174 
MADAGASCAR. 
houses of the Sakalava, and even of some of those 
of the Hova officials. They usually erect their 
houses a few feet from the soil,—a plan that is 
generally followed by the Europeans on the coast, 
and which affords some degree of protection from 
the damp and malaria. 
In former days this corner of the island used, 
it is said, to be infested by pirates, who after¬ 
wards settled down amongst the inhabitants; and 
the remains of many foreign tombs in various 
parts of the country, and the existence of traces 
of European names amongst the people, testify to 
the fact that a considerable colony of white 
strangers once existed there. 
Perhaps the most remarkable town in the north¬ 
east of Madagascar is Antomboka. It is the 
stronghold of the Hovas in this locality, and has 
a somewhat eventful history. Like the capital, 
it is built upon a mountain, and thus presents 
a striking appearance when approached from 
the plain by which it is surrounded. A visitor 
to the fortress a few years ago thus describes its 
situation and means of approach :— 
“We then left Antananarivokely, and after 
travelling across a plain, ascended the mountain 
on which Antomboka is built, and entered the 
town. Antomboka, properly speaking, is the 
name of a very small village of ten or twelve 
houses, situated close to the Bay of Diego Suarez; 
