433 
CHAP. XVI. 
Breakfast at Amboilefo. — Intercourse with Friends from the Capital. — Hos¬ 
pitality at Prince Ramonja’s Village.—New Plants collected. — Lodging 
in the Forest of Alamazaotra. — Noise of the Monkeys or Lemurs. — Lyco¬ 
podiums and other Plants. — Heavy Rains. — Extreme Difficulty of Travel¬ 
ling in the Forest. — Meeting with French Priests and Merchants.—Accept¬ 
able Collection of Plants. — New Species of Platycerum or Stag’s-horn 
Fern. — Arrival at Tamatave. — Visit to the Locality of the Ouvirandra 
Fenestralis. — Crocodiles, — Kindness experienced at Tamatave. —Arrival of 
the “ Castro.” — Presents from the Queen. — Departure from Madagascar. 
— Hospitality at Mauritius. — Storm on the Ocean. — Rescue of two ship¬ 
wrecked Mariners. — Remarkable Meeting with a Native of the Sandwich 
Islands. — Safe Arrival in England- 
But to return to the narrative of my journey. Several 
friends who had been my constant companions or daily 
visitors at Antananarivo, and who were anxious to defer our 
final separation as long as possible, had travelled by my 
side during the first day’s journey, and passed the night with 
me under the same roof. While the officers were adjusting and 
sending off the packages the next morning, we had much 
serious and affectionate conversation; and after I had given 
some of them a small memento of my visit, we bade each 
other farewell. They retraced their steps to the capital, and 
I resumed my journey to the coast. 
Amongst the presents I had received at the capital were a 
number of live animals from the Sakalave country, and other 
parts. Some of these had been pets with their former owners : 
among them a little tenrec had been given me by the princess. 
It had generally slept all day in a box, but frequently got out 
during the night, seeming greatly to enjoy its nocturnal ram¬ 
bles. It fed on insects and rice, and was quite tame. Of these 
animals there were specimens which I intended to preserve, in 
order that they might find a final resting-place in the splendid 
F F 
