THE ARAB IMMIGRATION INTO SOUTH-EAST MADAGASCAR. 341 
doubtless through fear, the Onjatsy not only would not 
agree, but in order to frighten them from the district, told 
them that, among other dangers that awaited them, there 
was a monster which lived in the river Matitanana, a man- 
eating creature, that would eventually destroy them all. In 
no way disconcerted, the Talaotra, the new-comers, got a 
bullock and poisoned it—filling it with poison, the account 
says—and then threw it into the river. ‘The creature ate 
the carcase and died, the new-comers gaining thereby 
security for themselves and a certain respect from the 
Onjatsy, who admired their cleverness, and acknowledged 
their superior skill and learning, as shown by their possession 
of some powerful drug or charm unknown to themselves. 
Irdtra, a spot about three miles from the mouth of the 
Matitanana, on the north bank of the river, was the first settle- 
ment of these people; and there councils were held with a 
view to the future disposal of the families. It was agreed 
that the king should live at a place now occupied by the 
town of Ivato, in a central position in relation to the other 
families; the Anakara were to pass to the west, and the 
Taitsimaito to remain on the east. ‘‘ For,” said they, “ the 
Anakara are so much given to cursing and quarrelling, that 
we cannot have them on the east of the king; so let them 
go away to the west, to be easily seen, being between us 
andthe sun.” Notwithstanding this division, Andriamarohala 
never lived at Ivato, but made his home at Amboabé, when 
he and his family removed from Irotra. There he lived and 
died, and is buried in the wood, a little to the south of 
Mr. Desjardin’s tradin g-post. 
Such is the generally accepted account of the immigration 
of the Talaotra. It doubtless contains a modicum of truth, 
but around a central fact is woven such a mass of im- 
probability, that its value as authentic history is very much 
lessened. Beside which, it only accounts for one or two 
branches of the tribe; and the narrative admits the presence 
of the Onjatsy, from whom wives were sought for by the 
immigrants ; and the Onjatsy are not only cqually allied with 
the Talaotra, Anakara, and 'l'aitsimaito to the Arabs, but have 
the honour of being the custodians of one of the only two 
remaining original copies of their sacred book. Hence it is 
difficult to say whether the immigration spoken of is really 
the original immigration of the Arab race, or only that of a 
part, a former company having landed and settled in the 
same part of the country. Onjatsy is also the name of a 
