ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR. 
547 
It is impossible accurately to ascertain the population of a 
country divided into so many different tribes. Abbe Rochcr!^ 
in the year 1770^ estimated the population at about four 
millions— Rondaux thinks they are about three millions. If 
these estimates were any thing near the amount upwards 
of forty years ago^ it is supposed that the population is now 
much greater. 
As for the state of arts there^ they work iron_, and make 
various useful articles of it. They manufacture also a strong 
kind of cloth from the second bark of a tree^ which is cer- 
tainly an ingenious device. Mr. Milne sent a few yards of it 
to the Society, from the Mauritius. Of this cioth they 
make a wide garment, resembling our corn sacks, cutting 
two holes at the bottom, through which they pass their feet. 
The women weave very beautiful baskets, or pognas, as they 
call them, from the filaments of the leaf of the raven plant. 
They also sow a great deal of rice, not only for their own 
<^onsumptiou, but as an article of trade. They bring it down 
to the shore in bags, which are wrought either of grass, or 
the inner bark of trees. They abound in wood, which they 
cut down with hatchets, and make houses, canoes, &c. They 
also make pottery articles in a masterly manner. 
It does not however appear that the arts have made much 
progress in Madagascar ; nor indeed could it be expected, 
since the object of all who have hitherto traded with 
them has not been to do them any real good, but only 
to obtain their rice, oxen, and slaves, or to become their 
masters. 
In the southern parts, almost every village stands on an 
eminence, surrounded with a double row of palisades; with- 
in which is a parapet of compressed earth, about four feet 
high ; and large bamboos, driven into the ground, at the 
distance of five feet from each other, form a kind of fortifi- 
cation. The dwelling of the chief is called the Donac, 
which comprises three or four large houses, enclosed by a 
particular fence. Slaves guard the Donac, night and day. 
Horns of the bullocks slain in sacrifices, are sometimes hung 
round the dwellings of the chief. Their towns have not re- 
gular streets ; their houses are built of limber, and covered 
with the leaves of trees. They have neither locks nor bolts : 
they live in a frugal manner. Though they have not gene- 
rally regular hours for their meals, yet it is not uncommon to 
see them dine at ten in the morning, and sup at four in the 
afternoon. Their food consists of excellent white rice, well 
boiled, over which they pour broth of meat, or flesh, season- 
4 A 2 
