328 ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
above sea-level. This range consists of five or six principal peaks, 
need like a cross, and in the clear atmosphere which prevails 
west, and on the south it occupies a wide continuous area. 
river that runs down from the capital in a north-western direction, 
the Betsiboka, is 800 miles long. It can be ascended by steamers 
of light draught for nearly 100 miles; boats can sail up for 60 
miles more; and from the point where navigation terminates the 
merchandise has to be carried 85 miles by road up a steep slope to 
Antananarivo. In some places ranges of hill, which run north 
and south, diversify the surface of this low country. A belt of 
1 
o the shore. On the east side of the island this belt splits into 
two, and its upper half runs along the edge of the mountains; on 
the west side of the island the belt of forest runs through a level 
country. This belt of primeval forest is substantially continuous 
extent of country so little interfered with, or where man has done 
less to modify the natural distribution of the animals and plants. 
