New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-04
The Island of Madagascar.

The island was only discovered Tor Vlstedl IN
the wear 1906 in the reign OF Henry VIZ by the
Portuguese navigator Lorenzo AImelda7 after "noM
il was, for a time, called, ST. Lawrence. by the
French, in the reign OF Henry ~. It was deslg-
mated the Isle Dauphine, aud by Marco POLO, at
the end Of the thirteenth century, " MaJaster'
Ellis saws that the natives on the coast DO not can
il Madagascar, but NOsindanbo, l. g. the lsiahd Oh
"a I'D boes There other hgurarve expressions
annlied 10 the island, as " Ambony Tany, Am
bonv Lanitra" &c. signIiyine on the earth, be
neeib the skies" aud "in the MIDST OF the Hood
Madagascar is separated IRON AFRICA oy inc MO
zambldue Channel; its distance from the cape OF
Good Hone is 500, and from the Maurltus $50
miles lis greatest length, from north TO south, Is
900 and it's breadth from east to west, 500 miles
and the average superficial area OF this vast
island cannot be estimated at much less than TWO
hundred thousand square miles. situate south
of the equator, and extending from latitude
10 81 to 25o Az south the aspect and climate OF
the island offer much variety. The whole Island
flows with milk and honey, ana abounds IN mln-
eral wealth OF every description, as well as N rlce
sik cotton, spices, AID magnificent timber The
interior is considerably elevated, aud the slope
down 10 the unduistes into beautiful wales
vatered BY rvulets and rivers, the SOIL In general
consisting of decomposed granite OF delightful fer
tility Many OF the rivers are navigaole into the
| interior but their entrances are almost always
/ blocked up by sandbanks especially on the eastern
coast This Is caused by the roll OF the ocean from
east TO west on side Of the island, and by the
/ incessant currents which set in from the Mozam-
hiope Channel on the other This obstruction Of
the ,flux of the rivers has caused the formation Of
! yes, narshes oa its coast; and the consequent
generation Of missmata produces the dreaded be-
csuse fatal malsdy called the Madagascar
Iever.r The high lands in the interior are very
healthy.
lessons the fine season" which begins in May
Cd terminates about the middle Of October during
which the heat is moderate, and strong breezes
renew the air ana dissipate the eiiiuyia oil the
/ stsenant waters The second, or bad season,
begins in October and continues TIL Apul. The
hotties and most unhealthy weather occurs In the
first three months OF The year and during TINS Pc
Rod the country is inundated by floods OF RAIN
. THE wind ia calm or blows lightly from the north
COS, nv day. and from the north TO the northwest
. by night AT this season the influence OF the IN
tense heat upon the decay ed animal and vegeta-
HE substances washed down by the floods breeds
infectious and pestilentisl vaPors. The temPera'
tnre of the interior is much cooler than that OF the
sea.shore The thermometer, IN Summer, T. {.
from October 10 Msy,) rises 70 So OF tanrennei1
and in Winter falls as low As 40, or Only ABOVE
freezing point
Madagascar is divided INTO 70 provinces, Gained
M follows. viz Vohimarina, lboina, Maroa ivoogo
Antissnsks, Ambongo, Antsnksy, Betsimaraks
Apteya Mantitana Vsngsidrano, Anosy, Androy
Mabaisly, FieTenans, Sienimbalsda lbara, Nena
NJ. Betsileo, and Ankova independent OF these
primary divisions, there are numerous others o.
less Importance.
Into the interesting local details OF these geo
prsphics divisions OF the island It is impossible FOL
as TO enter. A perusal OF tbs portion OF the noe'
;pdpc,s the conclusion that the country aoOunis II
resources ana that il u.s. i0r the most pRrt hlgnly
favored by nature. Ankovs, situate nearly IN tnS
crn,er oftbe Island is by TAR the most iInportsn
and most popuous 1t Is sabdivided into the thre'
Jstricts OF Voniz0ngo, lsSmaEo, and Earezina, al
ircludes The city OF ranansrivo, Or Antanariyo 1h'
Capita Of the whole island, and the Seat oil IoS
enreens situate IN lat - % - ana ia .0hs''V