8 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
Under the superintendence of Mr. Cameron, one of the 
missionary artisans, measures were taken a few years ago, 
for obtaining, by artificial means, a larger supply of this 
useful article. Oxide of manganese has been found about 
fifty miles south-west of the capital. A substance resem¬ 
bling plumbago, or black lead, is found in great abundance 
in some parts of the island, and is used by the natives to 
colour, and polish, or glaze many of their rude articles of 
domestic use. Several kinds of ochre, or coloured earth, 
have been found,* some of which are used in colouring the 
outsides of buildings, &c. 
The country next the shore, with the exception of the 
south-eastern coast in the neighbourhood of Fort Dauphin, 
is flat and exceedingly low. Some parts are apparently 
below the level of the ocean, and, consequently, marshy 
and incapable of culture. This margin of comparatively 
level soil, consisting of rich meadow-land, or rice-grounds, 
extends on the eastern coast from ten to fifty miles in 
breadth; on the western side of the island it is from fifty 
to one hundred wide, and occasionally extends still farther 
towards the interior. In some parts of the eastern coast, 
the country becomes suddenly mountainous at the distance 
of about thirty miles from the sea. Within the level border, 
the whole country, with the exception of part of the 
Betsileo and Sakalava districts, is diversified with hills 
of varied elevations, and extending in every direction. 
In some parts of the island, immense plains stretch, in 
comparatively cheerless solitude, over a wide extent of 
country; and at distant points, in varied directions, a small 
spot is all that appears under cultivation. Thus, for 
* The Rev. J. J. Freeman has recently brought to this country a valuable 
collection of the minerals, &c. of Madagascar, specimens of which are 
deposited in the Missionary Museum, Blomfield-street, Finsbury. 
