CONQUEST BY THE HOVAS. 
49 
a Hova fort and stronghold. The Hova king 
called an immense assembly (Jcabdry) of Betsi- 
misaraka chiefs and people at the ancient village 
of Ambohibohazo, and a treaty of service was 
entered into, by which the coast people bound 
themselves to act as soldiers and bearers for the 
Hovas, the king undertaking on his part to 
afford them protection from foreigners, and all 
the other privileges enjoyed by his most favoured 
subjects. 
As there are no beasts of burden or roads in 
Madagascar, the whole of the imports have to 
be carried on men’s shoulders over the tract of 
200 miles of forest and mountain which leads to 
the capital. This work is performed by the Bet- 
simisaraka as part of their tribute to the reigning 
power. These people are naturally indolent, self- 
indulgent, and indifferent to their position as a 
subject race. They indulge to a large extent in 
a native drink made from the sugar-cane; and 
this habit tends still further to w T eaken their 
character and to diminish their power for exer¬ 
tion, either mental or physical. The consequence 
is, that they have never made any real effort to 
free themselves from the bonds placed upon them 
by the first great Hova king; indeed they seem 
“ to love to have it so.” Between them and the 
Sakalava on the opposite side of the island, there 
is a remarkable contrast. The Sakalava have 
