176 PALANQUIN BEARERS. 



men, the extra two relieving the others every few minutes ; 

 but if out for a longer time, or for a day's journey, eight 

 men are employed, so as to have a double set, who relieve 

 each other at frequent intervals. This they do without 

 stopping, the " leaders " running under the poles, and taking 

 them from their companions while going at full speed. 



From six to seven hours is an ordinary day's journey, 

 although the bearers will frequently go eight or nine hours 

 without much apparent inconvenience ; and a good set of 

 men will continue at such work pretty nearly every day 

 throughout a journey which may take two or three or four 

 months. The pay for each man is about 6d. a day, with 2d. 

 for food ; but although this seems small for each bearer, one 

 is obliged to take so many men in addition to carry necessary 

 articles that one cannot undertake a long journey without at 

 least eight to a dozen men in addition to the personal bearers. 

 There are no hotels in Madagascar, and so bed and bedding 

 must be taken ; in many parts of the country there are no 

 inhabitants, so a tent must be carried; and although rice 

 and fowls are generally to be obtained everywhere, yet tea 

 and coffee, bread and flour, preserved meats, and other pro- 

 visions are a very desirable addition to the produce of the 

 country. And of course, in addition to all these, plates and 

 dishes and cooking apparatus, necessary change of clothes, 

 books for distribution, &c, all help to swell the list of articles 

 to be carried about with one on a journey of any extent. 

 The bearers of luggage have no change with others. Light 

 packages are borne by a man on a pole, the weight at each 

 end balancing the other; while boxes and heavier articles 

 are borne by two men, or more, according to their bulk and 

 weight. 



And so, with a company of a score of men, more or less, 

 long journeys of several weeks in duration are continually 

 being made ; and, as a rule, these Malagasy bearers are good 

 tempered and willing, easily managed by a little tact and 

 kindness, and made happy after any extraordinary exertion 

 by a gift of some beef, over which they make merry as they 

 surround their cooking fires in the evening, and soon forget 

 the toils of the day's march in feasting and jollity. The 



