78 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
of the province is large; other portions yet remain desert. 
Various esculent roots are cultivated by the Sakalavas, 
especially arrow-root. The tamarind is abundant, and seve¬ 
ral fruits but little known in the island. Cattle, though still 
abundant, are not so numerous as formerly, owing chiefly 
to the destructive and predatory nature of their wars. 
On the borders of this province, between Menabe and 
Ankova, is a large tract of country occupied by herds of 
cattle in the wild state; many of them are distinguished 
from other cattle in Madagascar, by not having the 
“tafona,” or hump on the back. To hunt these animals, 
was a favourite amusement of Radama. The spot usually 
chosen for the feat, is called Manerinerina. 
The fine and extensive vale of Belisa is situated in this 
province, running in a direction north and south. It is 
watered by three considerable rivers, the Imania, the 
Manambolo, and the Manambala. There is also an 
extensive lake of the same name as the first river men¬ 
tioned, Imania, famed for having near its centre a beau¬ 
tiful and picturesque islet called Anosisaka. This is 
adorned with a remarkably fine natural grove, rendering it 
an attractive object, in the scenery of which it is so distin¬ 
guished an ornament. 
North of the Sakalava country is, sixteenth, Ambongo 
having a considerable extent of sea-coast, and being for 
the most part, a level and woody district. The country 
resembles that of the Sakalavas, but its inhabitants are less 
civilized; they may, perhaps, be termed barbarous. In 
more than one instance, cruelty has been shown to foreign¬ 
ers who have been unfortunately shipwrecked on this 
part of the coast. A case of this kind occurred a few years 
ago, when a Portuguese whaler being cast on this part 
of the island, the crew were all murdered. 
