64 LUXURIANT FOLIAGE 



of the valley to a height (so it has been ascertained) of nearly 

 two thousand feet, certainly one of the grandest natural objects 

 I had ever seen. This stupendous mass is called Andri- 

 ambavibe, " Great Princess " ; the large trees on the summit 

 looked like mere bushes seen from below. 



Notwithstanding the fatigue of the journey, it was impossible 

 not to be struck with admiration and delight at the grandeur 

 of the vegetation. The profusion and luxuriance of vegetable 

 life were very extraordinary. There appeared to be few trees 

 of great girth of trunk, but their height was considerable, 

 especially in the valleys. High over all the other trees shot up 

 the tall trunks of many varieties of palms, with their graceful 

 crowns of feathery leaves. A dense undergrowth of shrubs, 

 tree-ferns, and dwarf palms made in many places quite a green 

 twilight ; while overhead the branches were interlaced and 

 bound together by countless creeping and climbing plants, 

 whose rope-like tendrils crossed in all directions and made a 

 labyrinth which it was impossible to pass through. Occasion- 

 ally we came across large trees in flower, giving a glorious mass 

 of colour. With these exceptions, however, flowers were com- 

 paratively few ; and during subsequent journeys I have found 

 that it is true in Madagascar what Dr Alfred R. Wallace has 

 pointed out as characteristic of all tropical countries viz. that 

 in the tropics are not to be found great masses of floral colour. 

 For these one must go to the temperate zones ; foliage, over- 

 powering in its luxuriance and endless variety, is indeed to be 

 found hi the tropics, but not the large extent of colour given 

 by heather, buttercups, primroses, or a field of poppies in 

 England. 



Tiie orchids, however, were very abundant. Wherever a 

 fallen tree hung across the path, there they found a lodging- 

 place, and beautified the decaying trunks with their exquisite 

 wayy ffowfiTS of P' nlf am^jyJTJt p Although what has just been 

 said of wild flowers is true on the whole, there were a con- 

 siderable number to be seen, if carefully looked for. My bearers 

 soon perceived how interested I was in observing their novel 

 and curious forms, and brought to me all the different varieties 

 they could find, so that in the evening my palanquin contained 

 a collection of flowers and plants gathered during the day. I 

 managed to dry a few, but the greater part had to be thrown 



