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258 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. X. his severity as a soldier, I was always impressed with the gentleness of his manners and apparent amiableness of his disposition, as well as with the strength of his social affections. He had paid much attention to the education of his children, to whom he always appeared strongly attached. When he applied to me during my former visit to take his likeness, he stipulated, before he would allow me to take a portrait of him self singly, that I should include him and his children in the same picture; and he himself arranged the group before the camera, causing his eldest son, a fine youth about seventeen years of age, to stand at his right hand, then taking a younger child on each knee, and causing another to stand between them. Nothing but the illness of his wife at the time pre vented her being, as he had earnestly desired, included in the family picture. He was in health and vigour when I left, but had gone subsequently to his own land in the .interior, and had there been seized with the small-pox. As soon as this was known, he had, according to the custom of the country, been removed from the habitations of men and lodged in a temporary dwelling, where he soon died. Some of the members of his family afterwards anxiously inquired if I had any copies of his likeness, especially the family group. I had only one, and this I reserved for his eldest son, who was then in the interior; but I told them I thought I had the negative at home, and if so I would send them some copies after my return, a promise which I hope to fulfil. On the 17th, four days after my arrival, a native somewhat past middle age came to my house, and, addressing me in English, said he was guide and interpreter for travellers, and had been sent by the prince to conduct Mr. Cameron and myself to the capital. He afterwards told me that when a youth he had gone to the Cape of Good Hope, where he had Served a number of years in the Cape corps, and had also been