6 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
country, especially in the Betsileo province, indications of 
volcanic action frequently occur, and are strongly marked. 
Many of the rocks, for several miles together, are com¬ 
posed of homogeneous earthy lava; scoria and pumice are 
also occasionally discovered, and some of the lavas abound 
with finely-formed crystals of olivine. 
Besides the primitive and transition formations, and the 
rocks of volcanic origin, there are large beds of clay, and 
extensive tracts of soil composed of ferruginous earth and 
disintegrated lava, rich alluvial deposits, and vegetable mould. 
Some of the geological specimens brought home to this 
country are evidently carbonaceous, and would favour the 
expectation that there are coal formations in some parts of 
the 'island. Limestone has not yet been discovered in the 
eastern part of Madagascar; but coral is abundant on the 
coast, and furnishes the inhabitants with excellent lime. 
Our acquaintance with the minerals of Madagascar, 
though exceedingly limited and partial, is, as far as it 
extends, highly satisfactory. If the diamond, and other 
costly gems, have not yet been discovered in its mines, and if 
its bowels have not yielded the precious metal by which the 
new world inflamed the avarice of the inhabitants of the 
old, and doomed its own unoffending and aboriginal occu¬ 
pants, first, to a merciless bondage, and, finally, to annihi¬ 
lation ; Madagascar is already proved to be rich in the 
minerals most useful to man. Silver and copper have been 
stated by early visitors to exist in certain portions of the 
island: the latter is frequently visible in specimens found 
in the country, and brought to England; and it is still 
reported by the natives that the former has been obtained. 
Mr. Boothby, indeed, refers to gold brought from this 
country: for after observing, “ This gallant island of Mada¬ 
gascar affords these several rich commodities,” which he 
