11 
of Capricorn. This bay is sheltered from the most 
dangerous winds, but the entrance is rocky and 
difficult. The French had formerly a strong fort on 
the south side of it, and the English East-India 
ships frequently cast anchor there to take in re¬ 
freshments, and land their sick men, in order to 
their recovery. The province of Ivoronhehoc lies 
on one side of the bay, and that of Houlouve on 
the other. 
Eringdrane.—This province is very extensive and 
populous; and its chief can, upon an emergency, 
raise an army of thirty thousand men. It is ex¬ 
tremely fertile, and has large herds of cattle on the 
sides of the mountains. Several considerable rivers 
run through, or rise, in this province, most of which 
run into the Bay of Mansiatre, in 20°. latitude. 
The province of Vohitsonghombe is separated from 
the last-mentioned by the river Mansiatre. It is very 
populous, and can bring into the field an hundred 
thousand warriors ; they are generally at war with the 
Eringdranes : when this is not the case both parties 
unite occasionally, and make a descent upon the 
Comoro islands. Indeed all the provinces on the 
north-west side of the island are given too much to 
these predatory excursions. The island of Johanna 
has been of late years the frequent scene of their 
buccaneering operations, they having been introduced 
there by Benyowsky, though without any idea of such 
a result. The master of one of his ships having be¬ 
trayed the trust imposed on him, by piratically seizing 
