34^ VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 



a double wooden puQip, inftead of a pair of 

 bellows, to give the fire more ftrength ; and 

 in the fpace of an hour the mineral is in a 

 ilate of fufion* The iron produced by this 

 operation is foft and malleable : no better is 

 known in the world* There are, doubtlefs^ 

 other mines in this ifland ; but thofe who wifli 

 to fearch for them muft not be afraid of dif- 

 ficulties and labour* Riches of this kind 

 being inclofed in the bowels of the earth, 

 much digging and tedious exertions are 

 jiecefTary to procure them : be fides, accefs 

 to the mountains of Ambotifmene is im- 

 pradicable, as the illanders fay, to the Eu- 

 ropeans; for their fummits abound with 

 feep rocks and precipices, which prevent 

 them from being approached. The higheft 

 of thefe mountains is about eighteen hun- 

 dred fathoms above the level of the fea. 

 In .its fhape it has a great refemblance to 

 the Table Mount defcribed by every travel- 

 3 * ler 



