The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-17
Our Clio.
From Chambers JOamai.
ANIMAL LIFE IN MADAGASCAR.

The large island of Madagascar has Of
late excited special interest among the
lovers of natural history the richness Of
its soil has been acknowledged, and the
character Of its vegetation and Of its ami
mails classified. During the present cen
tury, Europeans have chiefly visited the
northern part Of the island, and expressed
in glowing language their admiration Of
its shores. The Bay Of Diego-Suarez
which is situated in the most northerly
point Of the island, is spoken of as one OF
the wonders Of the world, and that Of Pas
sandava most enchanting. This, however,
is not fair picture OF the whole; like
other islands, it presents very striking
contrasts A recent traveller, NJ. f.
Blanchard, who has visited certain part'
Of the island, chiefly to explore its mineral
resources, describes in his book (L'Re d,
Madagascar, j. Claye, imprimeur) the
great chain of mountains and the desolate
solitudes to the west Of Imerina, where
there are immense tracks that no one has
trodden. In one part, nature displays her
boundless riches, where the native can live
without working, and ciyilised man pro-
cure the enjoyments Of material life; 10
another, the ungrateful land scarcely
yields any food the rocks are sterile, the
soil is bare, and stream of water 10 rem
der the existence of man or beast possible,
is not to be found.
Climbing with difficulty the high abrupt
downs, the pathway has to be opened
through thorny bushes, and plains stretch
out at the summit not tree or shrub is
to be seen desolate, uninhabitable, and
depressing as the deserts Of Egypt and
Arabia. After long march through the
sand, new scene opens the nopal is now
found growing; sure index to the abode
OF man. These plants, upon which the
cochineal insect chiefly lives, are natives
of America, but have long been naturalised
in Africa and the south Of Europe; the
Arabs no doubt introduced them into
Madagascar. Wherever country is un-
watered by streams, they are an invaluable
resource for the inhabitants Here, every
family possesses its plantations of nopals,
and gathers the fruit in peculiar manner
With the point of their lances, they
adroitly detach them, thus avoiding their
redOubtable thorns and roll them in the
sand, to get rid of the silky covering which
incloses these spikes, afterwards peeling
them with the iron point of the dart
They appease hunger, assuage thirst, and
permit the poor people to live in places
where, for weeks together, water is not
seen.
In these solitudes where the forests are
immense, animal life can multiply without
fear Of man, and yet the fauna of NADIA
gascar offer some singular features. The
traveller can pass along without fear Of
the lions, leopards, and panthers of Asia
and Africa neither do zebras and quaggas
gallop over the plains. In other countries,
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.''s Vi = mass oi ia'-a common feature
~ 'no's peionS'ns 70 'he AFRICAN conti
nen" uoa'S are common' as wen as whd
p'SS' winch ra'age 'he plantations put
.neSe are supposed 10 nave all escaped
rom Vessels ana not 10 DC indigenous to
I
'"e s'anu
ine monNeys oi o.her iands are, now
ever reP'aoeu py 'he iemurs-gracciul ut
nc ue creatures ol many alneren' varieties
ine'e s great resemblance In thef atti-
'aae ana manner o. ilie 70 the ape 50 that
sney nave oeen sty'ed monkeys with the
iOA mull,e' iher agih'y Is marvellous;
h'y ieaP .nrouga 'ne ar 70 great d's-
.ance' se'.iing on q Dranch' which perhaps
penus under tner weight, and dart of
asa'n III 'soia'iohso Oh astonishing rapidity'
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