412 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR CHAP. XV. of procedure most suitable for them to adopt in their social capacity, and in the relations they sustained towards each other; and it was past midnight when they departed. By daybreak the next morning I had commenced my pre parations, and brought out my camera; and about seven o’clock the prince and princess came. I had not expected them so early. On this occasion, the covering of the princess’s palanquin, fixed something like the hood of a chaise, was thrown back. The prince assisted her to step out, and then led her into the house to show her the apparatus and mate rials. I then invited the princess and her three female companions or attendants into my dwelling-house, while I prepared the chemicals. When I was ready, the princess, having changed her head-dress, came out into the courtyard. She wore an olive green silk dress, and had on her head a sort of cap composed of blue ribbons, with a gilt Maltese cross in front; small portions of her hair, very neatly braided in the Malagasy fashion, appearing about her temples on each side. She wore also a rich necklace of jewels, with earrings to match. I asked her to sit as much at ease as possible. Having ex posed the plate nearly a minute, I then covered the lens, and told her it was finished. As I was taking it back to the house, the prince and princess asked if they might come in, and, accompanied by the officer from the palace, they entered with me into the dark room. They were quite astonished, and the princess could not restrain the expression of her surprise and wonder, as the colourless plate became darkened, and the picture came out of itself more and more distinctly, after I had poured the transparent mixture out of the glass on its surface. Then, when I held it up, and they saw it by transmitted light, her astonishment and pleasure were still more manifest. Officers were stationed at the avenues lead ing to the yard in front of my house to prevent persons entering; but when the princess came out, and the prince