PREFACE. It was at Buenos Ayres that I received the intelligence of the death of my beloved mother, Madame Pfeiffer. Shortly before her decease, she had expressed a wish that I should arrange and prepare for publication the papers she had left concerning her last travels and her visit to Madagascar. The dangerous illness that befel her in the Mauritius immediately after she had left Madagascar, and which, in spite of the most careful medical attention, and the kindest nursing on the part of her friends, eventually proved fatal, prevented her from doing this herself. When, after a few months' absence, I returned from Buenos Ayres to Rio de Janeiro, I found my mother's papers awaiting me there; but the loss was too recent, and my grief too intense, to allow me then to examine them, much less to peruse them with the care and attention necessarily required in preparing them for publication. At length I made up my mind to the task. I felt solemnly called upon to accomplish it, for it was my dear mother's last wish. The same filial duty, however, induced me to leave her journal as little altered as possible; and in thus giving this last work of my mother to the world, I trust that kind readers will receive it with the indulgence they have so frequently extended to the other works of that enterprising traveller. RIO DE JANEIRO, July 8th, 1860. OSCAR PFEIFfer. CONTENTS. My Departure from Vienna-Linz-Salzburg-Munich - The Arrival in Holland-Dutch Architecture-Picture Galleries - Zaandam-The little Village of Broeck, celebrated for its clean- Return to London and Holland-Separation Festival in Amster- dam-Departure from Rotterdam-My Travelling Com- Voyage to the Island of Bourbon-The Mauritius-Wealth of the Island-The City of Port Louis-Manner of Life among The "Queen's Bath"-Soldiers and Officers-Banquet and Ball -Departure from Tamatavé-Second Visit to Antandroroko -Vovong-The Fever-Andororanto-Land and Cultiva- Celebration of the National Feast-Song and Dance-Beforona —The elevated Plateau of Ankay-The Territory of Emir Mr. Laborde · - Prince Rakoto - Anecdotes of his Life— The Sambas-Sambas-Mary-Review on the Field of Mars- Introduction at Court-The Monosina-The Royal Palace-The Hovas-Scenes of Horror under the Queen's Rule-Execu- tions-The Tanguin-Persecution of the Christians-One of |