Geography anatomiz'd, or, The compleat geographical grammar being a short and exact analysis of the whole body of modern geography after a new and curious method / collected from the best authors and illustrated with divers maps by Pat. Gordon ...

§. 1. Madagascar.

THIS Island (unknown to the Ancients) is term'd by the Spaniards, Isla de San Lorenzo; by * 1.1 the French, St Laurence, otherways Dauphine; by the Italians, Germans, and English, Madagascar; which Name was us'd by the Natives, and still retain'd. As to the Title of St. Laurence, the same was given to this Island by the Portugueses, it being on St. Laurence Day that they made their first Discovery of it.

The Air of this Island is generally very temperate, and by most affirm'd to be exceeding wholesome to * 1.2 breath in. The opposite Place of the Globe to Mada∣gascar, is the South Part of California.

The Soil of this Island is extraordinary fruitful in many Parts thereof, affording all things necessary for * 1.3 the Life of Man in great plenty. The length of the Days and Nights in Madagascar, is the same as in Monoemungi, they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude.

The chief Commodities of this Island, are Rice, Hides, Wax, Gums, Christal, Steel, Copper, Ebo∣ny, * 1.4 and Wood of all sorts.

Towards the Eastern Part of this Island is a pleasant and fertil Valley, call'd Ambouse, which is stockt with * 1.5 several rich Mines of Iron and Steel, and yields great store of the Oyl of Sejanum. (2.) Nigh to the aforesaid Valley is an excellent Medicinal Well of hot Water, which proves a ready Cure for Cold Distempers in the Limbs. (3) In the same Neighbour∣hood is a high Mountain, on whose Top is a remarkable Spring of very Salt Water, though upwards of thirty Leagues from the Sea. (4.) In this Island (especially the Southern Provinces) are most sorts of Mineral Waters, very different both in Colour, Taste, and Qualities; and some places afford large Pits of Bitumen. (5.) In this Island is also a River, whose Gravel is so exceeding hot that there's no treading upon it, and yet the Water of that River is extreamly hot.

The Natives of Madagascar are reported to be a Lecherous, Ignorant, Inhospitable, and Treacherous * 1.6 Sort of People; they hate Polygamy, and still punish

Murder by Death. Divers singular Customs prevail in several Parts of this Island, particularly these two: First. If any Woman be safely delivered of a live Child, and afterwards dye in Child-Bed, the living Child is buried with the dead Mother; being better (say they) that the Child should dye than live, having no Mother to look af∣ter it. The other is, The exposing of their Children to wild Beasts if brought forth upon an unlucky Day, (as they term it) or during some unfortunate Aspects of the Planets, as their Ombiasses, or Priests pretend to tell them. So numerous are those Days they reckon unlucky, that almost one half of the Year is accounted such; and hence it is, that this Island is so thinly stockt with Inhabi∣tants.

Archbishopricks, Bishopricks, Universities. None. * 1.7

The Language here commonly us'd, is as barbarous as they who speak it. Almost every Province hath its * 1.8 peculiar Dialect, yet not so different but that they understand one another; so that the Natives of this Island may be said to have but one Tongue in common among 'em all.

This Island is subject to many particular Lords, commonly call'd Rohandrians, who are continually at * 1.9 War among themselves about their Cattle and Slaves, yet unanimous enough to defend themselves against the Invasion of Strangers. Some formerly reckon'd six Sovereign Princes or Kings in Madagascar, others four; but now every Province hath its particular Governor, having under him various Filoubei, (i. e. Governors of Villages and Castles) who stand accountable to him in every thing.

Arms. None. * 1.10

The Inhabitants of this Island are either Pagans or Mahometans, except those People living upon the * 1.11 Eastern Coasts, between fifteen and eighteen Degrees and an half of South Latitude, term'd Zaffehibraim, [i. e. the Race of Abraham]; and others on the Adjacent Island, call'd Nossi-Hibraim, [i. e. The Isle of Abraham] who differ extreamly from their Neigh∣bours in Religious Matters. For many of 'em are said to observe the Jewish Sabbath, and give not only a faint Account of the Creation of the World, and Fall of Man; but also a few broken Passages of the Sacred History concerning Noah and Abraham, Moses and David. Whence divers Travellers conjecture, that they're originally descended of some Jews, who might have been droven upon that part of the Island, none knows how, nor when.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Name.
• * 1.2

  Air.
• * 1.3

  Soil.
• * 1.4

  Commodities.
• * 1.5

  Rarities.
• * 1.6

  Manners.
• * 1.7

  Archbishopricks, &c.
• * 1.8

  Language.
• * 1.9

  Government.
• * 1.10

  Arms.
• * 1.11

  Religion.