70 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. III. “ Where once the garden smiled, And still where many a garden flower grows wild.” In the evening we returned to Port Louis, pleased with the events of the day, and delighted with the rich and glowing effect of the tropical landscape as it lay before us burnished with the golden light of the setting sun. Besides the kindness of Mr. Kelsey, who lived about two miles distant from the town, I received much attention from Major-General Sutherland, commander-in-chief of the forces, &c., and from Dr. A. Thom, chief of the medical depart ment. With the latter gentleman and his family I spent some pleasant hours; and it was always refreshing to walk up to the extremity of the Champ de Lort, where, on the edge of the ravine leading to the Pouce, his house was. situated. I was much struck the first evening, when I walked up to join a dinner party at his house, with the beautiful effect of the large glass lamps suspended under the ve randahs or in the halls of the dwellings by the side of the broad open road, and sending their rays through the foliage of the gardens in front. This effect was particularly striking when passing through the garden of my host, and entering at once from the verandah to the lighted drawing room, the doors and windows of which were all open so as to admit the welcome evening air, and to diffuse the light of the room amongst the surrounding shrubs and flowers ; while the impression was deepened on having the folding doors leading to the dining-room opened by two Bengalees in their white turbans and long flowing white robes. There was something so Oriental in the whole that, though common place enough to the residents of India on the island, it was novel and interesting to a stranger. I passed the night at the residence of Dr. Thom, and slept in a sort of summer house, or small single-roomed building in the garden, called a pavilion, situated a few yards from the dwelling, and used
