446 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XVI. 
coincidences probably exist between the customs of the arctic 
regions and those of Madagascar. 
Nothing could exceed the kindness manifested towards me 
during my stay at the coast. A bullock was presented by the 
prince’s friends, and was killed for the people living with me, 
and poultry and other articles were brought every day. One 
man would bring as much fuel as was needed for the day, 
and would receive no payment in return. I took his likeness 
with a couple of bundles of firewood on a pole over his 
shoulder, and left it with him as a memorial of his generous 
consideration. While remaining here, I had one very sharp 
attack of illness, which, however, did not last long, and, 
under no circumstances, could I have been more carefully 
watched and attended to, than by my friends at Tamatave. 
At length the 66 Castro ” arrived, bringing me a note from one 
of the owners, W. L’Estrange, Esq., generously offering me a 
passage to Mauritius, which I gratefully accepted. 
I had spent many hours in very pleasant conversation with 
friends from the capital and the neighbourhood; and as these 
seasons now drew to a close, they seemed to be more interest¬ 
ing and valuable. When the ship was ready to take in her 
cargo, the governor sent me the ten oxen which the queen 
had ordered him to give me as her present. They were fine 
animals, and were taken on board with those for the governor 
of Mauritius. The agent of the prince also sent an ox, as 
a present to the captain of the ship, with expressions of thanks 
for the attentions he had shown me on the voyage. 
The evening of the 17th of November, 1856, was the time 
fixed for our departure; and after taking leave of the foreign 
residents, I walked down to the beach, accompanied by 
the aide-de-camp of the prince, and chiefs and friends to the 
number of twenty. On my way I met the captain and se¬ 
veral friends coming to see if I was ready. We soon reached 
the shore; and then, after repeated and most affectionate 
