COMMERCE AND MODES OE COMMUNICATION 137 
not prefer to lay the legs on the poles or let them 
dangle freely. I saw Hova ladies of rank use a fil- 
ansana that was somewhat different from this. The 
bearing poles consisted of bamboo cane; a basket of 
bamboo wickerwork, tolerably broad, but not very deep, 
and without a support for the back, replaced the chair. 
This basket, especially when lined with a soft covering, 
may give less fatigue on a journey of any length than 
Travelling in a Filansana. 
the narrow carrying-chair in which one can scarcely 
move. Four bearers take the ends of the poles on their 
shoulders and trot off in step. If one is going a country 
journey of any distance eight good bearers must be 
taken, who relieve one another at regular intervals. 
The substitutes slip under the poles with great dexterity 
in order to transfer them, and there is not the least jolt 
or interruption. For baggage again, special bearers must 
