MADAGASCAR. 



a strong breeze, while not a breath stirs the lower 

 sails. The nights are dark as Erebus, even the 

 full moon being able to send only occasionally a 

 fitful gleam through the dull opaque clouds. The 

 days are gloomy and dispiriting, being made up 

 of alternate squalls of rain and wind. Such is 

 the eastern coast of Madagascar a most uninvi- 

 ting cruising ground. 



It was while making our way toward Antongil 

 Bay that, on one dark, gloomy day, the captain 

 sent several men aloft, to look out for shoals. He 

 was himself, at the same time, continually start- 

 ing into the rigging, and peering anxiously about 

 with his spy-glass. "We did not judge ourselves 

 near the land, and had therefore some curiosity 

 to learn whether any shoals could be seen. 



" It seems to me that there are some breakers 

 on the lee bow, but I can see nothing for the sea 

 to break against," sung out the mate, who had 

 been sent aloft to look out. 



" That's it where away on the lee bow is the 

 surf?" 



" About four points." 



The vessel was kept away a little, and as there 

 was quite a breeze, we were soon able to see from 

 the deck a long line of white, where the sea broke 

 upim the edge of a huge sand-bank. 



The bank itself, owing to its color, we could not 

 see till we were closer in. It was a dreary and 

 wo-begone place, and a sight of it prepared me to 

 appreciate the tale of horrible cruelty which is con- 



