304 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. si. 



had been collected on the broad and ribbed surface of the leaf 

 had flowed down a groove or spout on the upper side of the 

 stalk into this natural reservoir, whence it supplied nutriment 

 to the tree, and refreshment to the traveller or the labourer. 



But in Madagascar, this tree might, with propriety, be 

 called the builder'' s tree rather than the traveller's tree. 

 Its leaves form the thatch of all the houses on the eastern 

 side of the island. The stems of its leaves form the partitions, 

 and often sides of the houses ; and the hard outside bark is 

 stripped from the inner and soft part, and having been beaten 

 out flat, is laid for flooring ; and I have seen the entire floor 

 of a long well built house covered with its bark, each piece 

 being at least eighteen inches wide, and twenty or thirty feet 

 long. The leaf when green, is used as a wrapper for packages, 

 and keeps out the rain. Large quantities are also sold every 

 morning in the markets, as it serves the purpose of table- 

 cloth, dishes, and plates at meals ; and folded into certain 

 forms, is used instead of spoons, and drinking vessels. 



Leaving the traveller's trees, we resumed our journey, cross- 

 insc the water eight times during our morning's march : and 

 ascending and descending as many hilly or movmtainous 

 ridges, where the path was at times so steep and slippery, as 

 greatly to impede our progress, and along which it seemed 

 scarcely possible that burdens should be carried. I could 

 neither walk up nor do^vn, without the help of one or more of 

 the bea,rers. About eleven we reached Ambatoharanana, where 

 we halted for breakfast. My habit was to take two meals a- 

 day, but both of the same kind of food. The first about noon, 

 the other in the evening. On halting in a village, one of the 

 bearers took a small measure of rice, and went amongst the 

 cottages to exchange it for a bundle of fuel, which was some- 

 times rather scarce ; as soon as this is obtained, and a fire 

 lighted, a quantity of rice was cleaned, by being pounded in a 

 wooden mortar, and afterguards winnowed in a fan. It was 



