The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-04-05
White Mans Visit to q Negro
Queen.

| AhC oItCieoh w IL ouHoeu"; Va q
recent date, gives the following particulars
received there of visit by an United States
official MIR. Finklemeir) to the negro Queen
of Madagascar 1t should be borne in
mind that the whites are rigidIy excluded
from living at the place visited by him:
I On the 10th of November, Mr.. Finkle-
mier went on government order to see
the queen, in order to transact official bust.
ness between the United States and NADIA
gascar The queen was at the capital,
Tananarivco, and he reached the outer gate
OF the city on the LIST of December having
been carried on sedan chair with sixteen
stout negroes as the motive power, for four
days, along the foot path through woods
and over mountains, there being no carriage
roads The mountains they passed over
were from | 800 to 1000 feet 10 hight, and
in some places it made one dizzy to look
down.
He was often astonished at the surefoot-
edness of the men, as we'll as their perfect
knowledge of the country, so little marked
by paths. The government mail courier,
by travelling night and day, goes this route
in five days. When Finklemier arrived he
gave the minister notice of his arrival, and
on the second of December, he got permits
sion to enter the city with his sixteen car
rlers, it having taken that number to carry
him him over the mountains, four at time
taking the sedan chair in which he was.
Before he entered the city, twelve officers
of the queen in gala uniform, and one hun
dred soldiers, with d band Of music, came
out and took him into the capital The
queen sent Mr.. Finklemier a splendid horse
to ride into the city; and an officer who
spoke very good English accompanied the
party. On entering the city thousands OF
people were out to see him and to witness
the display. The band preceded him and
a salute of seven guns were fred from the
queens palace.
The palace of the queen is $500 feet
above the level of the sea- the capital being
located on an elevated plateau. BY the
time Mr.. +. reached the city he was out OF
provisions, and had his sixteen men to feed;
the queen, however, sent him a fat OK for
food, and the chief ministers sent turkeys,
geese, chickens. lamb, onions, rice, potatoes
and other things N abundance SO they
Jared well.
Next day the queen sent to ask how he
notified him that she would see him on the
next Sunday, the Sth of December On
Sunday she sent an escort of palace officers
to conduct him to the throne, where she
sat in state with her ministers around her
and a large number of ladies and gentle
men, all in European costumes, the queen
wearing white brocade with Hammelyn
cloak hanging from the shoulders. She
arose and extended Der hand to him to kiss
as Mr.. F. entered, and he kissed her white
kids accordingly to court etiquette. The
queen is about fifty years of age, quite tall
and well educated and quite graceful.
Mr.. Finklemeir was astonlshcd to see
her skin what we in America would call
white and looking young tor her age. Mr..
T. was next introduced to all the ministers
and guests. A great deal of gold and en-
broidery was displayed in the court dresses
Of those present, and the display was really
quite brilliant. After fifteen minutes he
withdrew. The officers afterwards told
MIR. f. that the queen was very well pleased
with his appearance. The queen asked
him during the interview if he had served
in the late war in America, and if he had
a family. The next day he dined with the
chief minister per invitation.
The dinner took from p. m. to 10 at
night and was given in splendid hall with
a fine band of music playing before the for.
ty guests. The dinner and wine could not
be excelled even in Europe The finest OF
china and silver sets adorned the table 49,
MIR. Finklemeir toasted the queen in the
American language, and the chief minister
toasted the president and secretary Seward.
MIR. Finklemeir stayed in the capital till
the 9Th of January, when he babe his adieu
to the capital, and he returned as he came.