HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
71 
the degree to which a single individual may promote, 
or his removal retard, the improvement of a nation. 
There is abundance of grazing-land in the same part of the 
province; and numerous herds of cattle, belonging to the 
sovereign, and to the traders on the coast, are usually taken 
there for some time previously to their exportation. It is 
also from this part of the country that 44 maromita,” usually 
called by Europeans 44 marmittes,” (coolies or bearers,) 
are generally obtained, for conveying travellers and their 
luggage, or merchandise, from the coast to the capital, or 
other parts of the interior. 
This district has also been famous for its jiolahy, or 
brigands. They have concealed themselves in the recesses 
of its almost impenetrable forests and thickets, or extensive 
and generally unknown caverns ; whence suddenly rushing 
forth on passengers and bearers of burdens, they have 
committed with impunity extensive depredations, not un- 
frequently adding murder to their robberies. 
Vatomandry is a small port in this province, but has 
scarcely any trade. At Tany-fotsy an important junction 
between two extensive lakes was commenced by Radama, 
in order to facilitate communications with the interior by 
means of water-carriage. 
Anteva , the seventh province, lies to the south of Beta- 
nimena, which it resembles in general appearance, though 
it is rather more hilly. Rice is grown in this province hi 
great abundance, and quantities of beef are salted here for 
exportation, though the inhabitants are extremely poor. 
The great cause of the poverty of this part of the island, 
is, the love of ardent spirits prevalent among the people. 
After toiling to obtain a crop of rice, the natives will some- 
times sell the whole for a small quantity of arrack, imported 
by traders from Mauritius and Bourbon. With the delete- 
