MADAGASCAR, or ST LAURENCE, the largest of the African islands, situated between 43° and 51° of E. Long. and between 12° and 26° of S. Lat. It extends near 1000 miles from north-north-east to south-west, and about 300 in breadth where broadest. The whole coast is divided by rivers; and there are many bays and gulfs, with good roads and harbours. It abounds in corn, cattle, fowls, and all manner of animals and vegetables found on the continent of Africa; and affords an agreeable variety of hills, valleys, woods, and champaign. Great quantities of iron and steel are found throughout this island, which their artificers forge and purify with less difficulty and labour than Europeans. Their method is this: They reduce the ore, as brought from the mines, into powder, place it upon burning coals between four stones, which are clayed round for the purpose; and, by continual blowing underneath, with bellows made in the shape of gun-barrels or water-pumps, the ore runs in less than an hour; whence the metal being afterwards
Madagascar wards extracted, by great heat, is formed into bars of three or four pounds weight. It is confidently affirmed, that the island has also mines of gold and silver, and of a white metal much like British tin. The rivers and brooks are rich in various kinds of precious stones, in crystals, topazes, amethysts, eagle-stones, emeralds, sapphires, hyacinths, jaspers, blood-stones, &c.
The inhabitants are of different complexions and religions: some white, some negroes; some Mohammedans, some Pagans. The whites, and those of a tawny complexion, who inhabit the coasts, are descended from the Arabs, as is evident from their language and their religious rites: but here are no mosques, temples, nor any stated worship, except that they offer sacrifices of beasts on particular occasions; as when sick, when they plant yams or rice, when they hold their assemblies, circumcise their children, declare war, enter into new built houses, and bury their dead. The country is divided into a great many petty princes, who are continually at war with one another, as upon the continent; selling their prisoners or slaves to the shipping which touch there; and taking cloathing, utensils, and other necessaries, in return. The French had once some settlements upon the island; but, at present, neither they nor any other European nation have any.