FLORA, FAUNA, AND LANGUAGE. 321 
robe, a very beautiful and creditable domestic 
production, much admired by European ladies; 
and there is also a small spider called foJca , the 
bite of which is fatal. This is the only danger¬ 
ously venomous creature in the whole country. 
Scorpions are found sometimes, and centipedes, 
but nothing in the shape of reptiles of the cobra 
type are known. 
The largest form of the lemur is known as 
the babacoote , or old man, and is found only 
in the densest parts of the forests and glades 
on the road to Xnffirina. He is the object 
of much superstitious regard by the Mala¬ 
gasy, and his grave aspect and sedate manners 
certainly give him a venerable appearance, which 
it is difficult at first to associate with a mere 
denizen of the trackless woods. The creature is 
found reaching 33 inches in height, with a thick 
fur coat and placid demeanour. Some of the 
tribes hold these animals in very high esteem, 
and will often expend large sums in securing the 
freedom of a captive babacoote which may have 
fallen into the hands of a European hunter. 
They also honour them with a careful burial if 
killed. The explanation of this is that a certain 
tribe at war with its neighbours fled for safety 
into the forest. Their enemies, in pursuing 
them, led by the noise of what they took for 
human voices, found before them a troop of 
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