330 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap, xii." 



sides. Before the iutroduction of fire-arms, it must have 

 been almost impregnable. It was defended by the last inde^ 

 pendent chief of the Bazanozano against Eadama, who, it 

 is said, took it chiefly by the aid of fire-arms, after two days' 

 fighting. 



The descent, on the western side of the pass, was woody and 

 broken. I had noticed a few rare plants on the eastern side, 

 especially some small lilac-flowered orchises, and the small 

 rich, bright flowered Euphorbia Bojeri, resembling E. splen- 

 deiis, but with smaller and deeper-coloured scarlet flowers. 

 On the western side the vegetation was rich and new. It is 

 here that the finest species of ebony prodviced in the island 

 is found. I saw several new orchids, and obtained a few 

 fronds of some unknown forms. At length, after crossing 

 a somewhat rapid stream, completely overshadowed by trees 

 of luxuriant foliage, we reached the open country, character- 

 ised by broad level tracts, laid out in rice grounds, much of it 

 under culture, and diversified by flat rounded hills. 



We halted at a resting-place for travellers. These resting- 

 places, of which we passed many on our journey, are gene- 

 rally a grassy knoll, at a distance from any trees, affording a 

 wide and pleasing prospect, or a position for enjoying a cool 

 refreshing breeze. The multitudes of travellers who rest on 

 the grass tend to keep it short and smooth; and quantities of 

 the fibre of the sugar-cane, chewed by the travellers during 

 their resting-time, are strewn all around. Close by this 

 place, a round stone, like a large cannon-ball, was lying bn 

 the ground, and two small stones were fixed upright, at a 

 distance of some yards from each other. My bearers and 

 some others of the party instantly repaired to the spot where 

 this stone was lying, and those who were able took up the 

 large round stone, and, standing near one stone, endeavoured 

 to hurl it to the opposite stone, as a feat of strength. After 

 a series of trials, only two — one of my own bearers, and 



