cirAP.xv. APPLICATIONS FOR PORTRAITS. 415 
stay would have been agreeable to them, if on other accounts 
it had been desired. 
Adverting, in the course of conversation, to the rumour 
of an expected attack from a hostile fleet having been re¬ 
cently brought from the coast, the princess remarked, “ We 
are not insurgents, we are not usurpers; we are the de¬ 
scendants of the ancient inhabitants of the country. Why 
should we not be left in peace ? ” I again said I hoped 
and believed that time would show all these reports to have 
been unfounded, and that foreign ships would only come as 
friendly visitors, or for purposes of commerce, which would 
promote the prosperity of the country. 
We conversed long and freely on subjects corresponding 
with those on which I had talked with the prince the day 
before; and we should probably have continued some time 
longer, had not one of the officers, who had come in a richly 
embroidered uniform, expressed a wish that I should take 
his likeness. The prince and princess, with their attendants, 
left about noon ; and I afterwards tried to gratify the officer, 
but only obtained a bad and burnt impression. As it was use¬ 
less to try again, he left about one o’clock. I then spent an 
hour or two with my friends, and, later in the afternoon, 
obtained a likeness of one of them. The prince afterwards 
came, with two ladies of the court, to have their likenesses 
taken; but the day was too far gone. A note soon after¬ 
wards came from the palace, to say that two of the special 
friends of the princess wished to have their likenesses, and 
would come in the morning. 
A number of my friends came in the evening, and we con¬ 
versed long and earnestly on the prospects of Madagascar. I 
was able to give them correct information on matters with 
which it was of the utmost importance for them to be ac¬ 
quainted, and to offer suggestions and advice which I could 
not but hope would prove beneficial to them all. It was after 
