HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
CHAPTER 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 appear¬ 
ance, structure, 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. 
Madagascar, the Great Britain of Africa, and one of the 
largest islands in the world, is situated in the Indian, or 
Eastern Ocean, and is the principal island in the group 
usually designated the Ethiopian Archipelago. It is sepa¬ 
rated from the eastern coast of Africa by the Mozambique 
Channel, which is about 150 leagues across, though the 
nearest point of Madagascar, Cape Manambaho, is not 
more than 90 or 100 leagues from the opposite continent. 
East India ships, especially those bound to Bombay, fre¬ 
quently pass through the channel, and, when in want of 
provisions, usually resort to St. Augustine’s Bay, which is 
on the south-eastern shore of the island, being situated in 
latitude 23° S. and long. 40° E. The distance between the 
i. 
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