130 
MADAGASCAR 
An endeavour was formerly made to acclimatize them in 
Imerina, but the result was not favourable. This animal 
can scarcely be used with economic advantage on the soil 
of Madagascar, for the intelligent and docile zebu ox can 
be used for riding, and, besides, in the wet season the 
ground is too soft for a horse. 
The pig is abhorred by the African elements as being 
unclean; it is not found, for example, among the Sakalava. 
Apparently this is an after effect of the Arabic influence 
in earlier times. On the other hand, it is to be seen 
wherever the Hova have settled, which is easily explained 
by the predilection for the pig on the part of the Malays. 
According to my observations, a blackish race has been 
bred up which is near to our Roman pig, and must at 
any rate be reckoned among the Sus indictts forms. 
The only dog is a spitz-like Pariah dog, which has a 
great similarity to the dogs of Sumatra. 
Poultry is to be seen in abundance. Domestic fowls 
are to be had everywhere in the market and are found 
even in the most wretched village of the primeval forest. 
Geese, ducks and turkeys have been naturalised. 
Among animals of lower organization we have to 
mention the black bee and the silkworm. 
Mining has remained till now somewhat undeveloped, 
because the former Hova government prevented all 
working of the precious metals, whether by natives or 
by strangers, and did not even allow itself to be won 
over by seductive offers of'a share in the profit. 
At several places the primeval rocks as well as the 
alluvium contain gold in quantities worth working, and gold 
is continually to be had privately from the natives, which 
must have been obtained clandestinely. Rich deposits 
of gold occur in the west at Mevatana, also in Ankaratra, 
at Lake Itasy and in Betsileo-land. 
In 1886 the Hova government condescended to grant 
a concession to a French company for the exploitation 
