50 
They discovered the island about two hundred and 
fifty years ago. Upon their arrival, the leader, or 
chief of the company, married a native woman, upon 
condition that the offspring of the union should be 
called Zafe Casimambou, after their father, which was 
contrary to the custom of the country. Their pro¬ 
geny were numerous; and in a short time they gained 
an ascendancy over their brethren. Upon the latter 
attempting to emancipate themselves, about one 
hundred and fifty years ago, they were all put to the 
sword, except the women and children, who had a 
district allotted to them, which they cultivated. These 
are called Ontampassemaca, or “ People from the 
sandy deserts of Mecca.”* 
Those of this race who inhabit Anossi, are divided 
into three classes, or orders;—the Rhoandrians, Ana- 
candrians, and Ontzatsi.t 
* Some writers have made a distinction between the whites 
of Anossi, and those of Matatane, upon the assumption that 
they arrived at two different periods ; but the account they give 
is so confused, and, after all, the times of their arrival are so 
near to each other, that we have followed a writer of acknow¬ 
ledged correctness, and have considered the two as derived 
from the same stock, but rendered distinct by the marriage above 
referred to, and the consequent ambition and tyranny of its 
issue. 
t The following account of the origin of the Zafe Rahimini, 
is an extract from a book written in the Madegasse language, 
called Fasiri, which was translated by order of Benyowsky, 
during the time he resided on the island. 
Rahimini, father of Imina, the mother of Mahomet, had two 
sons, the elder of whom was named Ramini, and was a great 
prophet. He went to Mahomet at Mecca, but as he would not 
