438 



VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 



nana ; and in a short time it seemed to watch my movements 

 whenever I came on deck, jumping on my arm or shoulder, if 

 I approached the boat ; but was most deh'ghted when, attaching 

 a long line to the short piece tied round its body, I loosened it 

 from the boat and allowed it to run up the cords or rigging, 

 which it ascended with astonishing ease and speed, sitting 

 sometimes with apparent pleasure on the extremity of the 

 yard. It was scrupulously clean, and seemed unable to 



THE LEMDR 



endure any tar or other dirt on its shaggy coat. One 

 morning, during a heavy gale of wind, when there was 

 much motion in the ship, and great confusion and noise 

 among the sailors, the lemur seemed unusually excited, and 

 repeatedly raised itself up on its hind legs, and dapped its 

 hands together, and chattered loud in a most extraordinary 

 manner, occasioning great uneasiness among our crew of 

 Malagasy sailors, who declared it was an omen of evil to the 

 ship, and that some fearful calamity might be expected. I 



