BEZANOZANO. 129 



very superstitious and addicted to cliarms and ordeals, but 

 they are also most hospitable. Education and Christianity 

 are making some way among lovana's people, and even in 

 unconquered Ikongo teachers have lately been allowed by 

 the Tanala king to settle among his subjects. The Tanala 

 people are probably closely allied with the neighbouring 

 Betsileo and the coast tribes east of them. 



5 . Th& Tankdy or Bezdnozdno. — If we follow on the map 

 the line of eastern forest and trace it northwards, we find 

 that it divides into two, leaving a long narrow valley 

 between the separated belts of wood. This open space is 

 known as Ankay (from hay, a clearing), and the inhabitants 

 are variously known as Tankay (or Tak5,y) and Bezanozano 

 (probably from zdnozdno, small trees, brushwood). The 

 climate of their territory is hot and unhealthy, as it is 

 enclosed by dense forest on each side, but the soil is very 

 fertile. A considerable number of the men of this tribe act 

 as bearers of goods from the coast to the interior, being 

 extremely hardy and capable of enduring continuous labour. 

 This work is chiefly carried on in the cooler season of the 

 year. In many of their customs, and in their dexterity in 

 weaving rushes and grass for mats, a material which is also 

 used for clothing, the Tankay resemble the forest and east- 

 coast tribes. They are very hospitable, a trait of character 

 which seems common to all the peo]3les on this side of the 

 island, as well as to the Hovas and Betsileo. In their mar- 

 riage and funeral customs, dialect, and other particulars, the 

 Tankay have many points of similarity with their Sihanaka 

 neighbours farther north. They are darker in colour than 

 the Hovas or the Betsimisaraka, but more robust and strong 

 in body. A very full and interesting monograph on this 

 tribe and their country is given by the Eev. P. G. Peake in 

 No. iv. of the Antananarivo Annual, pp. 31-43. 



6. The Sihdnalca. — Proceeding farther northward, still 

 between the two lines of forest, we come to the country of 

 the Sihanaka tribe, or "lake people," as their name implies, 

 the largest lake in Madagascar, the Alaotra, being in the 

 district, and in former times was probably much larger than 

 at present. About two-fifths of Antsihanaka is marsh, while 



I 



