CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
CHAP. I. 
Geographical situation of Madagascar — Period of discovery — Extent—. 
Earliest visitors—-Names by which the island is designated by the 
natives—Import of native names—Description of the island by early 
visitors—Geological features of Madagascar—Minerals: copper, silver, 
iron, rock-salt, nitre, plumbago—General appearance of the country— 
Elevation of the principal mountains—Account of the appearance, struc¬ 
ture, and peculiarities of the Ankaratra range of mountains—Number, 
situation, appearance, and extent of the lakes, rivers, springs, mineral 
waters—Description of the saline springs at Mandrovy, and the adjacent 
scenery in the Betsileo country. 1 
CHAP. II. 
Climate of Madagascar—Fluctuations in the temperature of the atmosphere— 
Insalubrity of the greater part of the sea-coast—Healthiness of the interior 
—The Malagasy year—Periodical rains—Number and names of the 
, months—-The seasons of the Malagasy year; import of their designations 
—Thunder and lightning — Water-spouts — Whirlwinds — Meteors — 
Variety and fertility of the soil—Productions—Forests—Trees and 
plants, indigenous and exotic—Honey and gums—Birds, native and 
foreign—Fable of the birds choosing a king—Wild and tame quadrupeds 
—Fishes : efforts to obtain a supply for the capital—Amphibious animals 
—Account of the crocodiles ; peculiar habits of the animal—Sagacity of 
the dog—Fable of the serpent, the crocodile, and the dog—Superstition 
of the natives respecting the crocodile—Insects and reptiles.27 
CHAP. III. 
Provinces of Madagascar: their number, designations, import of the names 
of the twenty-two provinces of the island; their boundaries, extent, and 
peculiarities—Early French settlements in Madagascar—Isle of St. Mary’s 
—Character and history of its former inhabitants —The suppression of 
piracy carried on from the island—Foule Point—Port and town of Tama- 
tave—The importance of the commerce of the island—The country of 
the Betanimena—Culture of the mulberry; introduction of silkworms— 
Brigands: nature of their retreats in the forests and caverns of the 
interior—Peculiar insalubrity of the southern coast—Fertility and scenery 
of the celebrated vale of Ambolo—Fort Dauphin—Country in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of St. Angustine bay—Extent and peculiarities of the chief 
subdivisions—The Betsileo country—Provinces of the Sakalavas—The 
lake Imania—Barbarity of the inhabitants of Ambongo—The lake Anosy 
—Natural beauty of the province of Ankay; superstition of its inhabit¬ 
ants—The river Mangoro.61 
