358 
Description of a Dwarfish Race in 
Madagascar, called the Kimos. 
From Rochon’s Voyage to Madagas- 
car, 8vo. 
HOSE who are fond of the mar- 
vellous, will receive with plea- 
sure, an account of a race of pig- 
ties. I here speak of those dwarfs 
in the interior parts of the large 
island of Madagascar, who form a 
considerable nation, called, in the 
Madecasse language, Quimos or Ki- 
mos. The distinguishing charac- 
teristics of these small people are, 
that they are whiter, or at least 
paler in colour, than all the negroes 
hitherto known; that their arms 
are so long that they can stretch 
their hands below their knees with- 
out stooping; and that the women 
have scarcely any breasts, except 
when they suckle; and even then, 
we are assured, that the greater 
part of them are obliged to make 
use of cow’s milk, in order to nou- 
tish their young. With regard to 
intellectual faculties, these Kimos 
are not inferior to the other inha- 
bitants of Madagascar, who are 
Known to be very lively and inge- 
mious, though they abandon them- 
selves to the utmost indolence ; but 
we are told that the Kimos, as they 
are much more active, are also much 
more warlike, so that their courage 
being, if we may use the expression, 
in the double ratio of their stature, 
they have never yet been overcome 
by their neighbours, who have often 
made attempts for that purpose. 
Though attacked with superior 
strength and weapons (for they are 
not acquainted with the use of gun- 
powder and fire-arms, like their ene- 
mies) they have always fought with 
courage, and retained liberty amidst 
their rocks, which, as they are ex- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
tremely difficult of access, certainly 
contribute very much to their safety. 
They live there upon rice, various 
kinds of fruits, roots, and vegetables, 
and rear a great number of oxen 
and sheep with large tails, which 
form also a part of their subsistence. 
They hold no communication with 
the different castes by whom they 
are surrounded, either for the sake 
of commerce or on any account 
whatever, as they procure al] their 
necessaries from the lands which they 
possess. As the object of all the 
petty wars between them and the 
other inhabitants of the island, is to 
carry away on either side a few 
cattle or slaves, the diminutive size 
of the Kimos saves them from the 
latter injury. With regard to the 
former, they are so fond of peace, 
that they resolve to endure it to a 
certain degree; that is to say, till 
they see from the tops cf their 
mountains a formidable body ad- 
vancing, with every hostile prepara- 
tion, in the plains below. They 
then carry the superfluity of their 
flocks to the entrance of the defiles, 
where they leave them; and, as 
they say themselves, make a volun- 
tary sacrifice of them to the indi- 
gence of their elder brethren; buat 
at the same time denouncing with 
the severest threats to attack them 
without mercy should they endea- 
-vour to penetrate farther into their 
territories : a proof that it is neither 
from weakness nor cowardice that 
they purchase tranquillity by pre- 
sents. Their weapons are assagays 
and darts, which they use with the 
utmost dexterity. It is pretended, 
if they could, according to their 
ardent wishes, hold any intercourse 
with the Europeans, and procure 
from them fire-arms and amoiuni- 
tion, they would act on the offensive 
as 
