THE GREAT NORTH-EAST. 
173 
or the rapid ebb of the tide, which will detain 
the already irate skipper of the still unfilled 
“bullocker” perhaps for another day or two. 
At length, bleeding and panting, the poor beast 
is again secured, and led in triumph to the 
landing-place, whence he is dragged, heartless 
and weary, to the vessels side, up which he is 
lifted more dead than alive, probably only to 
survive the brutal treatment he has received 
during the “ hunt ” a few hours, when his lifeless 
carcass will then be flung overboard, as a feast 
for the crowd of sharks that always follow per- 
severingly in the wake of these vessels, on the 
chance of what they may pick up. 
The bullocks of Vohimare are the finest in the 
island, and are much prized in the markets of 
Mauritius on account of the quality of the beef. 
This superiority of flavour is doubtless due to the 
quantity of rich grass with which the downs and 
valleys in the north-west are clothed. The Saka- 
lava in this neighbourhood have never taken 
kindly to the Hova rule : they take every oppor¬ 
tunity of resisting their authority; and they 
seldom appear at Amboanio, the local seat of the 
central Government, except at the annual festi¬ 
vals, or to exchange or sell rice or other produce. 
The Betsimisaraka of the Vohimare province are 
very clean and neat in their dwellings, which 
compare most favourably in this respect with the 
