Chapter Twenty 
MADAGASCAR (III) —contd. 
T was exciting to think that soon we might once again be 
linked up with the outside world. While waiting, I thought it 
better to continue my researches, though I was told to be available 
when wanted. Fortunately there is a small patch of forest about 
thirty miles to the east of Tananarive which was included in the 
administrative zone and this enabled me to do some more col- 
lecting without the necessity for permits. 
After about a week, when I was thoroughly enjoying the lovely 
setting and tranquillity of La Mandraka, I received a telegram in 
French wishing me “Many happy returns of the day.” This was in 
April, 1942. There was nothing to arouse suspicion here, except 
that my birthday is in December. 
I packed my traps and caught the next train to the capital as I 
knew the British attack was imminent. 
A few days later I found myself crouching in the back of a car 
at midnight on the start of a 250-mile journey to the west coast. 
The Tananarive outpost guards were successfully avoided, and 
we arrived at Majunga without suspicion, as it was the home of 
the owner of the car. Here we remained in hiding in a house for 
two days. This had its comic side, for whenever French visitors 
came to the place we slid out of the back door and hid in the bush 
until we were called. 
At last the great the day, or rather night, arrived. Our worldly 
possessions we had left behind in Tananarive, and we were now 
reduced to what we could carry in the way of clothing, etc., on 
our backs. My only worry was my valuable collection of skins, 
which I thought might be lost. 
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