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152 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR CHAP. VI. tainly not her thimble. I believe these delicate articles are manufactured only by the women of the Hovas, or other tribes occupying the centre of the island. Besides the mats and baskets, many persons are employed in the manufacture of hats, for use amongst the natives, for sale to the ships’ crews, or for exportation. One kind is made of grass, resembling in appearance our fine English straw, though less durable; others are made of different species of rushes, sometimes as fine, and very much resembling Leghorn. They are well shaped and durable, and exceedingly valuable for the comfortable shade they afford. All these articles, though sometimes brought for sale by the men, were manufactured by the women; the rofia cloth and the coarser kinds of mats by the slaves. A man and his wife resided in the same compound or enclosure with me, though they did not belong to the owner of the house, but to different masters. I observed that the woman was chiefly employed in the gathering and drying of rushes, and in the manufac turing of large mats or bags for rice, both of which were sold for the benefit of her master. I was sometimes amused with the perseverance manifested by the venders of different kinds of goods, who continued to come time after time, notwithstanding the most explicit de claration that none of their articles were needed. One man, who had brought poultry and fish, and then matting and baskets, but without success, most importunately demanded what I did want. I told him that, if during his journeys in the forests, he should meet with any plants or flowers such as I showed him drawings of, I would buy them of him, provided they were of the right sorts. He seemed quite delighted, and said he would bring some, offering at the same time to be come my aide-de-camp, and to carry out my wishes in regard to anything I might desire to obtain. I begged to decline his proposal for this permanent appointment, but assured