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304 • VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. XI. had been collected on the broad and ribbed surface of the leaf had flowed down a groove or spout on the upper side of the stalk into this natural reservoir, whence it supplied nutriment to the tree, and refreshment to the traveller or the labourer. But in Madagascar, this tree might, with propriety, be called the builder’s tree rather than the traveller’s tree. Its leaves form the thatch of all the houses on the eastern side of the island. The stems of its leaves form the partitions, and often sides of the houses; and the hard outside hark is stripped from the inner and soft part, and having been beaten out flat, is laid for flooring; and I have seen the entire floor of a long well built house covered with its bark, each piece being at least eighteen inches wide, and twenty or thirty feet long. The leaf when green, is used as a wrapper for packages, and keeps out the rain. Large quantities are also sold every morning in the markets, as it serves the purpose of table cloth, dishes, and plates at meals; and folded into certain forms, is used instead of spoons, and drinking vessels. Leaving the traveller’s trees, we resumed our journey, cross ing the water eight times during our morning’s march: and ascending and descending as many hilly or mountainous ridges, where the path was at times so steep and slippery, as greatly to impede our progress, and along which it seemed scarcely possible that burdens should be carried. I could neither walk up nor down, without the help of one or more of the hearers. About eleven we reached Ambatoharanana, where we halted for breakfast. My habit was to take two meals a- day, but both of the same kind of food. The first about noon, the other in the evening. On halting in a village, one of the hearers took a small measure of rice, and went amongst the cottages to exchange it for a bundle of fuel, which was some times rather scarce; as soon as this is obtained, and a fire lighted, a quantity of rice was cleaned, by being pounded in a wooden mortar, and afterwards winnowed in a fan. It was