26 ROCK FORTRESS. 



some of the chief rivers fall. All this part of the coast is 

 bold and mountainous ; and some of the finest scenery in 

 Madagascar is to be found here, as the northern extremity 

 of the volcanic region forms several very grand mountains, 

 particularly the one called Amber or Ambdhitra. This is said 

 to be about 6000 feet high, and, from its isolated position in 

 the low country surrounding it, is a remarkably majestic hill 

 as seen from every direction, as well as from far out to sea.""" 

 It has three summits, and its sides are clothed with impene- 

 trable woods. 



South-west of this mountain is a remarkable rock fortress 

 of the tribe inhabiting this part of the country, who are 

 called Antankarana, that is, " the people of the rocks." It is 

 an enormous lofty and precipitous rock, having an eleva- 

 tion of nearly 1000 feet, and covering an area of about 

 eight square miles. Its sides are so precipitous that they 

 cannot be climbed unless artificial means are used, and it is 

 thickly wooded wherever trees can possibly grow. The only 

 entrance into the interior of the rock, which is full of caves, 

 is by means of a subterranean passage, a portion of which is 

 extremely narrow, allowing only a single person to pass along 

 it at a time, and has on each side of it deep water. 



The other principal group of mountains in Madagascar is 

 the great mass of elevated peaks called Ankaratra, in the 

 central province. This has hardly the grand appearance of 

 Mount Amber (although it considerably exceeds the latter in 

 absolute height), since it rises from the elevated region of 

 Imerina, which is at the capital about 4000 feet above the 

 sea-level. Ankaratra is, nevertheless, a noble group of hills, 

 and is the most conspicuous feature of the landscape over 

 a considerable portion of the central regions of the island. 

 There are five or six principal peaks, and these are in two 

 ranges, lying in the form of a cross. They vary from 8000 

 to 9000 feet in height, the most lofty one, a peak called 

 Tsiafajavona (" that which the mists cannot climb "), beino- 

 8950 feet above the sea-level, and so is the highest point 

 in the whole country. 



* According to a French engineer's estimate, it considerably exceeds tho 

 above-given altitude, being — so he says — 2700 metres hi"-h. 



