VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 167 



" weapon are affagays and darts, which they 



** ufc with the utmoft dexterity. It is pre- 



* 



tended^ if they coul^i, according to their 

 ** ardent wiflies, hold any intercourfe with 

 ** the Europeans, and procure from them 

 ** fire-arms and ammunition, they would 

 " ad on the ofFenfive as well as the defen- 

 ** five againft their neighbours, who would 

 " then perhaps think themfelves very happy 

 ** to preferve peace. 



** At the diftance of two or three days 

 " journey from Fort Dauphin, the inhabi- 

 ** tants of that part of the country ftiew ^ 

 *' number of fmall barrows or earthen hil- 

 ** locks, in the form of graves, which, as is 

 " faid, owe their origin to a great maCacrc 

 ** of the Kimos, who were defeated in the 

 " field by their anceftors *. However this 



• I am furprifcd that M. de Commcrfon did not en- 

 deavour to afcertam the truth of this fa6;, by digging 

 \ip flic earth of fome of thcfe barrows. 



M 4 " may 



