340 REV. GEORGE A. SHAW, F.Z.S., ON 
responsible to their parents for their well-being. There are 
very few children in Madagascar out of their mothers’ 
arms. 
To return to the fugitives in the canoes. After they had 
started, it is said that there were so many, that they were 
afraid the canoes would be swamped. But they struggled 
on, hoping to reach safety; but at last, owing to the 
weather and darkness, fear took possession of them ; a hasty 
united council was held, and a suggestion was made that all 
the children should be thrown overboard. A good deal of 
excitement seems to have arisen on this suggestion; but 
eventually they agreed to throw away the children, sacri- 
ficing them to the general good. This was, on the part of 
some, not made in good faith, for although the Taivandrika 
threw overboard their children, all the others simply made a 
feint of doing so, or dropped stones into the water, se that 
when they came to land, it was found that although the 
children of the Taivandrika were all lost, the children of the 
others were still there. This account is said to be the origi 
of the proverbial saying among those in the Matitanana 
district : “* Taivandrika crossing by canoe.” 
When the Taivandrika discovered how they had been 
imposed on, they were filled with wrath, and cursed and 
reviled those who had come with them; and the curse or 
imprecation they are said to have used is employed still by 
their descendants when vexed with any of the other tribes. 
Their curses, however, seem to have rebounded on their own 
heads, for the Taivandrika are a scattered and wandermg 
people, having no settled territory, and spread over the 
country of the other tribes. They are also very few in 
number. 
These fugitives in the canoes are said to have landed at a 
part of the coast near to the spot now occupied by Vangain- 
drano, in the south; but after making acquaintance with the 
country and the inhabitants, they said: “ We are not able to 
remain here, for although the country is pleasant and fruitful, 
yet the people love war; their spears are in constant use, 
and we shall find no secure place for our wives and children. 
Let us leave this part at once.” Hence they again embarked, 
and making their way along the coast northward, eventually 
landed at Matitanana. 
As there were many more men in the expedition than 
women, they asked for wives from the Onjatsy, who live a 
short distance up the Matitanana, on the south bank. But. 
