HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
2G7 
another in an instant defended the entrance, and fought 
so resolutely, that neither the dogs nor we ourselves could 
come near the animals that were within the wood, until we 
had made a passage behind them with our hatchets and 
lances, and then fired upon some of the most resolute who 
had then turned upon us. The rest, perceiving themselves 
attacked from behind, fought their way through the dogs, 
and ran away, with the dogs after them. Words cannot 
describe the noise there was, especially after some of them 
were wounded. 
“ We found seven dead, besides several others so maimed 
that they could not escape. We picked out only one or 
two of the fattest, their flesh being very seldom eaten here; 
and the eating of this kind of food being deemed contempt¬ 
ible, I declined taking the share which might have fallen 
to my lot.” 
The hunting of wild cattle, as well as bull-fighting, bull¬ 
baiting, and cock-fighting, appears to have been a favourite 
amusement in later times, and in other parts of the island 
than those described by Drury. 
In 1824, when Mr. Hastie was in the Sakalava country, 
on the borders of Iboina, with the king and his army, he 
writes in his journal, under date of October 11th of that 
year:— 
“ The store of rice being very low, and the wild cattle 
numerous, Radama was induced to halt for a day, that the 
soldiers might kill and drysalt a stock of beef. Two batal- 
lions were ordered out for this purpose, and went forth in 
four divisions. 
“ Agreeably to the custom of the country, on the first 
herd being seen, the party halted, laid down their arms, 
with the muzzles of the guns and the points of the spears 
turned to the rear, and an aged chieftain implored for 
