74 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
Anosy, the tenth, is south of Vangaidrano, and on some 
accounts is one of the most important provinces, in the 
history of Madagascar. It has been the site of the most 
extensive French establishments; and the principal efforts of 
the Catholic missionaries in Madagascar have been put 
forth here. In Anosy also is situated the most fertile and 
beautiful vale in the island, the vale of Ambolo. The 
country is populous, and the soil extremely fertile. Rice 
and manioc, sugarcane and coffee, are abundant. Its 
extensive marshes render it, however, like the greater 
part of the lower portions of the island, extremely insa¬ 
lubrious. 
There are in this province several rivers, and in the 
northern part of Anosy is the bay of St. Lucia, called by 
the natives Mangafiafy. Ten leagues south of St. Lucia, 
is the peninsula in which Fort Dauphin stands; the ear¬ 
liest French settlement in the island. The peninsula is 
called Taolanara, or, as sometimes written, Tholangari. 
Fort Dauphin is in lat. 25° 5' S. and long. 46 3 35' E. 
The shores are often bold and steep; and the cliffs ap¬ 
pear composed of strata of limestone, of varied thicknesses. 
Rock-salt and saltpetre are found in this province. In fact, 
next to the Betsileo country, of which we shall have occasion 
to speak presently, Anosy may be considered the finest 
province in the island—the most beautiful and the most 
productive. Of the rich vale of Ambolo, mention has 
been already made. In this charming valley, not only the 
usual produce of the island, but cloves and other spices, 
with citrons of various kinds, may be obtained. Hot 
springs, reported to possess valuable medicinal qualities, 
are also found there. It was, perhaps, from this fertile 
spot, that Monsieur de Modave drew materials for his 
too flattering memoirs of the island of Madagascar. 
