CHAP. XI. FORMALITIES ON HALTING AT A VILLAGE. 291 



frequently met with the astrapsea afterwards, but always 

 growing near the water, and its branches frequently stretching 

 over the lake or river. 



After reaching the landing place, we passed about a mile 

 over stiff wet clay, and had to cross a piece of water so deep, 

 that Sodra was obliged to place me across his shoulders, in 

 order to keep me dry. We then walked along a path ankle- 

 deep in mud, until, a little after ten o'clock, when we reached 

 Ambohibohazo, another considerable village, formerly go- 

 verned by its own independent chief, whose power was 

 supreme over the lives and property of the people. 



On reaching a halting place, especially if towards the evening, 

 the head man of the village soon learned from some of the 

 officers of our party the general objects of my journey, and 

 shortly afterwards came wdth a present of rice and fowls, or 

 other kind of provision, for my refreshment. The quantity 

 brought seemed to bear some proportion to the size and 

 importance of the place ; and when the rice and fowls, &c., 

 were laid on the floor, the chiefs who brought them gene- 

 rally apologised for the smallness of the present, but desired 

 thus to express their loyalty to their rulers, and their good 

 will towards the friend of the queen, and the prince, who had 

 come to their village. I then, in a few words, expressed my 

 sense of their kindness, but the Hova officers replied at much 

 greater length, and the speaking at times was quite a formal 

 and protracted affair on both sides. It seemed to be a kind 

 of acknowledgment of the high descent of official sacredness, 

 and supreme authority of the reigning family, as well as a 

 declaration of fidelity and attachment on the part of the 

 chiefs of the place, with a recognition and acceptance of the 

 same on behalf of the sovereign and her son by the Hova 

 officers. No return on my part for these presents would 

 have been allowed by the officers, but I was always glad, on 

 departing in the morning, to give a piece of cotton cloth, or 



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