ciiai*. xvi. MEETING WITH FRENCH PRIESTS, ETC. 
441 
of the way, striking a spear into the high, steep loam or clayey 
sides of the path, and causing the loose soil to fall and spread 
like sand or fine gravel over the smooth, slippery path, and 
thus to prevent the feet of the bearers from sliding from under 
them. The rain continued, and the low or level parts of the 
way were overflowed; but we were still able to keep on. I 
admired the skill, address, and care of the hearers, while I 
could not help feeling some anxiety for their safety as well as 
my own. 
When a short space of comparatively level or easy path 
allowed me to look round, I was somewhat tantalised to see 
fi ne patches of novel-looking ferns, or other new kinds of plants, 
some of which I had noticed on my way up, requesting my 
attendants to mark the spots where they grew. And there 
they were looking as fresh and attractive as ever; but I was 
obliged to leave them, with the hope that some future 
traveller might pass through the forest in more favourable 
weather, and secure what I was compelled to relinquish; for 
I had not the heart to ask the men to stop in the heavy rain, 
for the sake of allowing me to obtain what to them would 
seem but a common weed, or a useless bunch of berries. 
After seven hours’ toilsome travelling, we reached a few 
woodcutters’ huts, where we stopped for breakfast. The rain 
still fell heavily; but in little more than an hour we tra¬ 
velled on to a few huts at a place called Irihitra, where we 
halted for the night. 
The next morning was fine, and we started early. About 
ten o’clock, when descending towards Beforana, we met a 
number of travellers on their way up to Imerina; and on 
inquiry I was informed that the principal personage was a 
French doctor, from Reunion or Bourbon, proceeding to the 
capital. He was accompanied by two other foreigners, one of 
whom, I was afterwards told, was a Roman Catholic priest, 
L’Abbe Jouan, superior of the Jesuit college at Reunion, who 
