HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
305 
astonishment of the natives. But, like the people of many 
other countries, they preferred their own slow methods of 
preparing the ground, to the adoption of readier plans and 
superior implements. 
Besides the growth of other edibles, and the care of their 
gardens, cotton is cultivated to a considerable extent in 
Ankova, Antsianaka, and in Betsileo. The rearing of silk¬ 
worms occupies a large portion of the attention and time of 
many of the inhabitants of Imerina. The silk-worms of 
Madagascar are of a different kind from those of India; they 
are larger, and very hairy. They are fed upon the leaves of 
the pigeon-pea, cytisus cajan , called ambarivatry. The 
seed of this plant, which resembles the common pea, is 
generally sown in a space of ground from three to four 
acres in extent. When the plant is grown, and in full leaf, 
the silk-worms are introduced, they feed upon the leaves, 
and then spin out their silk in the open air. 
The manner in which the natives prepare arrowroot, 
which grows in the Sakalava country, for food, is to dig it 
up, wash it, and rub it upon a rough stone, in a vessel 
containing water. Here it remains for some time, when 
the water is poured off, leaving the arrowroot at the 
bottom. It is then taken out and dried upon a mat in the 
sun, after which it is ready for use. It is generally boiled 
in milk, which abounds in this province. 
Next to the cultivation of the soil, the occupations at 
present most important to the Malagasy, though perhaps 
of comparatively modern origin, are those connected with 
the working of iron. Their attainments in this useful depart¬ 
ment of labour, though exceedingly imperfect, yet exhi¬ 
bit in a favourable light the ingenuity and perseverance of 
the people. It has been already stated, that iron abounds in 
every part of the interior of Madagascar, especially in some 
i. 
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