HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
121 
Ankova, its inhabitants are evidently Betsileo, who are 
spread over an extent of country greatly exceeding that 
of the province which bears their name. The Betsileo 
are evidently one of the most ancient races in the island, and, 
according to their own traditions, came originally from An- 
teva, a province on the south-western coast, and now inhabited 
by the mixed race of the Betanimena and Betsimisaraka. 
The country of the Betanimena commences southward 
at the Mananjary, and terminates northward at Tany-fotsy: 
the country of the Betsimisaraka spreads along the eastern 
shore till it joins that of the Sakalavas of the north, 
which includes the country sometimes called Hiaram- 
bazaha, or Vohimaro. 
An account of Ankova, the country of the Hovas, has 
been formerly given, and those of the other chief divisions 
of the island have been added; it will, therefore, be proper 
to give some account of the nations or races by whom 
they are severally inhabited. 
The first and most important race is the Hovas, who 
inhabit the province of Ankova. They have in every 
respect the pre-eminence, and possess the entire sove¬ 
reignty over the greater number of the other provinces. 
From Ankova, and from Vakinankaratra, the army of 
Radama, by which the greater part of the island was 
conquered, and by which the conquest is maintained, was 
exclusively formed; and the island may, therefore, be 
regarded as held in subjection by the Hovas. The army 
was, in the first instance, formed at Tananarivo, the capital 
of the Hovas, and afterwards augmented from other parts 
of the province. 
The use of the word Hova, though generally employed 
to designate the olive - coloured race, requires further 
explanation:—First, as to Ankova, or the country of the 
