Rev. Mr Coioan on the Natural History of Madagascar. 137 



eastern side of the central provinces we have tlie watershed 

 of the whole island, and a few miles westward a comparatively 

 straight line will give a very fair division of two districts, 

 the eastern and western, possessing characteristic flora and 

 fauna. 



The People. 



As far as I have been able to make out, the inhabitants 

 belong to two very distinct races, which, for want of better 

 terms, I call the Hova and the Betsileo. The Hova occupy 

 the province of Imerina, reaching out into one or two of the 

 other provinces ; the Betsileo the remainder of the island, 

 comprehending all the other tribes, such as the Tanala, the 

 Ibara, the Sakalava, etc. The Hovas are of Malayan descent, 

 who have entered the island at a recent epoch, and have 

 brought with them many customs and words from the 

 Malayan Peninsula. But coming, as they probably did, as 

 bands of marauders, with few women amongst them, they 

 intermarried with the natives on the coast, and naturally 

 adopted, they or their children, a great part of the language 

 and customs of the aborigines. In course of time they were 

 either driven inland by the other tribes, or they sought the 

 higher lands which afforded a healthier climate and richer 

 pasture for their herds of cattle. Here they gradually became 

 consolidated into a rich and powerful tribe, and in course of 

 time, being brought in contact with Europeans from whom 

 they received arms and ammunition, they overcame all the 

 other tribes, and are now the nominal rulers of the island, and 

 recognised as such by European and other Governments. Of 

 late years their advancement has been exceedingly rapid, and 

 much attention is now being given to the education of the 

 people. As a race tliey are active and energetic, kind and 

 hospitable; anxious to adopt the manners and customs of 

 Europeans. The few of them that have come to this country 

 have, notwithstanding their great disadvantages, taken good 

 places in our Universities. Their powers of organisation 

 are considerable, as seen in their Government and its admini- 

 stration, the laws relating to educational and other matters, 

 and in the large standing army and system of police. 



