Africa being an accurate description of the regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia and the Abyssines : with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto : with the several denominations fo their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages, their customs, modes and manners, languages, religions and inexhaustible treasure : with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter : and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents : collected and translated from most authentick authors and augmented with later observations : illustrated with notes and adorn'd with peculiar maps and proper sculptures / by John Ogilby, Esq. ...

The Island of Saint Mary, otherwise called Nossi Hibrahim.

THe Isle of St. Mary, commonly call'd Nossi Hibrahim, that is, Abraham's-Isle, lieth from the sixteenth to the seventeenth degree South-Latitude, opposite to the River Manangare, and stands the nearest from Mada∣gascar, two small Miles, and at the farthest four; containing in length from South to North, about eleven; and in breadth, from East to West, full two Miles.

To the South of this Island, lieth another small one, in the shape of a Tre-Angle, separated by a Channel of thirty yards broad, and two foot deep in some places, and in others deeper. This Island hath curious Meadows with Grass, where the Cattel of St. Maries Isle go to Pasture.

The Island of St. Mary stands encompass'd with Rocks, over which, at the time of High-Water the Canoos go, but at Low-Tide they are dangerous, within a foot, or half a foot of the Surface. On the Shore are found Rocks of white Corral, which the Negro's seek, and sell to the French.

The whole is cut thorow by small Rivers and Springs, by which means, to∣gether with its natural fatness, the Ground proves infinitely fertile, and all over Sown with Rice, whereof sometimes they gather two Crops in a year; there are also large Sugar-Canes, Pease, Bananoes, Ananassen; and better to Bake than in any place of Madagascar.

The Air is very moist, so that scarce one day in the year passeth without Rain, and sometimes it Showres six days together without ceasing.

The Cattel are very large and fat, feeding at pleasure.

On the Easterly Shore much Ambergreece hath been found, of which the Negro's make Burnt-Offerings on the A Mounouques, or Burying-places of their Fore-fathers. Besides, several sorts of Gums which they use for sweet Scents; and likewise Taccamahacca in great abundance. There grows a Tree, by the Natives call'd Thionti, and its Fruit Voathions, which is no sooner fallen from the same, but it Roots in the Earth and makes such a close Thicket, that it is impossible to go thorow it.

There are about ten or twelve Villages Inhabited since the French have had their abode there; so that the Governor of Antongil, which used formerly to War against this Island continually, dare not come thither for fear of the French: The whole contains about six hundred Inhabitants, which call them∣selves Zaffe-Hibrahim, that is, Children of Abraham. The Chief Commander hath to name Raignasse, or Raniassa, Son of Ratsiminon, that is, Head, because onely acknowledged by them as Head of the Stock of Abraham, in this Island and Ma∣dagascar.

The Islanders maintain themselves by Planting of Rice, Ignames, Bananoes, Su∣gar-Canes, Pease, and Beans, and Fishing for Houzites, a sort of Fish, which they carry to sell at St. Lawrence; paying to the Governor the fifth part for Tri∣bute, which also they do of Rice, and other Plants.

These Islanders will enter into no League with the Christians, yet Trade with them, because it seems they have retain'd somewhat of the Antient Ju∣daism.