274 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. XI. When the bearers had taken charge of their packages, Beoli took me to the chiefs of each small party, which con sisted of about ten men, and requested me to write down the names of these chiefs, who, he said, would be responsible for the safety of the packages carried by the men of their party. At eight o’clock the first company of about forty men left the yard; and about three hours afterwards, a second party set out with the remainder of the packages. The governor sent to wish me a safe and pleasant journey, and to inform me that he had sent three soldiers with an ox to Hivondro, where I expected to halt for the night, and where the ox might be killed as provision for the commencement of the journey. The second in command also sent to say, that he had given orders for a bullock to be presented to me at two different stages on the route. A number of the chiefs, and some of the foreign residents also, came to take leave; and one young chief, who had shown me many attentions, and ren dered me much assistance, when he had taken leave, and I asked him if there was any thing I could give him as a token of my sense of his kindness, said he had nothing to ask of me unless it was a little book which he had seen belonging to my servant on a former visit. Soon after one o’clock I shook hands with my friends, entered my palanquin, and set out on my journey to Antana narivo. The people of the village offered their salutations and good wishes as we passsd along towards the plain to the north-east of Tamatave. My palanquin was very much like a sailor’s cot fixed to a strong wooden frame, and furnished with poles projecting four or five feet at each end, like the poles of a sedan chair. About a foot above the upper edges of the cot, a sort of roof or covering was formed of fine rofia cloth, and curtains of the same material were fixed along the sides. These were turned over the top in fine weather, but could be let down so as effectually to exclude the rain. Four bearers carried the palanquin, a relay of four more walked by