HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
73 
settlement of the Arabs, on the east coast of Mada¬ 
gascar.* 
Matitanana is also famous for a class of persons called by 
some writers Ombiasses, but more correctly Mpiasa, which 
signifies “ workers.” They appear to resemble the Mpi- 
sikidy, Mpanandro, and Mpanao-ody of the interior, whose 
profession is to work the sikidy, or divination, to calculate 
days, foretell fortunes, as well as to prepare medicines and 
charms. It has been conjectured that most of the supersti¬ 
tions in the island have had their origin in this province. 
Madagascar is the land of ody, or charms, and in this 
district they triumph in all their melancholy glory. 
The country in general is flat, but fertile ; rice, sugar¬ 
cane, and cattle abound. 
Vangaidrano , the ninth, or as sometimes called, Taisaka, 
joins the south of Matitanana. Here very little advance¬ 
ment has yet been made, or even attempted in civilization, 
yet the population is considerable. 
The Manabatra with seven mouths, and the Mantangy 
with four, are the two principal rivers in this province.f The 
Malagasy fever, which prevails more or less along the whole 
coast of the island, is very general, and to strangers often 
fatal, on the coast of this province. The country is flat and 
marshy. There are also extensive and almost impervious 
forests, where vegetation is rank, and the free circulation of 
the air intercepted by thick underwood. The productions 
are much the same as in the provinces already described, 
though little is attempted by the natives beyond the cultiva¬ 
tion of a supply adequate to their immediate wants. 
* The doctrines and precepts of Mahomet have obtained some influence 
here. The Arabic writing is also used, and paper of a very coarse quality 
is said to be manufactured. 
t Marked in the map, accompanying Rochon’s work, Mananghera, and 
Manartengha. 
