REVIEWS — THREE VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 205 



the leaves of the traveller's tree. The floor of the verandah, as well 

 as the house, was formed of thick plants or boards neatly joined, and 

 raised a foot and a half above the ground. The walls inside were 

 covered with ropa cloth, and a fine large mat was spread on the floor. 

 A neatly -made four-post bedstead, covered with fine sleeping mats, 

 stood in one corner ; choice cooking utensils in another ; bags of rice 

 and stores, with materials for making mats, and native and European 

 weapons, occupied other parts of the dwelling. In the centre was a 

 table of native workmanship, covered with a white cloth, on which 

 refreshments were placed, and there were a number of chairs and 

 native seats made of matting, like high square ottomans, in difierent 

 parts of the room." 



Here surely are some elements and signs of civilization. But we 

 proceed to a passage which shows — shall we say ? — an advance on some 

 of our own countrymen, or at least equality with some of the refined 

 ladies of a neighboring nation : 



MADAGASCAR SNUFF-TAKING. 



" I was much amused on this occasion, and often afterwards, with 

 the manner in which the chiefs and people generally indulge their 

 taste for an article resembling snufi", a native manufacture comprising 

 other ingredients besides the pulverised leaf of tobacco, such as salt, 

 and the ashes of a native herb, which mixture is regularly sold in the 

 markets. The retinue of every chief or officer of any rank, includes 

 a bearer of what we should call his snufl'-box. Those officers who 

 attend on a superior, or are unattended by their own slaves, carry 

 this article of luxury in some part of their dress, frequently sus- 

 pended from the girdle, and concealed under the folds of their lamba ; 

 and we sometimes met a traveller with his snufl'-box suspended from 

 his neck, who seemed almost destitute of everything else except the 

 most scanty clothing. On the occasion of our first meeting with the 

 chief with whom we were now conversing, whenever he required the 

 agreeable stimidus, which was tolerably frequent, the attendant slave 

 who was usually squatted behind him, presented to him a short piece 

 of bamboo cane, about nine inches or a foot long, and less than an 

 inch in diameter, beautifully polished, and ornamented with rings. 

 Into the end of this cylindrical case, a circular piece of cane or wood 

 attached to a long tassel of silk threads was neatly fitted. "When 

 the slave had removed this ingeniously-contrived stopper or lid, the 



VOL. IV. Q 



