CONQUEST BY THE HOVAS. 
47 
forefathers of the tribes already referred to. These, 
however, the invaders (who probably in the first 
place landed through stress of weather) found in 
a weak and defenceless condition, given solely 
to pastoral pursuits, and armed with sharpened 
sticks, their only weapon of defence. Against 
these the Hovas used the spear with its iron 
head, which they had sufficient knowledge to 
fashion out of the metal which is found close to 
the surface in the central parts of Madagascar. 
This, at that time, formidable weapon, combined 
with their natural hardihood and intelligence, 
soon placed the districts through which they 
passed in their hands. They appear to have gone 
up towards Imdrina, where they gradually estab¬ 
lished themselves, and became the sovereign 
power under Andrlan-impoin-Imerina (the prince 
of the heart of Im^rina), 1790. There are still to 
be seen around the capital and in the neighbour¬ 
hood of the sacred towns some curious and mas¬ 
sive tombs, which are described as the burial- 
places of the Yazimba, who were supposed to 
have been the chiefs of the original inhabitants, 
who were overcome and brought into subjection 
by the Hovas. Cruel and degrading as were the 
practices and ideas of these people till the open¬ 
ing out of the island to European influence and 
teaching in 1818, they were still far in advance 
of the other island tribes by which they were 
