'NO MAN'S LAND" 207 



The following day we had a long journey over " no man's 

 land," taking provisions with us and stopping to dine by a 

 stream half-way, and reached Mandanivatsy before nightfall. 

 Saturday morning we crossed the high ridge in the forest, 

 entering Imerina again, and got to Anjozorobe in good time in 

 the afternoon. After the fatigues of the week we had another 

 pleasant Sabbath, the first of the month, with the good people 

 there. Monday evening brought us to Ambohitrerana, and a 

 couple of hours' ride on Tuesday morning took us home to 

 Ambohimanga in time for breakfast ; thus completing in little 

 more than nineteen days our very interesting journey and 

 exploration. 



1 Among the Sakalava, Alaotra means "ocean" or " sea," so 

 that it is the sea-like sheet of water. Cf. the use of Bohr 

 among the Arabs, in Bahr-Tabariyeh, Sea of Tiberias, and Bahr- 

 Lut, Sea of Lot Dead Sea. 



2 Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. v., pt. 2 (Botany, 2nd Ser.). 



3 It is a significant fact that the Malagasy word for " glory," 

 " honour," is vdnindhitra, which, literally translated, is "flower 

 of the grass." Did this expression arise from the native 

 admiration of some of these beautiful grasses, similar to that 

 which so excited Dr Mullens' delight when travelling in this 

 country. 



