290 A PICTURESQUE SCENE 



the vegetation more distinctly tropical, with graceful palms 

 and other trees common on the eastern coast ; as well as species 

 of ficus, rotra (Eugenia sp.), hibiscus, tamarind and rofia 

 palms ; and the mango, escaped from cultivation, often attains 

 the dimensions of a very large tree. 



Early on Thursday afternoon we came down to a river, called 

 Marokaloy, where our bearers wished us to encamp, but we 

 feared both mosquitoes and consequent malaria in such a 

 situation, and ascended a low hill about a hundred and fifty feet 

 above the river. Here we pitched our tents, and after arranging 

 for the night sat down to our evening meal round a mat in the 

 bright moonlight. It was a very picturesque scene : the 

 brilliant moon and the four chief planets shining resplendently ; 

 our group of men near the tents lighted up by the ruddy glare 

 of the cooking fires ; while down below, the greater body of our 

 men had encamped and had a score or two of fires blazing under 

 the dark shade of fine large trees. The night was so warm 

 that there was no inconvenience sitting out of doors, while in 

 the tents it soon grew so hot that we were glad to keep out of 

 them as long as possible. But what surprised us most was the 

 almost entire absence of mosquitoes ; for there was no garden 

 in Imerina where one could sit for five minutes at such an hour 

 without being soon informed of the presence of these tiny pests. 

 It must, however, be added that for an hour or two before sun- 

 set, and for a little after it also, the mokafohy were extremely 

 numerous and annoying. They persecuted us incessantly while 

 encamping, but happily, unlike their namesakes, * they retire 

 at dark. By a merciful dispensation of providence they do 

 not bite at night. After our al fresco meal, Mr Street and I 

 descended to the river and enjoyed a delicious bathe. 



The following morning we were up early, but the mokafohy 

 were up before us and made it a misery to do anything 

 immediately we emerged from the tent. Getting breakfast was 

 therefore disposed of in a very short space of time, for mouth, 

 nostrils, and eyes got full of these detestable little flies ; one 

 could not eat, and we hurried the children into their palanquins 

 and got off as fast as was possible. The name of this pretty 

 valley (Marokaloy=" Many aloy ") ought to have warned us, 

 as aloy is the proper name of the insect, and this place seems to 

 be their headquarters. The scenery and the route continued to 



