446 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. XVI. of Mauritius. The agent of the prince also presented an ox, as a present to the captain of the ship, with expressions of thanks for 4be attentions he had shown me on the voyage. The evening of the 17th of November, 1856, was the time fixed for our departure; and after taking leave of the foreign residents, I walked down to the beach, accompanied by the aide-de-camp of the prince, and chiefs and friends to the number of twenty. On my way I me^ the captain and se veral friends coming to see if I was ready. We soon reached the shore; and then, after repeated and most affectionate farewells from my friends, I joined the captain who was already in the boat, and before ten o’clock was in the cabin of the “ Castro.” Sodra, my faithful attendant, had arranged my berth, and waited to bid me farewell, after which he returned to the shore, having during the day applied in vain to the authorities of the port for permission to accompany me to Mauritius. By six o’clock on the 18th we were under weigh. The wind was fair, and during the first three days we passed over two-thirds of the distance to Mauritius. But calms and con trary winds detained us at sea sixteen days, and it was not until the 2nd of December that we reached Port Louis. The medical officer who came on board to examine our ship delivered a letter from Commodore (now Admiral) Trotter, then in the harbour; and on my way to the shore I called on board the frigate, and spent some time with the commo dore, whom I had previously met at the Cape of Good Hope. On reaching the shore I found that death had again re duced the circle of my friends; but I was cordially welcomed by the survivors, and took up my abode beneath the friendly and hospitable roof of M. Lebrun. In company with Com modore Trotter I visited Reduit, where I met a number of other friends, and afterwards spent my Christmas with the governor and his family. I also accompanied the Bishop of