HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
127 
equal portion of the country. Most of the villages are 
situated on eminences ; some of them are extremely high, 
and difficult of access. They are usually encircled, for 
security, by a deep fosse; the earth from which being 
thrown up on the inner side, forms a bank round the village, 
which renders it difficult to scale the sides of the ditch, and 
adds to the safety of the people. 
The language of Ankova may be considered as the stan¬ 
dard of the Madagascar dialects. It is also the most copious, 
and, being the least nasal, is the most pleasing to the ear 
of an European. Its copiousness may in part be accounted 
for by the constant influx of strangers from all parts of the 
island; these strangers, as well as the soldiers returning from 
the different provinces after a campaign, or a season of 
garrison duty, bring with them in many cases, no doubt 
without being aware of it, or intending it, valuable addi¬ 
tions to the stock of the Tenin-kova, the language of the 
Hovas. 
In person, as already remarked, the Hovas are generally 
below the middle stature. Their complexion is a light 
olive, frequently fairer than that of the inhabitants of the 
southern parts of Europe; their features rather flat than 
prominent; their lips occasionally thick and projecting, 
but often thin, and the lower gently projecting, as in the 
Caucasian race: their hair is black, but soft, fine, and 
straight, or curling; their eyes are hazel, their figure erect; 
and though inferior in size to some of the other tribes, they 
are well proportioned. Their limbs are small, but finely- 
formed; and their gait and movements are agile, free, and 
graceful. Though distinguished by their promptitude and 
activity, their strength is inferior to that of other tribes ; 
and they are far more susceptible of fatigue from travelling 
or labour. 
