304 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAE. 
CHAr. XT. 
had been collected on the broad and ribbed surface of the leaf 
had flowed down a groove or spout on the upper side of the 
stalk into this natural reservoir, whence it supplied nutriment 
to the tree, and refreshment to the traveller or the labourer. 
But in Madagascar, this tree might, with propriety, be 
called the builder’s tree rather than the traveller’s tree. 
Its leaves form the thatch of all the houses on the eastern 
side of the island. The stems of its leaves form the partitions, 
and often sides of the houses; and the hard outside bark is 
stripped from the inner and soft part, and having been beaten 
out flat, is laid for flooring; and I have seen the entire floor 
of a long well built house covered with its bark, each piece 
being at least eighteen inches wide, and twenty or thirty feet 
long. The leaf, when green, is used as a wrapper for packages, 
and keeps out the rain. Large quantities are also sold every 
morning in the markets, as it serves the purpose of table¬ 
cloth, dishes, and plates at meals; and folded into certain 
forms, is used instead of spoons and drinking vessels. 
Leaving the traveller’s trees, we resumed our journey, cross¬ 
ing the water eight times during our morning’s march: and 
ascending and descending as many hilly or mountainous 
ridges, where the path was at times so steep and slippery, as 
greatly to impede our progress, and along which it seemed 
scarcely possible that burdens should be carried. I could 
neither walk up nor down, without the help of one or more of 
the bearers. About eleven we reached Ambatoharanana, where 
we halted for breakfast. My habit was to take two meals a- 
day, but both of the same kind of food. The first about noon, 
the other in the evening. On halting in a village, one of the 
bearers took a small measure of rice, and went amongst the 
cottages to exchange it for a bundle of fuel, which was some¬ 
times rather scarce; as soon as this is obtained, and a fire 
lighted, a quantity of rice was cleaned, by being pounded in a 
wooden mortar, and afterwards winnowed in a fan. It was 
