Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/815

 MADAGASCAR 809 tion of funds for a new edifice was chiefly due to his influence and personal solicitations in New England. In 1800 he published a century sermon, describing the settlement and progress of the town of Newark, and in 1803 a collec- tion of sermons in 2 vols. 8vo. MADAGASCAR, the largest and most impor- tant of -the African islands, situated in the In- dian ocean, between lat. 11 57' and 25 42' S., and Ion. 43 10' and 50 25-' E., separated from Africa by the Mozambique channel, which is in its narrowest part about 250 m. broad; length of the island, from Cape Amber in the north to Cape St. Mary in the south, about 1,030 m. ; average breadth 225 m., greatest breadth (in the centre) about 350 m. ; area estimated at 230,000 sq. m. ; pop. about 5,000,- 000. The E. coast, beginning at Cape Amber, follows a S. by E. course to Cape East or Ngoncy, lat. 15 12', when it turns S. by W. and pursues a nearly straight course to lat. 25 S., after which it runs W. by S. to Cape St. Mary. On this coast are a number of good harbors. On the north is Diego Suarez, a bay with five large harbors, all well protected; next Port Luquez, a large inlet, and Port Le- ven ; then Vohemare, protected by a coral reef, and with water deep enough for large ships; further S., in lat. 16, is the bay of Antongil, so called from Antonio Gil, its discoverer, the largest inlet of the island. The river Tinga- bale, navigable for boats, enters this bay on the north, and opposite its mouth are several small islands. Between Antongil bay and Foul point lies St. Mary's island, 31 m. long and 3 broad, belonging to France. Tamatave lat. 18 10 ;, is the most frequented port on the E. coast. It has good anchorage, but ships are exposed to easterly winds in its harbor. S. of Tamatave there are no ports of consequence excepting Fort Dauphin, lat. 25, where the French carry on a small trade. The W. coast is much more irregular in outline, being broken by numerous bays and capes. The principal bays between Capes Amber and St. Andrew are Ambarou or Chimpaiki, Passandava, Narin- da, Mazamba, and Bembatooka ; the principal capes, St. Sebastian and Ambarata. On the N. side of Bembatooka bay is Majunga, a large town and the principal port of the island. A number of small islands lie along this coast, the largest of which is Nossi Be, belonging to France. From Cape St. Andrew to Cape St. Vincent, lat. 21 55', the coast line is com- paratively regular. S. of the latter cape are Murderer's bay and the bay of St. Augustin. The N. E. portion of the island is quite mountainous, the chains (the central one of granitic formation) pursuing a direction gen- erally from N. N. E. to S. S. W., and rising to a general level of 3,000 to 4,000 ft. The high- est summit is Ankaratra, which is estimated at from 6,500 to 12,000 ft. These mountain ranges are separated by sandy plains, or barren plateaus cleft by deep ravines. The granitic mountains end in lat. 22 S., and undulating plains stretch southward and westward to the coast. The S. region is of secondary forma- tion, and has little fertility except along the infrequent watercourses. The only fertile re- gion of any extent in the island is the E. slope of the northern mountain region, which is watered by frequent rains from the Indian ocean. It is covered by a narrow uninter- rupted line of forests. The whole island may be divided into the E. and W. slopes, the for- mer being from 30 to 80 m. wide, while the latter extends over three or four degrees, and is traversed by important rivers. The most remarkable rivet flowing E. is the Mananguru, which is obstructed by islets and rocks almost to its mouth. No river flowing E. is navigable even for the smallest pirogues more than 10 m. from its mouth. On the W. coast several rivers are navigable for 30 or 40 m. The Tsidsubu or Menabe is ascended by pirogues to the foot of the central range of mountains. The Betsibooka is said to be navigable by small vessels for 160 m. The Mangooka or St. Vincent's is also a navigable river. The S. "W. region has no rivers of importance. Madagas- car is not rich in lakes. The largest are Itasa and Alaoutre, the latter 30 m. long. Along the E. coast is a series of fresh and salt lagoons formed by the overflow of the rivers or of the sea. The great salt lake of Mananpetsootse is about 20 m. long ; it is very narrow and very salt, and contains no fish. There are many