FXORA AND FAUNA 
35 
for almost every part of it finds a use; the tough ribs 
of the leaves serve for the construction of the huts, the 
fibres, over 3 feet long, form the material for the 
durable palm-cloth, the raphia straw serves for stuffing 
pillows, the pulp of the fruit is a seasoning for rice, and 
is said to be a protection against fever; the orange- 
coloured pith is cut out to make an agreeable vegetable, 
and sometimes this palm cabbage of Madagascar {chou 
palmiste) finds its way to the markets of Marseilles and 
Paris. 
As we approach the forest of the mountain region, 
bamboos present themselves, first one at a time, then in 
ever increasing numbers, in many places even forming 
a somewhat broad belt difficult to penetrate. These 
gigantic grasses, with stems 18 to 20 ft. high, are put to 
many uses in the domestic economy of the Malagasy. 
From the twigs the young people plait cages for the birds 
they catch, and baskets for carrying poultry to market. 
The yellow stems are worked into water-vessels, grease- 
boxes, drinking-cups and tobacco-pouches, and even 
furnish spoons for rice tasting. The bamboo stems also 
serve for carrying goods, for rafters in house building, 
for enclosing court-yards, for the construction of fences 
at watering-places, and the like. 
Lastly, it is with the help of the bamboo that the 
Malagasy expresses his nobler emotions in joy and 
sorrow, for it is from this that he makes the curious 
bamboo guitar or valiha. This he prepares by cutting 
with his knife fifteen to twenty strings from the tough 
outer surface of the bamboo, between two internodes of 
a large cane, and then stretching them tight. 
We now proceed to the terrace-like mountain country, 
rising ever higher and higher, as the dark masses 
of the primeval forest begin to present themselves. 
The belt of forest is double on the east side, but 
the two strips run together in the north, so that the 
