194 
MADAGASCAR. 
only really exercises undisputed authority over 
one-tenth of the soil, the remainder being quite 
independent of her rule. But if the people are 
eventually to hold their own, and to retain pos¬ 
session of the homes of their ancestors, nothing 
will avail but consolidation, a total cessation of 
internecine strife, and a concentration of all their 
powers for the protection of the coast-line, and 
the development of their internal resources. 
The Betsileo are decidedly of African origin, 
as is shown by their language, customs, and out¬ 
ward appearance. It has been thought by some, 
whose knowledge of the subject is evidently 
superficial, that the Hovas and the other tribes 
were identical in origin. But the Betsileo are 
clearly as distinct from the people of Imerina, as 
are the Hindoos from the inhabitants of China 
or Japan,—and no satisfactory account can be 
obtained of the origin of the Malagasy, unless 
consideration for the character of the Betsileo as 
well as that of the Hova enters into the inquiry. 
But it is rather of the TanAla country, perhaps, 
that we have most to say in this chapter on 
“ new ground.” The meaning of the word de¬ 
scribes fairly well the general appearance of the 
country, which lies between 47° 30' and 48° 30' 
E. long., and between 20° 15' and 22° 30' S. lat.; 
and is almost entirely covered with a vast forest 
which stretches out towards the east in irregular 
