25 
The harvest is got in at different times, according 
as the several kinds of grain ripen. In June the bar¬ 
ley arrives at perfection, when it is cut and tied in 
sheaves, which are carried by the natives on their 
heads to the vicinity of their dwellings. The rice 
ripens according to the time it is planted, for they 
have it at the same period green, in flower, and ripe: 
this is generally cut singly, or stalk by stalk, and har¬ 
vested with great care. The rice barns are built at a 
little distance from their dwellings, and are elevated 
on strong wooden pillars to preserve them from the 
rats and other vermin. Many of the Madagascar 
farmers are very rich both in cattle and grain; some, 
in the northern part of the island, know not the num¬ 
ber of their oxen by two or three thousand. There 
is no regular appropriation of the land; any piece of 
ground that is clear, is free to the use of the person 
who chooses to cultivate it, upon paying a small quit- 
rent to the chief of the district, who is considered as 
the only rightful lord of the soil: and if the first 
occupier quits it, any other person may immediately 
take possession of it; but no one must infringe upon 
his neighbour’s occupation. The principal enemies 
the farmers have to contend with (next to their own 
species ), are the wild boars : these come from the 
woods in droves, both by night and day; and, if not 
well watched, make terrible havoc amongst the yams 
and potatoes. It falls to the lot of the poor negro 
slaves to keep these sturdy marauders off, and the 
task is attended with no little difficulty: they have 
