Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-08-07

north to the northwest by night. At this sea-
son of the year the intense heat upon the
decaycd animal and vegetable substances
washed down by the torrents, breeds infectious
and pestential vapors. The temperature of
the interior, as before remarked, is much cooler
than that of the coast. In summer, from Oc-
tober to May, the thermometer rises to Sj
degrees and in winter from May to October, it
falls as low as 40 degrees, or only eight above
the freezing point
Madagascar is divided into twenty provinces
whose names are as follows: Vohimarina,
lboina, Maron lvongo-Antisanaka, Ambongo,
Antankay, Belsimsaraka-Anteva, Mantitana,
Nangardrano, Anasy, Androy, Mahalaialy,
Fierenana, Sienimbalada, lbara, Menabe, Bet
silco, and Ankova. Besides these principal di-
visions, there are many others of less i'm
portance. The names of the provinces will
give the reader an idea of the harmony of the
language of the island, which in this respect is
hardly cqualled by any other, whether ancient
or modern.
Into the interesting local details of these
geographical divisions, as collected by the Sur
veyor General or Maurittus it is impossible
here to enter. Ankova, situated nearly in the
centre Of the island, is by far the most impor-
tant and populous. 1t is subdivided into three
districts and includes the city of Tatanariva, or
Antanariva, the capital Of the whole island, and
the seat of government, situated in latitude 10
degrees South, and in longitude Al degrees
East The city contains population of iwen-
ty-tiye thousand souls, including the neighbor-
ing villages. The number of dwellings is eight
thousand, including five or six very large if not
very elegant houses. The entire population of
the island is estimated at from 2,506,0OO to A.
100000. But no measures have ever been
taken to secure a reliable census, or, indeed,
ANYTHING resembling census.
Nearly in the centre of the city is a celebra-
ted rock, which, in its precipitous sides and
bloody uses, may be compared to the Tarpeian
rock at Rome. BY the natives it is called g Am
pahamarimava. Here criminals are executed
by being hurled headlong down a precipice
eighty feet deep, at which depth the victim is
received on some scattered masses of broken
rock, from whence his battered and broken
body falls some three hundred or four hundred
feet below, to the bottom of the hill. Here the
maugled bodies Of unnumbercd victims are suf-
fered to remain, to be devoured by iackalls and
birds, or else to putrefy and corrupt the air,
and then minglc again with the earth. 1t is
Golgotha, the like of which the world does not
contain.
The next place in Importance in Tananariva
is the spot where the public assemblies are held.
1t is large, open space, well suited for the
meeting of the people en- masse when public
business is to be transacted. The market is also
held in the same place. The market day, how
ever, is rather holiday than time for bust
ness and traffic, and scenes of debauchery too
horrible to be described invariably disgrace this
place of rendezvous.
The "Hovas" have been known as distinct
people only for the last fifty years. They are
quite distinct race from the other inhabitants
of the island, and were formerly prosecuted
and dispersed. They are regarded as superior
to the rest the mobiles especially are said to be
shrewd and cunning. while the lower classes
are disgustingly filthy in their persons and hab-
its. In general, the Hova character is a COM
bination of talent and ferocity, ayarce being
the master passion, TO CRAFTY which they stick
at the commission of no crime.
\ chain of lofty mountains pervades the
whole island, from north to south, some of
whose peaks are eleven thousand feet high
The mountain sceneryis grand and picturesque.
The forests abound in beautiful trees. as palms.
ebony, dyewood. bamboos of enormous size,
and orange and lemon trees. Rice is the staple
food of the inhabitants while potatoes, sugar,
silk the banana and cocoa-nut are productions
the more common and abundant. Sheep and
cattle also thrive on the island, large numbers
of which are shipped by the English to Mauri-
thus, whore few animals are raised, and meat is
exceedingly dear.
Such are some of the particulars have been
able to gather respecting this island, one of the
largest in the world. Certain recent events
give it at present an unusual interest whose re-
lation | must defer to my next communication.