86 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
The principal lake in Ankova is Itasy, or, as called by 
the natives, Itasianaka. It is situated in the division of 
Imamo, and at the foot of the high mountain of Ambohimi- 
angara. The principal cataract is Farahantsana, in the 
division of Marovatana, and about thirty-five miles from 
the capital. 
The almost total absence of wood in Ankova, not only 
affects the appearance of the country, but renders fuel 
scarce and dear. By those who reside near the forests on 
the borders of the province, fuel is easily obtained; and 
considerable quantities of fagots are carried for sale to 
the markets of Ankova. Slaves are also employed by 
their owners in fetching wood from the forests. But among 
the poor, almost the only fuel used consists of bozaka, or 
long grass; roots of grass, plucked up in the dry season; 
rice-straw with the chaff* and husks; weeds collected from 
the gardens and rice-grounds, the stalk of the manioc; 
refuse from the thatching,* chips of wood, and great quan¬ 
tities of dried cow-dung. 
In most of the villages there are a few trees, and from 
these the privileged “ head-men” obtain part of their fuel; 
but none may be sold, nor may others venture to put 
sacrilegious hands on these guarded favourites of the vege¬ 
table empire: otherwise, with such eagerness would they 
be seized, that in a very short time not a twig or a stump 
would remain. 
Imerina consists of four smaller subdivisions; namely, 
Avaradrano, Vakinisisaona, Marovatana, and Ambodirano. 
* Thatching made of reeds has an extremely rough and unsightly 
appearance till dressed and clipped. This the native thatchers perform 
with much dexterity; and they, as well as the carpenters in their work, 
claim all that is cut off as a perquisite of indefeasible right; though 
not unfrequently they are found to cut and clip more than is meet, and 
rather for their own advantage than for the benefit of house or landlord. 
