384 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. XIV. inquiries respecting the sources of prosperity in our own and other countries. This conversation increased the good opinion I had previously formed of his understanding and capacity, while it confirmed my views of the correctness of many of his opinions, the marked humanity of his feelings and his earnest desire after the true prosperity of his people. Much that he said strengthened my hopes of the welfare of Mada gascar if his valuable life should be preserved. While we were talking, a present of a couple of baskets of small lobsters arrived from the princess. I returned an ac knowledgment by the bearer, and assured the prince of my sense of her kindness. He said she was pleased with what she had seen of me, and would come with him some evening to my house. I said I should he glad to see the princess, hut being only a traveller, and a sojourner for a short time in the capital, I could offer no suitable entertainment. He said it would not be for the entertainment that the princess would come, but to express her pleasure at the arrival of a friendly visitor from England, and to hear our conversation. The after noon was far advanced before the prince and his companion left. I had not many visitors that evening, most of my friends being engaged in another direction. The next day I received a note from the palace conveying an invitation to a dinner, to be given by the queen on the following day at a house adjacent to the palace, and lately occupied by one of her chief ministers, whose son had already paid me more than one visit. As illustrating the wealth of some of the Mala gasy nobles, I was told that the late owner of the house to which I had been invited, was, at the time of his death, said to be possessed of 30,000 dollars, 1,000 slaves, and 3,000 head of cattle, besides sheep. This property had been divided after his death between his widow and children, a son and two daughters. Wealth equal in amount to that here stated, is probably confined to a limited number of the highest nobles