335 
in some of the provinces is excellent, and differs but 
little from steel: the best is found in Amboule, Anossi, 
Matatane, and Manghabei. Steel abounds most in 
Mahafalle, Anachimoussi, Ivouronhehoc, Icondre, and 
Manamboul. Specimens of their iron have been 
brought to Europe and examined by competent men, 
who have found it not at all inferior to that of 
Sweden. 
Very little is known at present of the minerals at 
Madagascar; except salt, saltpetre, sulphur, and 
pitch, which, in fact, have presented themselves to 
view, no others have been proved to exist. Salt is 
made there in large quantities in different districts, 
and is universally used by the natives to season, but 
not to cure their meat. Salt springs are found in 
many parts of the island; there is one on a mountain 
near the valley of Amboule, sixty miles from the 
coast, which is so strongly impregnated, that a 
considerable quantity of salt is made from its 
waters. 
Salt-petre is found in many caverns in the provinces 
of Houlouve_ and Ivouronhehoc, and in great quan¬ 
tities; insomuch, that Flacourt says he could have 
manufactured enough gunpowder from it to have 
conquered the whole island with a handful of men. 
The natives at that period knew little of the use of the 
latter-destructive composition; and if they have not 
already been taught how to manufacture it, we hope 
they will for ever remain ignorant on the subject. 
