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chap. xi. FORMALITIES ON HALTING AT A VILLAGE. 291 frequently met with the astrapsea afterwards, but always growing near the water, and its branches frequently stretching over the lake or river. After reaching the landing place, we passed about a mile over stiff wet clay, and had to cross a piece of water so deep, that Sodra was obliged to place me across his shoulders, in order to keep me dry. We then walked along a path ankle- deep in mud, until, a little after ten o’clock, when we reached Ambohibohazo, another considerable village, formerly go verned by its own independent chief, whose power was supreme over the lives and property of the people. On reaching a halting place, especially if towards the evening, the head man of the village soon learned from some of the officers of our party the general objects of my journey, and shortly afterwards came with a present of rice and fowls, or other kind of provision, for my refreshment. The quantity brought seemed to bear some proportion to the size and importance of the place; and when the rice and fowls, &c., were laid on the floor, the chiefs who brought them gene rally apologised for the smallness of the present, but desired thus to express their loyalty to their rulers, and their good will towards the friend of the queen, and the prince, who had come to their village. I then, in a few words, expressed my sense of their kindness, hut the Hova officers replied at much greater length, and the speaking at times was quite a formal and protracted affair on both sides. It seemed to be a kind of acknowledgment of the high descent of official sacredness, and supreme authority of the reigning family, as well as a declaration of fidelity and attachment on the part of the chiefs of the place, with a recognition and acceptance of the same on behalf of the sovereign and her son by the Hova officers. No return on my part for these presents would have been allowed by the officers, but I was always glad, on departing in the morning, to give a piece of cotton cloth, or u 2