File:Modern travel, a record of exploration, travel (1921) (14593225819).jpg

Identifier: moderntravelreco00davi (find matches)
Title: Modern travel, a record of exploration, travel
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Davidson, Norman James. (from old catalog)
Subjects: Voyages and travels
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott company London, Seeley, Service & co., ltd.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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y thousandsquare miles, thus exceeding that of France, Belgiumand Holland all put together. It contains an extensiveelevated region occupying about two-thirds of theisland to the east and north ; and as the watershed ismuch nearer the east than the west of the island, almostall the chief rivers flow, not into the Indian Ocean, butinto the Mozambique Channel. A belt of dense forestruns all along the east side of the island, and is continuedwith many breaks along the western side, and scoresof extinct volcanoes are found in several districts of theinterior. Since 1895, when the island was taken overas a colony by the French, the country has been verymuch opened up, and the exclusiveness against theforeigner broken down. So late as the year 1899 thejourney from Tamatave, the chief port, to Antananarivothe capital, took eight days by road, whereas now ittakes but one by rail. When Dr. Sibree, who is still living, first landed somethirty years ago in Madagascar there were no luxuriousM 177
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MADAGASCAR : NATURES MUSEUM 179 liners or Messageries Maritimes; he had to make thepassage from Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, toTamatave by means of a bulloeker. This is a vesselwhich has been condemned for ordinary traffic, but isstill considered good enough to convey from two tothree hundred cattle from Tamatave to Port Louis orReunion. It is hardly necessary to say that a voyageby such means was anything but pleasant. Happilythe passage was a quick one, taking only three days.The harbour of Tamatave is protected by a coral reef,which has openings to the sea both north and south,the latter being the principal entrance ; it is somewhatdifficult of access, and the ribs and framework of wreckedvessels are very frequently seen on the reef. Sometimesmany hours and even days were spent in attempting toenter, but on this occasion the wind had proved un-expectedly favourable, and soon the cable was rattlingthrough the hawse-hole and the vessel swung round ather moorings. At the time

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