HOVAS—BETSILEO. 125 



government of tlie present benevolent sovereign, E^nav^lona 

 II., and her sagacious and powerful prime minister : educa- 

 tion and civilisation have greatly progressed, and enlightened 

 views on morals, humanity, and religion have, through the 

 teaching of English missionaries, chiefly of the London 

 Missionary Society, made wonderful advances, and are quietly 

 revolutionising society in the central provinces, as will be 

 detailed more fully in a concluding chapter. 



It may be remarked also that the cooler, bracing climate of 

 the country where the Hovas dwell has doubtless exerted 

 considerable influence in making them what they now are. 

 Imerina is the most elevated region of the interior of Mada- 

 gascar, averaging about 4000 feet in height above the sea- 

 level. The soil being generally far less fertile than it is in 

 the warmer coast-plains, more energy and continuous labour 

 are needed to procure the necessaries of life than is the case 

 among most of the other tribes ; and all this has produced 

 a more robust and self-reliant spirit among the Hovas, who 

 have at length become, what was evidently their destined 

 position, the dominant tribe of the island. Now that Chris- 

 tianity is beneficially influencing the political conduct of the 

 Hovas, an extension of their authority over the whole of 

 Madagascar would probably be very beneficial to the country. 



The district which they inhabit is perhaps about eighty 

 miles long from north to south, and about sixty miles from 

 east to west. 



2. The Bdtsileo. — Next to the Hovas should be mentioned 

 the Betsileo, who inhabit the central portion of Madagascar 

 south of Imerina. In industry, skill in agriculture and in 

 manufactures, they are not behind the Hovas; and although 

 conquered by Eadama I., they are a brave and warlike people, 

 the various divisions of the Betsileo being constantly fighting 

 with each other in former times. They are divided into foul 

 principal tribes with numerous subdivisions (see Appendix), 

 and their ancient towns and villages were built on the sum- 

 mits of very lofty hills. Morally, the Betsileo are said to be 

 in advance of the Hovas, although lying and cheating are as 

 rife among them as in other parts of Madagascar. They are 

 extremely quarrelsome and litigious, often spending a great 



