I will show you an article on the subject,
which I published in an English scientific
journal."

Louis thanked him; and afterwards read as
follows:

"The population of Madagascar consists of
a mixture of Africans, Arabs, and the
aboriginal inhabitants. These latter occupy the
kingdom of the Anas, and are governed by a
queen. The Malagasys differ widely from the
Ethiopian race, both in their physical and
moral characteristics. They are hospitable
and humane, but extremely warlike, because
a successful foray furnishes them with slaves.
It is a mistake to believe that the Malagasys
worship the devil, and that they have at Teintingua
a tree consecrated to the Evil One. They
have but one temple, dedicated to the god
Bergaz (beer, source, or well, in the Chaldean,
and gaz, light, in the Malagasy tongue). To
this divinity they are ardently devoted, and at
stated periods offer him the sacrifice of a cock,
as the ancient Greeks did to Æsculapius. So
true it is that the languages and superstitions
of all lands and ages are linked together by
mysterious bonds, which neither time nor
distance can destroy."

Louis Bergaz thought the latter philosophical
reflection very striking.

"You can scarcely imagine," said his
companion, "how important these remote
analogies, traced out by us with so much labour and
fatigue, are to the advancement of science!"

Bergaz bowed, and was silent.

The cares of a busy commercial life soon
caused him to forget both the philosopher and
his own idol namesake.

After the lapse of about two years, Bergaz
set out to purchase ebony at Cape St. Maria,
in Madagascar; but a violent tempest forced
the vessel to stop at Simpai on the Avas
Coast. While the crew were busy refitting
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 Lewis, with his gun on his shoulder,
followed the chase of partridges, quails, and
pheasants, for several miles, until he reached
the border of a thick bamboo jungle.

There, he saw a number of the natives
prostrate before the entrance of a large hut.
They were singing, with one accord, a monotonous
sort of hymn, whose burden was the
word "Bergaz!" so distinctly pronounced,
that Louis immediately recollected the account
given him by the philosopher in Batavia.

Impelled by very natural curiosity, he
stepped forward, and peeped into the temple.
No attempt had been made to ornament its
four walls, built of bamboo, cemented with
clay; but, in the centre of the floor stood, on
a pedestal, the statue of the god Bergaz, and
Louis was greatly struck with his appearance.

The idol, although far from being a finished
work of art, was yet far superior in form and
workmanship to the ordinary divinities of
savage nations. The figure represented a
man, dressed in European costume, with a
wide straw hat on his head, and a striped
muslin cravat round his neck. He was
standing in the attitude of one who is
intercepting a blow, and his right hand was stained
with blood. There was even an attempt,
Louis Bergaz thought, to imitate his own
features; and the god had thick black
whiskers meeting under his chin, precisely
such as Louis had worn in 1818. The dress,
too, resembled his own; and the cravat,
marked in the corner L. B., was one which
he had given Neptune the cook. In a few
minutes, a procession of natives entered the
temple; they kindled a fire in a sort of
chafing-dish; and, placing on it a dead cock,
burnt the sacrifice before their god, amid
loud acclamation. Bergaz, unluckily, was not
able to preserve his gravity during this pious
ceremonial. He burst into a fit of laughter,
and was instantly seized by the offended
worshippers. With shouts of rage they were
about to sacrifice him to their outraged deity,
when a noise of cymbals announced the
approach of the Chief of the tribe. The high
priest met him at the door, and announced
the sacrilegious conduct of the stranger. The
incensed chieftain seized a Malayan crease,
and ran to take vengeance on the offender.
Bergaz turned and looked at him; each
uttered a cry of surprise; the next moment,
the chief was embracing the feet of
Louis.

"Neptune, old fellow! what is all this?"
asked Bergaz pointing to the figure," Bergaz
is my god!" cried the negro, striking his
breast. Then, to the unbounded astonishment
of all present, the European and the chief
walked off lovingly together towards the
palace of the latter.

On their way thither, Neptune related his
history to his friend. The powerful Radamas,
sovereign of Madagascar, had concluded a
treaty of peace with his enemy Réné. The
wife of the latter, being a woman of genius,
was named queen of the Anas, by an edict of
Radama; and this lady was the sister of
Neptune, ex-cook of the Dido.

No sooner was she seated on the throne
than she released her brother from his menial
situation, and gave him absolute authority
over the small province of Simpai.

Neptune's first act was an endeavour to
manifest his gratitude, after the strange fashion of
his people, to his protector Bergaz; and we
may fancy how cordial was the reception, how
warm and affectionate the welcome, bestowed
on the living benefactor, whose wooden
semblance he and his people worshipped as a
god. The grateful negro loaded him with
presents, and sent his most skilful workmen
to assist in repairing the ship. Probably, to
this day, the god Bergaz may still be
worshipped in Simpai; and the Æsculapian cock
may still excite the wonder, and fill the note-
books of travelling philosophers.