134 SAKALA VA. 



of the western side of the island -was reduced to Ead^ma's 

 authority. 



During the reign of his successor, the cruelty of the Hovas 

 caused a portion of the northern Skkalava to place themselves 

 under French protection, and to cede some of their territory 

 to France. The Bourbon Government accordingly took posses- 

 sion of the Island of ISTosibd, and in virtue of their treaty 

 with the Queen of Iboina still lay claim to territory on the 

 mainland. 



For some years past the Sakalava appear to have quietly 

 acquiesced in Hova domination, although once or twice 

 disturbances have occurred. The Hova authority, however, 

 is slight over a great portion of the western coast, except in 

 the neighbourhood of their chief military posts ; and the tribes 

 in the south-west are virtually independent. 



Owing partly to this fact, and also to their country being 

 farther removed than that of other tribes from contact with 

 Europeans, we know very little yet about the S^kal^va, and 

 much of their country is still unexplored. They have less 

 settled habits than most of the other tribes in the island, 

 being more a pastoral than an agricultural people ; and they 

 do not use rice for food to anything like the extent common 

 with the people of the central and eastern portions of Mada- 

 gascar, but live on the manioc and other roots. They are 

 extremely superstitious, and have numerous curious customs 

 and beliefs, as will be found detailed in succeeding chapters. 

 Although, as noticed in the preceding chapter, there has been 

 much Arab and Indian intercourse with the people of the 

 north-west coast, the western tribes generally are the least 

 advanced of almost aU the Malagasy races. They have as yet 

 been hardly touched by European civilisation, nor has educa- 

 tion or Christianity made any progress among them ; but as a 

 mission station has lately been formed at Mojanga, it may be 

 hoped that some advance will soon take place. The Nor- 

 wegian missionaries have also a station in the south-west, at 

 a town called Manja. 



The Sakalava country is much warmer than the central 

 and eastern portions of the island, and it largely consists of 

 extensive plains at only a moderate height above the sea- 



