CHAP. XI. FIKST NIGHT'S HALT ON THE KOAD. 275 



the side, and four others carried my cooking apparatus and 

 personal luggage. Our road, for a considerable distance, led 

 over a sandy plain, presenting occasionally long lines of sand- 

 banks running parallel with the ocean, and having at different 

 periods formed its boundary. The country afterwards became 

 more woody, and we often passed trees of large size and 

 vigorous growth. About half-past three we reached Anzolo- 

 kafa, a straggling village on the banks of the Hivondro, nine 

 miles distant from Tamatave, and where we were to halt for 

 the night. 



My bearers hung up my palanquin, by means of cords, to 

 the rafters of the house in which we were to sleep, so that it 

 answered the double purpose of a carriage by day and a bed 

 by night. By this plan I was also effectually removed from 

 the dirt of the floor and the swarms of its inhabitants, which 

 are celebrated for the numbers in which they come forth by 

 night. I walked to an elevated part of the village, which 

 commanded an extensive view of the coast and the ■\\dde 

 rolling ocean, from its junction with the lake on one side, and 

 the placid water of the broad Hivondro, and the fertile and 

 level country on the other ; and I was greatly delighted with 

 the scene. 



In less than an hour the whole party had arrived, and 

 amongst them the aide-de-camp of the prince with letters 

 from the capital. The packages were deposited in the lapa, a 

 sort of public or government house, erected for the use of 

 travellers, and of which there is one, if not more, in every 

 village of any consequence. The next thing they did was to 

 kill the bullock, which they managed very adroitly, by throw- 

 ing the animal on its side, tying its legs, and then cutting its 

 throat with a large knife. It was soon cut up, without stop- 

 ping to take off the skin ; and amidst shouting, and dancing, 

 and other demonstrations of joy, the meat was distributed 

 amongst the parties around, whose numbers were greatly in- 



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