14 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
mountains stretches from one end of the island to the 
other, the traveller cannot pass from any one point on the 
coast to a section on the opposite shore, without crossing 
a number of mountains of greater or less elevation. 
The highland scenery of Madagascar, in the central 
portions of the island, is diversified by lakes of various 
extent and form; they are also met with in some parts of 
the low alluvial countries nearer the sea. Some of these 
lakes are remarkable for their natural beauty, others are 
esteemed for their utility: many of them are large. Among 
the most considerable are Ihotry, situated to the north of 
Fiarenana, Imanangora in Antsianaka, Safe in Ambongo, 
Imania in the Sakalava country, being about one hundred 
miles in length, though not more than a mile wide. To these 
may be added Saririaka, (an expressive name, signifying 
“image of the ocean,”) which lies to the east of the forest 
of Bemarana; Anosive, to the south of Tamatave; Ivavongy, 
in Betanimena; and Itasy, in Xmerina, famous for its fish. 
The highly bituminous lake near the river Mangafiafy, is in 
the province of Anosy: this remarkable lake is about five 
miles in breadth, and extends in length about sixty miles. 
In the interior of the same province there is another lake, 
whose waters taste as if strongly impregnated with copper. 
Excellent fish is found in the greater number of the lakes, 
of which there are several others, but the most valuable 
are those already named. 
On the eastern coast of the island, a series of lakes 
extends for a distance of 200 miles. Several of these 
are remarkably beautiful, being spotted with islets of 
various dimensions, some of them clothed with verdure, 
others enlivened with the habitations of men. The annexed 
account of the voyage by the lakes, near the eastern shore, 
proceeding from the coast to the capital, describes their 
