292 
MADAGASCAR. 
about household furniture, I would say, take out 
as few and as good articles as you can. Iron 
bedsteads are best, as they are difficult to get in 
the capital. Oetzmann & Co. supplied those we 
took; and we disposed of them when we left the 
island, after six years’ use, at the price we origi¬ 
nally gave for them in London. I have not 
mentioned the matter of firearms and ammuni¬ 
tion, as on these points I scarcely consider myself 
entitled to say much. I never carried an offen¬ 
sive weapon of any kind for protection, even in 
my most isolated journeys, neither did I ever 
feel the need of any. Occasional sport, however, 
may be had along the road, and for this purpose 
a good gun will not be out of place. The forests 
abound in some districts in game of various 
kinds ; but I never approved of shooting either 
birds or animals for sheer love of “ killing some¬ 
thing.” I fear this characteristic love of sport is 
far too strong at present to encourage a hope that 
we shall soon cease to be known as the somewhat 
reckless wasters of life in foreign lands. I am 
somewhat of opinion that life in any form is 
sacred, and that it is for man to protect rather 
than destroy it, even in its minutest form, 
wherever he may find it. This may be said, I 
think, entirely without entering upon the wide 
field of controversy as to the animal kingdom 
being provided to afford food for man, or other 
