70 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
and in the division called Ivoloina, there are two immense 
caverns. 
Beltanimena, the sixth, is the province adjoining Tama- 
tave to the south, separated from it by Tany-fotsy, and 
stretching about thirty-five leagues along the coast. The 
name of the province signifies 44 much red earth,” and, no 
doubt was given from the reddish ferruginous appearance 
of the soil. There are several extensive lakes in this 
district, and two cataracts, Tahaviara, and Iandrianahomby, 
deserving the notice of travellers. The country is flat 
near the sea, hilly in the interior, and mountainous towards 
the north. It is in many parts marshy, and covered with 
thickets and forests. The soil for some distance from the 
coast is sandy; but for the most part productive, from the 
abundance of decomposed vegetable matter which it con¬ 
tains. The population is numerous. At Ambohibohazo, 
the capital of the province, the soil is rich, and the 
scenery diversified and beautiful. 
In the neighbourhood of Ambohibohazo, Mr. Hastie 
selected a spot of ground for a plantation of mulberries. 
They succeed well, and might be cultivated to an inde¬ 
finite extent for silkworms. Some good silk has already 
been produced in Madagascar; and this valuable commo¬ 
dity may hereafter become an article of great importance 
to the island. Mr. Hastie intended to form a sugar 
plantation in the same neighbourhood, for which the 
soil appeared well adapted. Labour being extremely cheap, 
there was every prospect that the establishment would 
have succeeded. But his lamented decease, and subse¬ 
quently that of Radama, have suspended every plan of 
the kind then in contemplation, and have shewn, most 
distinctly, the extent and beneficial influence each exerted 
over the people, while they exhibit in an affecting light 
