Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-17
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY,

Madagascar; but violent tempest forced the
vessel to stop at Simpa on the Anas Coast =
While the crew were busy reftting the ship,
Bergaz started off to explore the interior of the
country. There are no carnivorous wild beasts
IN Madagascar; but there is abundance of
game to tempt the sportsman, and Louis with his
gun on his shoulder, followed the chase of pat
ridges, quails and pheasants, for several miles,
until he reached the borders of thick bamboo
Jungle.
There he saw a number of the natives pros
trate before the entrance of large hut. They
were singing with one accord, monotonous
sort of hymn, whose burden was the word " Ber-
gaz" so distinctly pronounced, that Louis i'm
mediately recollected the account given him by
the philosopher in Batavia.
Inpelled by very natural curiosity, he stepped
forward, and peeped into the temple. No at
tempt had been made to ornament its four walls,
built of bamboo, cemented with clay; but in
the centre of the floor stood on pedestal the
statue of the god Bergaz, and Louis was greatly
struck with his appearance.
The idol, although far from being finished
work of art, was yet far superior in form and
workmanship to the ordinary divinties of savage
nations. The figure represented man dressed
in European costume, with a wide straw hat on
his head, and striped muslin cravat round his
neck. He was standing in the attitude of one
who was intercepting blow, and his right hand
was stained with blood There was even an
attempt, Louis Bergaz thought, to initiate his
own features; and the god had thick black
whskers meeting under his chin, precisely such
as Louis had worn in 1918. The dress, too, re.
sembled his own; and the cravat marked in the
corner L. b., was one which he had given Nep-
tune the cook. In few minutes, procession
of natives entered the temple; they kindled q
fire in sort of chafng dish and placing on il
dead cock, burnt the sacrifice before their god
amid loud acclammation. Bergaz, unluckly
was not able to preserve his gravity during this
pious ceremonial. He burst into fit of laugh
ter, and was instantly seized by the offended
worshppers. With shouts of rage they were
about to sacrifice him to their outraged deity
when noise of cymbals announced the approach
of the Chief of the tribe. The high priest me
hun at the door, and announced the sacrelgious
conduct of the stranger. The incensed chieftal
seized Malayan crease, and ran to take ven
geance on the offender. Bergaz turned ant
loOked at him each uttered cry of surprise
the next moment, the chief was embracing the
feet of Louis.
"Neptune, old fellow what is all this ?" ask
ed Bergaz, pointing to the figure. Bergaz is
my god !" cried the negro, striking his breast
Then to the unbounded astonishment of all pres
ent, the European and the chief walked off low
ngly together towards the palace of the latter
On their way thither, Neptune related his his
tory to his friend. The powerful Radamas, SOY
ereign of Madagascar, had concluded a treaty
of peace with his enemy Rene. The wife o
the latter being woman of genius, was namet
queen of the Anas, BY the edict of Radamus
and this lady was sister of Neptune, ex-cook o
the Dido.
No sooner was she seated on the throne thai
she released her brother from his menial stua
ton, and gave him absolute authority over thu
small province of Simpai.
Neptune's first act was an endeavor to mani
fest his gratitude, after the strange fashion O
his people, to his protector Bergaz; and we ma
fancy how cordial was the reception, how warn
and affectonate the welcome, bestowed on tn
living benelactor, whose wooden semblance h
and his people worshipped as a god Th
grateful negro loaded him with presents, an
sent his most skillful workmen to assist in re
pairing the ship. Probably, to this day, the go
Bergaz may still be worshipped in Simpai an
the Esculapean cock may still excite the won
der, and fill the notebooks of travelling phi
losophers.