the 
ships. I found him suffering from extensive sores in the 
lower limbs, to which I applied dressings and bandages, &c. 
After remaining with me two or three hours he returned, hut 
repeated his visit in a few days. 
I had not yet ventured to make any use of my photographic 
apparatus, not feeling quite sure how it might he regarded; 
hut on this day a note came from an officer of the palace, 
saying that the prince wished to have his likeness taken, and 
would come for that purpose on the following morning. As I 
had my dark room to arrange, camera to unpack, and chemi¬ 
cals to prepare, I could not possibly be ready by the next 
morning; and wrote to say that I should be happy to take 
the likeness of the prince as soon as my materials were ready. 
I had a succession of visitors throughout the day; and 
about seven o’clock in the evening, as I was sitting in my 
inner room, the young chief who had accompanied me from 
Tamatave came in to say that a sick person with some friends 
had come to see me. I said, “ Ask them to come in.” When 
the door opened, they brought in a palanquin, which they 
placed on the table in the outer room, and after removing the 
covering, raised up a thin, feeble, gasping woman, her hus¬ 
band, relatives, and attendants, to the number of nineteen, 
all standing round. Her husband stated that all the native 
medicines deemed likely to be of any service had been re¬ 
sorted to in vain, and the patient was so feeble as to be unable 
to sit up, and could scarcely take any food. I did not expect 
much benefit would result from any medicine I could give ; 
but I spoke kindly to the sufferer and her friends, and pro¬ 
mised such medicine as I thought most likely to afford relief. 
The poor invalid expressed her great pleasure at having seen 
me; and said she should be grateful if it should please Grod 
to restore her to health. After conversing some time, the 
feeble sufferer was gently laid down in the palanquin by her 
