308 
MADAGASCAR. 
out one. The roads are not always well known 
to out-of-the-way places, but if the bearings of 
the point which it is intended to make are care¬ 
fully noted beforehand upon Mr Johnsons map, 
there will be no danger of missing the direct 
route, or wasting time in fruitlessly tracking 
unknown paths—a process which is as exhaust¬ 
ing to one’s strength as it is damaging to one’s 
temper. 
A well-made filanjdna is essential for comfort¬ 
able or even safe travelling in any part of the 
island. This vehicle is very simple in construc¬ 
tion, but extremely useful, and should be made 
in England, as it is very necessary that the iron 
work and the poles should be of the best quality 
and finish. A breakdown in the middle of a 
plain or on a forest journey may involve the 
traveller in a serious difficulty as to locomotion, 
as it is almost fatal to a European to walk 
any distance in this climate. On a long expe¬ 
dition spare poles should be taken, and spare 
bolts as well, as the constant strain upon the 
filanjdna in going up steep mountain - passes, 
or descending the slippery mud-banks of the 
rivers, sooner or later proves too much for the 
Malagasy-made article. The filanjdna is very 
comfortable if made expressly for the rider, and 
is really only a strongly-made ^ooden chair 
fixed upon two poles about six feet long. A rest 
