3-071-022 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches in Madagascar: British naval officers arriving on a visit to the Governor of Tamatave, 1881. 'Captain C. E. Foote...landed at Mourondava, having been invited by the Hova Governor of the province, and travelled eighty miles inland to Mohabo, where they were courteously and hospitably entertained...The native conveyances named filanzanas were kindly supplied for all; these are a kind of open palanquin, formed of two stout poles, between which is fixed a seat either of leather or strong canvas; the feet being supported by a...piece of wood, suspended by a string...from the poles. There are four bearers to each filanzana, who perform wonders in surmounting the difficulties of the road...Our Illustration [from a sketch by Staff-Surgeon J. N. Stone, R.N.] shows Captain Foote and a party of officers from the Ruby, accompanied by Mr. Pakenham, the English Consul, and the Hova Lieutenant-Governor, on their way to visit the Hova Governor of Tamatave, which is the chief seaport of Madagascar...The party, with Captain Foote, the Consul, and the Lieutenant-Governor in the foreground, are about to enter the fort of Tamatave, where the Governor resides. Their arrival is hailed with a Royal salute fired by the rude guns of the native artillery'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.