20 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
especially in the rainy season, clothed with a rich and 
luxuriant verdure, delightfully exhilarating amidst the ste¬ 
rility and wildness of the surrounding regions. The most 
extensive valleys in the island are Belisa in the Sakalava 
country, and Ambolo in Anosy. 
The rivers of Madagascar are numerous; and many of 
them of considerable width, the greater number flowing 
into the sea on the western coast; thus the Sambaho, which 
passes through Ambongo, and falls into the sea south of 
Cape St. Andrew, called by the Malagasy, Jantsanira; the 
Betsiboka, which passes through Iboina, and falls into the 
sea not far from Mojanga. It is this river which the Ikiopa 
joins at Marovoy,* (a military post,) where the Ikiopa 
loses its own name in the united course of the Betsiboka. 
The Ikiopa rises south of Angavo, and waters the whole 
neighbourhood of the capital, Tananarivo. The Mansiatra 
is also an extensive river on the west, falling into the sea at 
a bay of the same name, north of Morondava. The Matita- 
nana is one of the largest rivers on the eastern coast, and 
for its sanctity may be regarded as the Ganges of Mada¬ 
gascar, f The origin of the name of this river is fabulous: 
Maty signifies “ to die,” “ dead tanana , c< the hand.” It is 
said, two giants of extraordinary stature were disputing, one 
standing on each side of the river; during the dreadful con¬ 
test, one seized the hand of the other with such a giant- 
grasp as actually wrenched it off*. It fell into the river, and 
gave it the commemorative name of Maty-tan ana, “ the dead 
hand.” There are also other rivers, but all less favourable for 
the purposes of trade and commerce, than from their magni- 
* Signifying many alligators. 
f Some farther notice of this river, the banks of which are the chief 
seats of Mohammedanism in the island, will be found in a subsequent 
portion of the work. 
