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170 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. VII. CHAP. VII. Journey from Taraatave to Foule Pointe. — Native Gardens Photography in the Forest. — Novel Aspects of the Vegetation. — Native Lodgings.— Malagasy Travellers. — Abundant and beautiful Orchidaceous Plants. — Angraicum superbum. — A. Sesquipedale Native Lizards and Birds. — Arrival at Foule Pointe. — Native Accommodations and Hospitality. — Pleasant Intercourse with the People. —Hospitality of the Residents. — In terview with the Governor. —Brief Notice of Benyowsky.—Return to Ta- matave. — Last Night on Shore.— Affectionate Interest of the Natives. — Early Morning Embarkation.—Last View of the Land. — Arrival at Mau ritius Departure for the Cape of Good Hope. Amongst the strangers who visited Tamatave during my resi dence there, and with whom I held frequent intercourse, were a number of persons from Mahavelona or Foule Pointe, a port on the eastern coast about forty-five miles to the northward. I had heard repeatedly of the fine scenery in the intervening region, as well as around the port itself; and being desirous of seeing it, as well as of visiting the friends with whom I had become acquainted, I left Tamatave on the forenoon of the 4th of September, accompanied by my tall friend from the capital, who had spent much time with me at Tamatave, and whose wife’s father was chief, or governor, of the next port and district to the northward of Foule Pointe. An officer in the village, my friend in the green uniform, had lent me a sort of palanquin chair, of strong native manufacture, resembling an ordinary arm-chair in form, only larger, and having a foot-board suspended in front, and two long poles fixed on each side like those of a sedan-chair, by which it was carried on the shoulders of four men, two in front, and two behind. Seated in this chair, and thus mounted on the