296 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR cu.vp. xi. 



Since leaving the country bordering the Iharoka, we hacl 

 found the traveller's tree intermingled with the rofia palm ; 

 but the former was now most abundant, and from its numbers, 

 size, and healthy growth, imparted, by its own striking and 

 singular structure, and its masses of broad foliage, a peculiar 

 character to the landscape. Sometimes, for miles together, 

 it was the chief, if not the only, species of tree that was seen. 



After descending from the village where we had halted, we 

 came to a river of the same name, about forty yards wide, 

 and so deep that the bearers were up to their waists, and 

 were obliged to raise the poles of my palanquin from their 

 shoulders to the top of their heads, to keep me above the 

 water, while the relay of bearers walked in front and by the 

 sides, shouting, and beating the water with branches and 

 poles. The river, they said, was infested with crocodiles, and 

 within a short time before we passed six persons had been 

 destroyed by them, while crossing at the same place. 



Crocodiles were said to be in all the rivers and lakes we had 

 passed since leaving the neighbourhood of the sea, where the 

 water is brackish, and where they are never seen. In the 

 region over which we had passed they are about fifteen feet 

 long, but in other parts are much larger. It is said that 

 they may at times be seen chasing the fish in the lakes, and 

 often watching for prey among the reeds and other kinds of 

 shelter near the margin of the water. The crocodiles feed 

 chiefly on fish, but will seize and devour bullocks, dogs, or 

 any other animal quietly approaching or entering the water. 

 In some parts of the island they were said to be so ferocious 

 as to attack and upset canoes, and then prey upon the hapless 

 voyagers they contained. The crocodiles deposit then- eggs 

 in the sand on the shore, and prey upon any animal they may 

 find on the land. The late Mr. Hastie, when once sleeping near 

 a river, was awoke by the piteous whine of a favourite dog, 

 Avhich always slept at the door of his tent, and rushing out,* 



