CHAP. XIVo 
VISIT FROM A SUPERIOR OFFICER. 
393 
been at all inclined to adopt the religion of the people. In 
a letter which some of the natives wrote, after repeated 
conversations with those of their countrymen who had been 
in Eeunion, they said, “ It seemed as if the Pope stood (in 
authority) in the place of Grod, and that the priest forgave 
sins. And as to the images, &c., before which they pro¬ 
strated themselves, it was like the sampy or idols of our 
own country.” This appeared to be the impression which 
the reports of the travellers had made on their minds. How¬ 
ever much I might deem the teaching of the Eoman Ca¬ 
tholic priests to be erroneous, and however the Eomish 
system might, in my apprehension, tend to hinder rather 
than help the people in their endeavours after knowledge, 
improvement, freedom and expansion of thought, as well as 
social elevation, I could not disapprove of the endeavours of 
the priests to make the strangers acquainted with their creed 
and modes of worship, but was not surprised to find that it 
had not commended itself to their judgment and approval. 
In the evening I received a visit from one of the highest 
officers in the government. He was a remarkably handsome 
man. His features were small and quite European, though 
his complexion was almost black. He was splendidly dressed, 
and accompanied by two aides-de-camp, also fine, noble¬ 
looking men. After a long and interesting conversation, 
my sensible and really intelligent visitors took their leave. 
I then resumed my preparations for taking the likeness of 
the prince, who had sent to inform me that he should come 
in the morning. I had finished all except adding the acetic 
acid to the developing solution, and the rectifying of the 
bath; but no acetic acid could I find. The case of chemicals 
put up by Messrs. Hopkins and Williams was examined again, 
and all the bottles taken out: many that I seemed likely 
to want, and some that I never seemed likely to want, 
were there, but neither acetic acid nor any other fluid acid. 
