316 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. CHAP. XII. they had retired, I found my bearers somewhat fatigued and wishing to halt here for a day before penetrating the great forest; and though I was anxious to get beyond the region of fever as soon as possible, yet, as the next day was Sunday, I was glad to arrange that it should be a day of rest. Although my palanquin had been placed near the fire at which my supper was cooked, it was not dry when I retired to rest. I did not, however, apprehend any inconvenience, as it had before been hung up while wet; but I awoke in the night in a state of great heat and pain, in consequence of which, I kept closely in the house during the whole of the following day. The morning of Monday was fine, and being anxious to proceed, we started early. While the bearers were preparing the packages, my attention was attracted by a number of men with spears, who were chasing a large black hog past the village; and on inquiry I was informed that it was a stray hog, probably from the adjacent woods. In some of the villages, and even districts, hogs are prohibited by the go vernment, at the instance of the diviners or idol keepers, who assert that these and other animals are peculiarly obnoxious to the idols, which are to some extent regarded as the tute lary divinities of the place. Whether it was on this account, or merely for the sport, I did not ascertain, but the appear ance of the animal produced great excitement in the village. Wild boars exist in considerable numbers in the forests. According to the descriptions of them given by the natives, they are different animals from the domesticated hog, and are called by a different name; kisoa being the name of the hog, but the wild boar is called lambo. They are said to have tusks or horns growing under the eyes, probably the callous protuberances of the Sus larvatus of Cuvier, which inhabits parts of the adjacent continent of Africa. It would seem as if the wild boar had at former periods existed in considerable