76 BAMBOOS. 



Among the larger trees on the south-east coast one called 

 atdfa is prominent by its pecnliar manner of growth and its 

 colour. In many specimens the branches strike directly at 

 right angles from the trunk, and then spread away horizon- 

 tally for a considerable distance. The leaves are from eight 

 to ten inches long, and are spatula-shaped ; a large propor- 

 tion of them are always ruddy brown or scarlet in colour. 



As in almost every tropical country the bamboo is one 

 of the most beautiful and useful of plants, so it also is in 

 Madagascar. On many parts of the eastern coast, at the 

 foot of the forest-covered ranges of hills, the bamboo forms 

 the most strikiiio- feature in the vec'etation. Extensive tracts 

 of country are almost covered with the long graceful stems, 

 curving over the paths like enormous whips. The thickly- 

 set pinnate leaves are of the brightest green, forming a 

 delightful contrast to the darker colour of the woods on the 

 liigher slopes. One of the strangest as well as most beautiful 

 sights that can meet the eye is wdien passing through a 

 thicket of these bamboos. All around rise the smooth, 

 shining, and many-jointed stems, like the slenderest shafts, 

 while the dense leafage overhead makes a green twilight 

 below. Another species of bamboo has a climbing habit, 

 and covers the sturdier trees with a dense mantle of green 

 drapery. In this species "the cane is almost as small as a 

 quill, with a circle of fine small leaves around the joints, 

 which are not more than five or six inches apart. These 

 long slender canes hang pendent from the branches of the 

 trees, or stretch in graceful curves from tree to tree along the 

 sides of the road." '"* 



The economic uses of the bamboo are numerous in Madagas- 

 car, although not so extensive as in many Asiatic countries. It 

 is universally employed for the small rafters of houses, and 

 the larger stems form the usual lao or carrying-pole, by 

 which every kind of merchandise and produce is conveyed on 

 the shoulders of the bearers from one part of the country to 

 the other. A piece of bamboo forms a very popular musical 

 instrument ; portions of the strong outer fibre are detached 

 and stramed over bows of hard wood to form the strings. 

 * Ellis: Three Visits to Madarjascar,]). 321. 



