THE TSINGALA 107 



The rivers of the interior are singularly deficient in fish of any 

 size ; but in the shallow water of the rice-fields numbers of 

 minute shrimps are caught, as well as small fish of the kinds 

 called Toko and Trondro, but they are very bony and poor in 

 flavour : somewhat larger kinds, called Mdrakelyand Tohovokoka, 

 are, however, very good eating, but are not plentiful. Very 

 large and fine eels are caught in the rivers, as well as crayfish, of 

 a kind peculiar to Madagascar. On the water of the streams 

 many kinds of water-beetles and water-boatmen may be seen 

 darting about in mazy circles ; one of these, called Tsingala, 

 causes death if swallowed by cattle or human beings, oxen dying 

 in less than twenty-four hours, unless a remedy is promptly 

 given. The Rev. H. T. Johnson wrote thus about this insect : 



"I was travelling one day to Ambohimandroso; the day had 

 been very hot, and passing by a dirty pool, one of my bearers 

 stooped down and drank with his hands and then hastily 

 followed to carry the palanquin. I saw the man drink and 

 presently, hearing sounds behind, I turned and discovered that 

 the very man, who only a few minutes before had drunk the 

 water, was now in agonies of pain. He stood stretching out 

 both his arms and throwing back his head in a frantic 

 manner, at the same time shrieking most hideously. My first 

 thoughts were speedily seconded by the words of his com- 

 panions, who said, 'He has swallowed a tsingalaS Of course, 

 I immediately got down and went back to the poor fellow. He 

 was now lying on the ground and writhing in agony, and I felt 

 that unless something could be done, and that speedily, the man 

 must die. My other bearers, seeing the extreme urgency of the 

 case, called to the passers-by, but none could render any assist- 

 ance. Presently a Betsileo was appealed to, and he said that 

 he knew what would cure him, but wanted to know how much 

 money we would give. I said immediately that it was no time 

 for bargaining, but that I would give him sixpence if he relieved 

 the poor man from his sufferings. Off he ran to procure some 

 leaves, with which he returned in about ten minutes ; he soaked 

 them in water from a stream close by, and then gave the 

 sufferer the infusion to drink. With almost the quickness 

 of a flash of lightning the poor fellow showed signs of relief, 

 and after drinking this infusion several times more he said 



