6 VOYAGE TO M.ADAGASCAR. 



mentis incrcafed when he hears the noife 

 of immenfe cafcades, which are fo inaccefll- 

 ble that it is impoffible for him to approacli 

 them. But thefe fee ties, truly pi£lurefque, 

 are always fucceeded by rural views, de- 

 lightful hills* and plains where vegetation 

 is never interrupted by the feverity and vi- 

 ciCitude of the feaibns. The eye with plea- 

 fure beholds thofe extenfive l ava anas which 

 afford nourifliment to numerous herds of 

 cattle, and flocks of fheep. Fields of rice and 

 potatoes prefent, alfo, a new and highly 

 interefling fpe^tacle. One fees agriculture 

 flourilhing, while nature alone defrays almoft 

 all the expences : the fortunate inhabitants 

 of Madagafcar never moiften the earth with 

 their fweat; they turn it up flightJy with a 

 pick-axe ; and this labour alone is fufficient. 

 They make fmall holes in the ground at a 

 little diftance from each other, and throw 

 into them a few grains of rice^ over which 



they 



