152 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. vi. 



tainly not her thimble. I believe these delicate articles are 

 manufactured only by the women of the Hovas, or other 

 tribes occupying the centre of the island. 



Besides the mats and baskets, many persons are employed 

 in the manufacture of hats, for use amongst the natives, for 

 sale to the ships' crews, or for exportation. One kind is made 

 of grass, resembling in appearance our fine English straw, 

 though less durable ; others are made of different species of 

 rushes, sometimes as fine, and very much resembling Leghorn. 

 They are well shaped and durable, and exceedingly valuable 

 for the comfortable shade they afford. 



All these articles, though sometimes brought for sale by the 

 men, were manufactured by the Avomen ; the rofia cloth and 

 the coarser kinds of mats by the slaves. A man and his wife 

 resided in the same compound or enclosure with me, though 

 they did not belong to the owner of the house, but to different 

 masters. I observed that the woman was chiefly employed 

 in the gathering and drying of rushes, and in the manufac- 

 turing of large mats or bags for rice, both of which were sold 

 for the benefit of her master. 



I was sometimes amused with the perseverance manifested 

 by the venders of different kinds of goods, who continued to 

 come time after time, notwithstanding the most explicit de- 

 claration that none of their articles were needed. One man, 

 who had brought poultry and fish, and then matting and 

 baskets, but without success, most importunately demanded 

 what I did want. I told him that, if during his journeys in 

 the forests, he should meet with any plants or flowers such as 

 I showed him drawings of, I would buy them of him, provided 

 they were of the right sorts. He seemed quite delighted, and 

 said he would bring some, offering at the same time to be- 

 come my aide-de-camp, and to carry out my wishes in regard 

 to anything I might desire to obtain. I begged to decline 

 his proposal for this permanent appointment, but assured 



