■A 



African Mauds.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 47 



about 20° S., where vessels lay sheltered within a reef extending to the N. 

 It is rather confined for large ships. 



Trade. — The natives manufacture mats, stuffs from the fibres of a 

 plant, and cotton articles ; and rice is exported from hence to Mauritius 

 and Bourbon. 



Provisions and Refreshments.— Much cattle and poultry are reared 

 in this pail of the island. It should not be resorted to for refreshment, 

 except in summer, or from necessity. 



TAMATAVE, in latitude about IS 3 12' S., is a village on a low 

 point of land, with an anchorage within coral reefs. To the S. and 

 N. N. E. are also reefs ; the latter in latitude 18° T S. 



FOUL POINT.— The anchorage is formed by a large reef, extending 

 about 3 miles N. N. E. A large village, named Mahaveti, opposite the an- 

 chorage, in latitude 17° 41 S., longitude 4iT 36 E., is the residence of the 

 King, and the French have a settlement there. The harbour is full of 

 shoals. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Plenty of large fat bullocks, poul- 

 try? vegetables, and fruits, are procured for muskets, knives, buttons, &c. 

 To the S. of the village is a small river, with a bar, where fresh water may 

 be had. 



St. MARY'S ISLAND, or NOSSI IBRAHIM, about 40 miles N. N. E. 

 from Foul Point, extends from latitude 17 6 S., to 16° 37 , in a direction 

 N. E. by N. On the W. side is a bay, with an island, called Quail's Island, 

 at the entrance, where small vessels may shelter. The stormy months are 

 January, February, and March. 



ANTONGIL BAY, or MANGHABES— The entrance, from the 

 N. end of St. Mary's Island, is distant about 10 leagues N. It is about 14 

 leagues long from N. to S., and 8 broad between Cape Bollones and Point 

 Baldrick. At the bottom are some islets ; the chief, Marotte, is about a 

 mile in extent, and an equal distance from the shore, in latitude 15° 25' S. 

 The common anchorage is to the N. of Marotte, musket-shot distance, oppo- 

 site two small sandy coves, in 11 or 12 fathoms. The river bears N. N. W. 

 from Marotte, navigable by boats. The anchorage off this river is called 

 Port Choiseul. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Rice, bullocks, &c. are procured, 

 and wood and water very easily. Tents may be erected safer than on the 

 main, where you may trade for provisions. 



Madagascar produces few articles of commerce. A kind of spice has 

 been brought from hence, called 



Ravensara, the fruit of the Agathophyilum a large bushy tree ; 

 the leaves aromatic ; a reddish odorous bark ; the wood hard, heavy, and 



