VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 165 



who have often made attempts for that 

 ** purpofe* Though attacked with fupe- 

 ** rior ftrength and weapons, for they are 

 ** not acquainted with the nfe of gunpowder 

 ** and fire-arms, like their enemies, they 

 ** have always fought with courage, and 

 ** retained liberty amidft their rocks, which, 



as they arc extremely difficult of accefs, 

 " certainly contribute very much to their 

 " fafety. They live there upon rice, va- 

 *' rious kinds of fruits, roots and vegetables, 

 *' and rear a great number of oxen and 

 *' fheep with large tails, which form alfo a 

 ** part of their fubfiftence. They hold no 

 ** communication with the different caftes 

 ** by whom they are furrounded, eitlier for 

 ** the fake of commerce or on any account 

 ** whatever, as they procure all their necef- 

 " faries from the lands which they poiTefs. 

 " As the objed of all the . petty wars, be- 

 ** tween them and the other inhabitants of 

 M 3 the 



