282 A TANALA CHIEFTAINESS 



green creatures like caddis-worms, but with a transparent shell ; 

 others, minute leeches ; others like the fresh-water hydra ; 

 with several other kinds, all finding house and provision on one 

 frond in the rushing waters. 



This " forest Ambdhimanga " was the home of Ih6vana, 

 the Tanala chieftainess of the tribe of the surrounding district, 

 who, with her husband, was most kind and friendly, and I 

 believe a sincere Christian. She was a remarkably stout old 

 lady, getting grey, and a woman of considerable ability and 

 force of character. On special occasions, when the Malagasy 

 nobles and tributary chiefs were summoned up to the capital, 

 Ihdvana would appear in the public assembly, and with Idmba 

 girded round her and spear in hand, would give assurances of 

 loyalty and obedience to Queen Ranavalona, and say " she was 

 not a woman, but a man," and would fight, if need be, at the 

 head of her people in defence of their sovereign. 



The situation of this place is exceedingly pleasant, on a hill 

 about two hundred feet above the river flowing to the east and 

 north. Around it are hills covered with bamboo, while to the 

 lines of hill, the edges of the upper plateau are dark with forest. 

 Here we and our bearers were glad to rest for a couple of 

 days, including a Sunday, during which we were glad to find 

 that these northern Tanala, through Christian teaching and 

 Ihdvana's influence, had made wonderful advances compared 

 with those farther south. There was a congregation of about 

 three hundred, a school of about as many children, and nine 

 village congregations connected with the central church 

 here. 



On the Monday morning, on leaving Amb6himanga, we had to 

 cross the river at the foot of the hill, and this made the thirtieth 

 time we had to be ferried across a river with all our men and 

 property, and glad we were that it was the last. A description 

 of our water conveyances would include bamboo rafts, canoes 

 great and small, especially the latter, canoes with one end 

 rotted away or broken off, and stuffed with clay, and craft so 

 small that they seemed rather fitted for children's playthings 

 than for business. The forest became thinner as we travelled 

 to the north-west, and this was due to the custom of the Tanala, 

 who cut down the woods and sow the rice in the ashes of the 

 trees which have been burnt ; for the people do not plant 



