A CANOE VOYAGE. 
117 
because it is destined in the near future to take 
the place of Tamatave as the chief seaport of the 
island. 
The only obstacle to this change in its pros¬ 
pects is the shifting sand-bar which exists across 
the mouth of its splendid river; but this, we are 
convinced from personal inspection, could be 
easily removed by the use of the ordinary dredg¬ 
ing appliances available in the present day, and 
the whole stream of commerce would be at once 
diverted from Tamatave to Andevoranto. The 
position of the latter town would shorten the 
journey to Imerina by three days for goods and 
passengers, and this would bring down the total 
cost of freightage and porterage considerably. 
When the present crisis is past, and they have 
time and opportunity to give due attention to 
internal improvements and developments, in all 
probability the pressing question of opening out 
this river to the sea will receive careful considera¬ 
tion from the chiefs of the native Government. 
