RECENT RESULTS. ai 



also piiblislied a very minute and complete map of the south- 

 western portions of the central province. 



In the year 1877 a journey was made by Eev. J. Eichard- 

 son from the Betsileo province to St. Augustine's Bay on the 

 south-west coast, across new ground, and thus much light 

 has been thrown upon the northern portion of that extensive 

 tract of Southern Madagascar, which is still largely an un- 

 known region. 



The results of all these recent additions to our knowledge 

 of the geography of Madagascar have been embodied in a 

 very fine general map prepared by Dr. Mullens and published 

 in May last. This is the largest map of the island yet con- 

 structed, being on the same scale as those of the central 

 provinces and Southern Madagascar. These are included in 

 it without much alteration, but three or four other routes are 

 also laid down, Grandidier's sketch-map forming the authority 

 for other parts of the country. 



There is still, however, much to be done in all directions 

 before we can be said to have a tolerably complete general 

 map of the island, while of course there is ample room for 

 hundreds of more detailed maps of special portions of the 

 country. An island nearly a thousand miles long and three 

 hundred and fifty at its greatest breadth gives " ample space 

 and verge " for map-making. Still, so far, every journey 

 lately made appears to confirm the general truth of M. Gran- 

 didier's sketch-map as to the broad outlines of the elevated 

 mountainous and granitic recjion in the northern and eastern 

 central portion of the island ; but we still need much infor- 

 mation as to the contour of this in various directions, and the 

 steps by which it rises from the plains on all sides. 



From the usually brilliantly clear a;id pure atmosphere, 

 and the large number of prominent and lofty hills all over 

 the central regions of the island, ]\iadagascar offers especial 

 facilities for map-making, as some well-known points can 

 almost always be seen, from which to get good bearings. 

 What is most wanted is that a few more of these be exactly 

 fixed by astronomical observations. 



