436 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. xvi. 



noon, we travelled onward to Ambodinifo, and on the following 

 day to Moramanga, a military station, where I found all my 

 packages had previously arrived. 



Although a hundred aud fifty miles or more from Tama- 

 tave, I had already began to collect a few plants, which I 

 engaged a special bearer to carry ; for I could not leave a new, 

 or curious, or beautiful plant or flower behind, when I had 

 an opportunity of taking it with me, with even a chance of 

 getting it alive to the coast. On my way towards the wood- 

 cutter's station at Alamazaotra, I obtained two new kinds of 

 angrsecums, several plants of the curiously-shaped capsule 

 and yellow-flowered Angrcecum crassum, and the Angrcecum 

 citratum ; also a little purple-flowered tuberous plant, much 

 like Amphorch is calcarata. The latter I found as I was passing 

 along the edges of the water-courses oa the mountain sides. 

 But my greatest treasure was a large bulbed plant, of quite 

 a new species; and as it is now growing well, and showing 

 flowers, I hope it may be added to the already rich collections 

 of orchids cultivated in our country. It had a large flower- 

 stalk, a seed-pod the size of an orange, and the natives said 

 the flower was scarlet and purple. I also obtained a new epi- 

 phite, with bulbs and leaves resembling Oncidnwi ampliattnn 

 major, but of a different habit of growth. 



The weather was fine, and the descent from the high cen- 

 tral provinces so much easier than the ascent had been^ that 

 in the afternoon of the 1st of October we halted at Alamazao- 

 tra. I set off' immediately into the forest, searching for plants, 

 and returned at dusk with a few small bulbous orchids, and two 

 small species of lycopodiums. Izaro and one of the bearers 

 were suffering from fever. Our wants for the night — fuel and 

 provisions — were liberally supplied by the officers at the station. 

 By seven the following morning we resumed our journey, and 

 soon entered the forest. The morning was bright, the atmo- 

 sphere clear and bracing. My attention was soon attracted 



