MADAGASCAR 
156 
strata are greatly inclined. There are also tertiary lime 
deposits, and in the coast region I was able to observe 
recent shell-breccia and coral formations, but only of small 
extent. The island is well watered, being full of streamlets; 
among rivers only the Djabal and the Andriana are 
worthy of mention. 
The climate is considered hot; according to the state¬ 
ment of Dr. Voltzkow, the minimum temperature from 
June to December was 70° F. and the maximum 80° F. 
Plant life is of quite tropical luxuriance. The mango- 
trees and lebbek-acacias form picturesque groups in the 
neighbourhood'of human dwellings; cocoa palms flourish 
excellently, the ravenala spreads its giant fans in the 
forest, and the crater lakes are fringed with raphia palms. 
Mangrove trees form their dense groves in the bays. 
The animal world is almost as rich as in Madagascar. 
Honey suckers chirp round the forest trees; the long¬ 
tailed fly-catcher [Terpsipho 7 ie iiudata) finds its home in 
ereat numbers in Nossi-Cumba. When I saw it. Lake 
Djabal was alive with rails, waterhens and bee-eaters. 
Among mammals a black maki {Lemur iiiger) is com¬ 
mon in the forest of Lokube; in the twilight the fruit- 
trees swarm with flying foxes [Pteropi^s Edivaj^dsii) which 
resale themselves on the soft fruits. 
The population of Nossi-Be has suffered great dimi¬ 
nution of late years. In the fifties it amounted to 15,000 
inhabitants, in the eighties it was about 9000, and at 
present it would be even somewhat less. 
The PZuropean element consists of officials, and of 
French Creoles who carry on trade and possess planta¬ 
tions. As the seat of Government was removed to 
Diego Suarez in 1886 the number of Europeans has of 
course diminished. 
The mass of the inhabitants consist of Sakalava, who 
have immigrated from the west coast of Madagascar; 
then there are African negroes who carry on the labour 
