22 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR 
medicinal properties, and others near the small and charm¬ 
ing village of Ambohizanahary , 44 Village of God.” It has 
been supposed to have taken its name from some thermae, 
or warm-springs, found about half a mile north-east of the 
village, and which the natives have regarded as sacred, or 
in some way indicative of the divine power. 
These springs are called Rano-mafana, or <4 warm waters.” 
The spots in which the springs issue from the soil, are deeply 
shaded by a large quantity of closely-woven over-hanging 
bamboos, and the wild-fig, whose branches shoot directly 
across the stream, and by sending forth innumerable small 
fibres, which descend and fasten themselves in the soil 
beneath, resemble, in miniature, the banian-tree of India, of 
which species the wild-fig of Madagascar is probably a 
variety. The immediate cavity whence the waters issue, at 
one of the principal springs is an irregular hollow of about 
two feet width, and twelve or fourteen inches in depth; from 
this source it flows in a shallow stream till it meets a river 
at a short distance, called also Rano-mafana, which winds 
its way between the springs and the village of Ambohiza¬ 
nahary. The smell and taste of the springs are highly 
sulphureous. The average heat is somewhat below boiling 
point. The natives make no use of the springs, but merely 
regard them as objects of curiosity. There are warm-springs 
also in the Betsileo country, and many indications of former 
volcanic action in their immediate vicinity, whereas no indi¬ 
cations of this kind are found in the locality now under 
consideration. 
The following account of a visit to the saline springs at 
Mandrovy, in the Betsileo country, is given by Mr. Cameron, 
by whom they were visited in 1834:— 
44 When we arrived at the first village in Betsileo, we 
inquired of our host if there were any natural curiosities 
