HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
105 
A few paces below this, still descending the hill west¬ 
ward, stands one of the the missionary chapels, and the 
central school; the same building subserving both pur¬ 
poses, a school-room and place of worship. Adjoining 
it is the dwelling-house of the Rev. D. Griffiths, Mis¬ 
sionary. 
About one hundred yards farther, a building has been 
erected, which comprises a repository, printing-office, and 
School-society’s rooms for library, &c., connected with the 
Madagascar Mission. Near the foot of the hill, at some 
short distance from the above building, stood formerly an 
immense block of stone, which from time immemorial had 
been venerated as sacred, but a few years past was blown up, 
under the direction of the late Mons. Le Gros, in order 
to widen and improve the road to the capital. Some 
kind of mysterious affection is still cherished by the 
natives for the spot, combined with some undefined notion 
of its sanctity. It forms a boundary line, beyond which 
animals and vegetables, forbidden by the idols, and deemed 
unclean, may not be carried into the capital. Formerly 
no pig nor goat might pass this limit, but those are now 
kept at a still more respectful distance; and at present, 
though onions are allowed to be taken as far as this point, 
they may not be carried one inch beyond it. 
Just below this nicely discriminating point, two paths 
branch off from the main road. The high-way itself is 
continued towards Ambohitsorohitra, the residence of the 
late Mr. Hastie, and thence to the fine vale of Betsimihi- 
satra. The branch road to the north leads by Analakely, 
the site of the king’s spring, from which the royal family is 
frequently supplied with water for daily use. Extensive 
buildings for various manufactures, under the direction of 
Mr. J, Cameron, have been erected in Analakily. Nearly 
