92 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
at Foule Pointe, where he formed a colony; and on the 
service being declined by them, as incompatible with their 
dignity, Radama yielded the point, but still availed himself 
of their labours, by ordering, that as carrying a spade 
would be derogatory to their dignity, carrying a musket 
could not, and that they must, therefore, honourably serve 
with the army in his wars. The inhabitants of the district 
of Vonizongo are distinguished for their attachment to 
charms and idols. During the year 1828, three of the 
natives of this district were put to death, for making the 
ody mahery—the powerful medicine, or spell; in other 
words, for being sorcerers. 
Vonizongo has no extensive valleys, but numerous small 
fertile spots between the hills, where large quantities of, 
rice are grown. 
This district, like other parts of the island, consists 
of numerous subdivisions: its four principal towns are, 
Soavina, Pihaonana, Fiambazana, and Fiarenana. Its 
highest mountain is called Angavo, i. e. the lofty. 
The chief point of attraction, and the most important 
object in the province of Ankova, is the capital; to an 
account of which the remainder of this chapter will not be 
unsuitably appropriated. 
Tananarivo, the capital of Imerina, and now of Mada¬ 
gascar, stands on the summit of a lofty, long, and irregular 
hill; it commands an extensive prospect of the surround¬ 
ing country, and of not fewer, perhaps, than a hundred 
smaller towns and villages. The geographical position of 
Tananarivo* is, according to the observations of Mr. Lyall, 
* This is the name by which the capital is generally designated, though in 
writing it, the most intelligent among the natives add the formative prefix 
An —at, there: but in speaking they do not pronounce the An, which seems 
to stand in a relation to the name of the capital similar to that of the 
