104 
MADAGASCAR. 
will give them a splendid and substantial pres¬ 
ent, over and above the usual fare, when they 
arrive at their destination. Of course all this 
is lost upon the passenger who may be unac¬ 
quainted with the vernacular ; but to those who 
understand the language, these sly hints or more 
open suggestions as to the ubiquitous backsheesh 
are as amusing as they are clever. 
The waters abound in crocodiles, and it is 
no rare thing to see the brown-crested log¬ 
like head of one of these “ fathers of the waters ” 
following the canoe for miles along its course. 
They may frequently be seen also lying on the 
banks in the full blaze of the sun, with their off¬ 
spring, in a deep sleep, which the maromita dis¬ 
turb by uproarious shouts, and cries of contempt 
and derision, which disturb the monsters, and 
cause them to slide quickly down into the depths 
beneath. The Betsimisaraka have a great horror 
of these reptiles, and propitiate them sometimes 
by addressing them in terms of friendship and 
endearment, which reminds one very much of 
the alligator-worship of the Ganges. At a cer¬ 
tain spot in the river, which is the known haunt 
of one of these brutes, large pieces of beef are 
thrown in daily for food, and occasionally a 
goose or fowls are also offered to satisfy the 
voracious appetite of the horrible monster. The 
people have a very ingenious way of securing 
