When, after a few months, I returned from Buenos Ayres to Rio de Janeiro, I found my mother’s papers waiting for me there; but the loss was too recent, and my grief too violent, to allow me to read them then, much less to peruse them with the care and attention which must necessarily precede their publication.
At length I made up my mind to the task. I was obliged to go through it, for it was my mother’s last wish. Filial duty induced me to leave my dear mother’s journal as little altered as possible. In thus giving this last work of my mother to the world, I trust that our kind readers will receive it with the indulgence they have so frequently extended to the other works of the late enterprising traveler.
Oscar Pfeiffer.
Rio de Janeiro, July 8th, 1860.
CONTENTS.
| [Biography of Ida Pfeiffer] | [Page ix] |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
|---|---|
| Departure from Vienna.—Linz.—Salzburg.—Munich.—The Artists’ Festival.—TheKing of Bavaria.—Berlin.—Alexander von Humboldt.—Hamburg | [41] |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
| Arrival in Holland.—Amsterdam.—Dutch Architecture.—Picture Galleries.—Mr.Costa’s Diamond-cutting Works.—The Haarlem Lake.—ADutch Cattle-stable.—Utrecht.—The Students’ Festival | [51] |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
| Zaandam.—The little Village of Broeck, celebrated for its Cleanliness.—StrangeHead-dresses.—The Hague.—Celebrated Pictures.—Leyden.—Rotterdam.—Departurefrom Holland | [63] |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| London.—Paris.—Sitting of the Geographical Society.—News from Madagascar.—PopularLife in Paris.—Sights.—A Tale of Murder.—Versailles.—St.Cloud.—Celebration of Sunday | [72] |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| Return to London and Holland.—Separation Festival in Amsterdam.—Departurefrom Rotterdam.—My traveling Companions.—Emigrant Children.—Storyof a poor Girl.—Cape Town.—Fortunate Meeting.—Alterationof my traveling Plans | [87] |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| Voyage to the Island of Bourbon.—The Mauritius.—Wealth of the Island.—TheCity of Port Louis.—Manner of Life among the Inhabitants.—IndianServants.—Grand Dinners.—Country Houses.—Creole Hospitality | [103] |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| The Sugar-cane Plantations.—Indian Laborers.—A Lawsuit.—The BotanicGarden.—Plants and Animals.—Singular Monument.—The Waterfall.—MontOrgeuil.—Trou du Cerf.—The Creoles and the French.—Farewellto the Mauritius. | [116] |
| [CHAPTER VIII] | |
| A Geographical and Historical Account of the Island of Madagascar. | [131] |
| [CHAPTER IX] | |
| Departure from the Mauritius.—The old Man-of-War.—Arrival in Madagascar.—MademoiselleJulie.—Account of Tamatavé.—The Natives.—ComicalHead-dresses.—First Visit in Antandroroko.—Malagasey Hospitality.—TheEuropeans at Tamatavé.—The Parisio-Malagasey.—DomesticInstitutions. | [139] |
| [CHAPTER X] | |
| The “Queen’s Bath.”—Soldiers and Officers.—Banquet and Ball.—Departurefrom Tamatavé.—Second Visit to Antandroroko.—Vovong.—TheFever.—Andororanto.—Land and Cultivation.—Condition of thePeople.—Manambotre.—The bad Roads and the Bearers.—Ambatoarana. | [157] |
| [CHAPTER XI] | |
| Celebration of the National Feast.—Song and Dance.—Beforona.—Theelevated Plateau of Ankay.—The Territory of Emir.—Solemn Reception.—Ambatomango.—TheSikidy.—The Triumphal Procession.—Arrivalin Tananariva. | [173] |
| [CHAPTER XII] | |
| Mr. Laborde.—Prince Rakoto.—Anecdote of his Life.—The Sambas-Sambas.—Mary.—Reviewon the Field of Mars.—The Nobility in Madagascar.—TheSecret Treaty.—The English Missionary Society and Mr. Lambert. | [187] |
| [CHAPTER XIII] | |
| Introduction at Court.—The Monosina.—The Royal Palace.—The Hovas.—Scenesof Horror under the Queen’s Rule.—Executions.—The Tanguin.—Persecutionof the Christians.—One of the Queen’s Journeys.—HerHatred of Europeans.—Bull-fights.—Taurine Mausoleum. | [206] |
| [CHAPTER XIV] | |
| Dinner at Mr. Laborde’s.—Foot-boxing.—Ladies of Madagascar and ParisianFashions.—The Conspiracy.—A Dream.—A Fancy-dress Ball.—Anunquiet Night.—Concert at Court.—The Silver Palace.—An Excursionof the Queen. | [222] |
| [CHAPTER XV] | |
| Failure of the Coup d’État.—Prince Ramboasalama.—The Pas de Deux.—Discoveryof the Plot.—Death of Prince Razakaratrino.—Freedom ofManners.—Irreligion.—Beginning of our Captivity.—A Kabar.—Persecutionof the Christians.—The Delivery of the Presents. | [239] |
| [CHAPTER XVI] | |
| Banquets in Madagascar.—A Kabar at Court.—The Sentence.—Our Banishment.—Departurefrom Tananariva.—Military Escort.—Observations onthe People.—Arrival in Tamatavé.—Departure from Madagascar.—Afalse Alarm.—Arrival in the Mauritius.—Conclusion. | [260] |