210 FLAMINGOES 



Some way down the river flowing from the north-western arm 

 of the lake is a very beautiful waterfall. The river, broken into 

 three streams, falls in foaming white masses over a ledge of 

 black lava, some fifty feet deep. The whole bed of the river for 

 a mile above is of the same black character, the lava broken into 

 innumerable blocks and setting off the vivid colour of the 

 verdure on the river banks. The people say that Itasy was 

 once only a huge swamp, and its becoming a clear lake is within 

 the memory, or perhaps the traditions, of the inhabitants. 

 Other legends relate that the lake was formed by a Vazimba 

 chieftain, named Rapeto, damming up the river flowing from 

 the swamp ; and so the rice-fields of a neighbouring chief, with 

 whom he was at variance, were flooded and have ever since 

 remained under water. There is doubtless an element of truth 

 in this latter account ; but the chieftain, also supposed to be a 

 giant, was not a human being, but a volcano, which broke out 

 at the north-western corner and dammed up the river for a long 

 period, as shown by the lava in its bed, as just described. The 

 river has now cut its way several feet through the barrier which 

 was thus thrown across its course. 



I spent several hours one day in a canoe on the lake with a 

 friend, shooting wild duck (my first and my last exploit in this 

 line). We found birds very abundant on the water, and in the 

 swamps and rank vegetation along the shores. Flamingoes, 

 with their white plumage and pink tinge pervading the whole 

 under part of the wings, are fairly common here, and are said to 

 be extremely good eating. The native name for this bird, 

 Sdmaka, is appropriate and descriptive, as it means "disjointed," 

 " split," referring to its immensely long legs. It is also called 

 Amjombona, from its trumpeting cry, this being also the native 

 name for a large species of triton shell used as a trumpet. An 

 adult male bird stands more than four feet high ; and when on 

 the defensive these birds make quite a loud noise by sharply 

 opening and closing their beaks, which are long and powerful. 

 When on the wing, they fly exceedingly high. 



Among the many birds frequenting this lake and the neigh- 

 bourhood are the purple water-hens, of which three species are 

 found in Madagascar. They are of a rich bluish-purple colour, 

 and have a very powerful beak, with which they easily root up 

 the Herana sedge, when growing on the edge of the lake in 



