MADAGASCAR (III) 275 
In a way it seemed ludicrous that anyone should choose to live 
under such cramped conditions when unlimited material was close 
at hand and restrictions on building space were non-existent. 
Furthermore the huts were barely three feet apart, so that every 
word uttered in one could be plainly heard in the next. There was 
no privacy of any kind. The native never talks in a whisper but 
rather in a loud voice. Nothing is hidden from neighbors or chil- 
dren, consequently there is no secret gossip, and no mysteries for 
the young about the facts of life. 
What was at first incomprehensible to me was now becoming 
quite clear. Everywhere I went I saw more and more the deep sig- 
nificance of “If the tree went on growing ...,” and it seemed that 
I had reached the stage where, although a civilized human being, 
I was beginning to see civilization from the viewpoint of primi- 
tive man. 
While I was enjoying the tranquillity of bush-life in this district 
my peace of mind was disturbed by a visit from the Tulear police. 
The party consisted of the Commissioner of Police, another Eu- 
ropean police officer, and two native police. The former were 
armed with revolvers and the latter carried handcuffs. The Com- 
missioner, a short tubby man with a red face, confronted me as | 
returned from the bush with the overnight catch. Standing on an 
anthill to discount my advantage in height, he threw out his 
chest and informed me at some length that one of his native de- 
tectives had seen me, or a bearer, carrying through the bush a 
folding apparatus resembling a periscope. He then asked for an 
explanation and demanded to see the apparatus in question. 
When he had finished his exposition, I ruffled him badly by 
replying, “Comment, Monsieur?” With his face considerably 
redder he started all over again. At the end of the second attempt 
I replied, “Je ne comprends pas, Monsieur,” which, by the look on 
his face, caused him to almost burst into flames. He thereupon 
demanded to see my baggage, saying that he was compelled under 
the circumstances to carry out a search. 
This was done with great thoroughness and discourtesy. My kit 
boxes were emptied and the contents thrown on the floor of the 
