HOSTILITY OF THE MADAGASSY. 199 



imagining that there could be such a totally inac- 

 cessible place as proved the island under lee of 

 which we were moored. When a ramble through 

 the thick jung.e of the island was found -imprac- 

 ticable from the impenetrability of the woods, as 

 well as dangerous from the exceeding abundance 

 of serpents, of which we killed some every day, 

 although never advancing inland beyond the im- 

 mediate beach, we began to cast longing eyes upon 

 the shores which we every morning approached 

 in pursuit of whales. 



In the far distance, at the top of a high hill, we 

 could discern a city, seemingly, of considerable 

 dimensions, while in the vicinity of the beach at 

 various points, herds of the large hump-cattle of 

 Madagascar grazed. Here, thought we, must cer- 

 tainly be a fine country ; and I know not what 

 wild plans flitted through my brain, of clandes- 

 tinely leaving the vessel, and taking up my abode. 

 \v ith the natives for a time. 



All these ideas were, however, scattered to the 

 winds by the unmistakeable enmity exhibited 

 toward us by the natives, upon an attempt on our 

 part to effect a landing upon the mainland. It 

 was from the first apparent that we were watched 

 right jealously, parties of the natives, spear in 

 hand, often following for h<rirs any of the boats 

 that chanced to be cruising near the land. We 

 had not tasted fresh beef since leaving home, and 

 although warned by the officers of our partner 

 ship that we would be unsuccessful in any attempt 



