192 
MADAGASCAR. 
now being brought to light, only to increase our 
interest in, and admiration for, this vast and at 
present almost unknown island. For, after all, 
to speak of Madagascar as a country with which 
the geographer even is familiar, is surely a serious 
error. Perhaps hardly one-third of the area has 
yet been seen or examined by Europeans. The 
flora and fauna we know, so far, are those only 
of a very small portion of the country, chiefly 
the eastern division; and it was with a delight 
akin to enthusiasm that the tidings reached 
England a year or two ago that at length “ new 
ground ” had been broken, and a fresh departure 
made in the history of Malagasy travel and 
discovery. 
South of Imdrina, and at a considerable dis¬ 
tance from the centre of Hova power, lies the 
town of Fianarantsoa., already spoken of as the 
chief city of the Betsileo people, and the second 
largest town in the kingdom. The aspect of the 
country round the southern capital, as Fianar¬ 
antsoa is usually called, is very attractive. Vast 
and elevated mountain-peaks and lofty hill-tops 
mark the sky-line in every direction, and are the 
distinguishing features in the scenery of the 
province. 
The Betsileo are a homely pastoral race, having 
few large towns, and preferring to live in innu¬ 
merable small villages scattered up and down 
