296 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. XI. 
found tlie traveller’s tree intermingled with the rofia palm; 
but the former was now most abundant, and from its numbers, 
size, and healthy growth, imparted, by its own striking and 
singular structure, and its masses of broad foliage, a peculiar 
character to the landscape. Sometimes, for miles together, 
it was the chief, if not the only, species of tree that was seen. 
After descending from the village where we had halted, we 
came to a river of the same name, about forty yards wide, 
and so deep that the bearers were up to their waists, and 
were obliged to raise the poles of my palanquin from their 
shoulders to the top of their heads, to keep me above the 
water, while the relay of bearers walked in front and by the 
sides, shouting, and beating the water with branches and 
poles. The river, they said, was infested with crocodiles, and 
within a short time before we passed six persons had been 
destroyed by them, while crossing at the same place. 
Crocodiles were said to be in all the rivers and lakes we had 
passed since leaving the neighbourhood of the sea, where the 
water is brackish, and where they are never seen. In the 
region over which we had passed they are about fifteen feet 
long, but in other parts are much larger. It is said that 
they may at times be seen chasing the fish in the lakes, and 
often watching for prey among the reeds and other kinds of 
shelter near the margin of the water. The crocodiles feed 
chiefly on fish, but will seize and devour bullocks, dogs, or 
any other animal quietly approaching or entering the water. 
In some parts of the island they were said to be so ferocious 
as to attack and upset canoes, and then prey upon the hapless 
voyagers they contained. The crocodiles deposit their eggs 
in the sand on the shore, and prey upon any animal they may 
find on the land. The late Mr. Hastie, when once sleeping near 
a river, was awoke by the piteous whine of a favourite dog, 
which always slept at the door of his tent, and rushing out, 
saw a crocodile dive into the water with his poor dog in its 
