VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 333 



contains the itineraty of the iflanders, 'who 

 go from Bombetoc to that bay j but no- 

 thing remarkable is to be found in it, except 

 an account of the numerous difHcuitiea 

 which occur in that paflage. If the Male- 

 gaches furmount thefe difficulties, it is 

 merely becaufe they are much nimbler, and 

 more inured to fatigue, than the greater 

 part of the Europeans. The high moun- 

 tains of Vigagora, which muft be traverfed, 

 prefent, at every ftep, obftacles capable of 

 flopping men the mofi accuftomed to brave 

 dangers of every kind. Whoever may be 

 obliged to undertake a journey by this rug- 

 ged way, ought, if he is prudent, to furniih 

 himfclf ^with ropes and poles to climb the 

 fteepeft places. I know by experience how 

 neceflary liich precautions are, for 1 have 

 made ufe of thefe helps more than once 

 when travelling in thofe mountains. When 

 I found myfelf furrounded by rocks, a 



fmall 



« 



