154 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. VI. engaged our attention. The opinions entertained, the usages observed, the course of procedure followed by individuals or communities in other Christian countries, were all matters of lively interest to them; and, to the best of my ability, I endeavoured to give them, on these and similar subjects, such information as seemed most likely to be useful as well as interesting to them. The subject of general education was always a welcome and interesting topic. Many seemed anxious also to know more of the world, as well as the condition and pursuits of its various inhabitants; and I often regretted that I had not with me an atlas, some good maps, or a globe, which might, at one view, have corrected many of their erroneous ideas on questions of geography; while the same means might have given them more correct ideas of the general outline, relative position, and extent of the several portions of our globe. The war with the Russians, which about this time commenced, though naturally a subject of great excitement, and of fre quent conversation among the foreigners residing on the island or visiting the port, did not appear to interest the people so much as some of the reports they had heard of rail ways and steam navigation, or the electric telegraph. I did not hear that a steam-vessel had ever visited Tamatave. In answer to my inquiries, I learned that although there were no longer any public schools, most of the intelligent members of the community were deeply sensible of the value of education, and that the chiefs, and others who were able to read, used their best endeavours to teach their own chil dren. I was also informed, but am not certain how correctly, that books with the words arranged in lines extending across the page were prohibited; but that books with the words arranged in columns—I suppose spelling-books — would be gladly received. I was naturally led to make many inquiries respecting the
