l-2i VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. v. 



be embarked in one day. Hay and water are provided for 

 them during the passage, and if the sea is tolerably smooth, 

 in a day or two they begin to eat. They are under the 

 charge of native herdsmen called marmites ; and unless the 

 passage is very long, extending to twenty days or more, or 

 the weather very tempestuous, few of them die. The fact 

 of the prevailing winds being contrary during the greater 

 part of the trading season seems to indicate the great advan- 

 tage that would be secured by the employment of steam in 

 the exportation of cattle from Madagascar. 



On reaching Mauritius the ships with cattle approach as 

 near as possible to the shore. The bullocks are then hoisted 

 up by slings swung over the ship's side, and allowed to fall 

 into the water, where the rope is taken from their heads, 

 and they are left to swim between two lines of spars to the 

 shore, where some tame cattle and hay are placed to attract 

 them to the landing-place. By this process many cargoes, 

 ranging from ninety to a hundred and fifty bullocks each, are 

 brought to Mauritius every year, that island, as well as Bour- 

 bon, being entirely dependent upon Madagascar for cattle for 

 draught as well as for the market. 



Soon after I became a housekeeper in Madagascar, I visited 

 the general market held daily at Tamatave. The place 

 where it is kept is about fifty yards square, and extremely 

 dirty, in consequence of the refuse of vegetables and meat 

 lying about. The market opens early in the morning. 

 Among the fruits were citrons, lemons, and oranges, pine- 

 apples, plantains, and pistache-nuts. Amongst the roots 

 manioc was most abundant. Eice was very plentiful and of 

 varied quality. There were also maize, millet, and other 

 grains. The chief article of manufacture was foreign cotton- 

 cloth, white and printed. The native manufactures com- 

 prised knives, hatchets, axes, hoes, spades, files, nails, scales 

 and weights, native cloth, lambas, mats, baskets, and hats of 



