a province of the island of Madagascar, lying between Lat. 23° 18' and 26° S. It is watered by many rivers, most of which run into the Franchere, Ramevatte, or Immour, the spring of which is in a mountain called Manghage, and discharges itself into the sea in Lat. 25° 18' S. The mouth of this river is often stopped, and the course to the sea interrupted, unless kept open by the overflows of great rains and high tides. The water runs salt one league above the mouth, particularly in a free communication with the sea. A lake, called Ambou, is formed at the mouth, half a league wide, with depth sufficient for any ship if the mouth of the river was kept open. Next in signs to the Franchere is the Manghafia, which springs from a mountain called Silion, and empties itself into the sea, where large ships may ride at anchor. Crocodiles breed in these and all the other rivers of the island.

Between the two rivers above mentioned lies Cape St Romain, half a mile distant from the mouth of the Franchere, and which runs from the north-west fix or seven leagues into the sea. When the Cape is passed the coast forms a great bay, in the shape of a crofs, which extends to the mouth of a river called Dian Panouge, or Pitorah. In the middle of this bay the land runs out, and almost forms a peninsula called Tholangare. Fort Dauphin lies to the north of this peninsula, and Port Dauphin over against it. This province has several other peninsulas and small islands belonging to it. The country is beautiful; abounds in fruit-trees: is fertile in pasture for cattle; and, if carefully cultivated, would produce all the necessaries of life. It is surrounded by high mountains, which are covered with woods and shrubs; but, about four miles distant from Fort Dauphin, the adjacent hills are quite destitute of verdure. The French often dug in this neighbourhood, expecting to meet with mines of gold and silver, particularly in one mountain where several springs flow near each other and empty themselves into a neighbouring river. In this river they found several stones and heaps intermixed with yellow clay, with a great quantity of black and white spangles shining like silver, which they carefully pounded and washed, but without effect. About 60 yards above these springs the grass, and every sort of vegetable, appears half dried and yellow, from a metallic sulphur, which gives that aspect; but the top of the mountain is covered with a fresh and beautiful verdure. It is said that the Portuguese found gold at the foot of this mountain on the north side, but that the place they had dug was filled up by the chiefs of the country after the Portuguese had been driven out.

The province of Anossi is inhabited by three different sorts of whites, and four sorts of negroes. The whites are distinguished by the names of Rohandrians, Anacandrians, and Ondzafis. The whites are distinguished from the negroes by the general name of Zafarimini, or Rahinimi; and the Rohandrians are distinguished above the other whites. When they proceed to an election of a sovereign, whom they call Omptandrian, or Dian Bahouache; he is chosen from the Rohandrian race. Next to him the others hold the rank of princes, and are honoured as such by all the refts. The Anacandrians are descendants of the chiefs, but who have degenerated, and are accounted the bastards of princes, or those who are descended from a Rohandrian and any inferior white or black woman. These are likewise called by the name of Ontempafimaca, or people from the sandy parts of Mecca, from whence, they say, came the Rohandrians. Both the Rohandrians and Anacandrians wear long hair, which hangs down in curls; and enjoy the privilege of killing beasts. The Ondzafi, or lowest class of whites, are descended from the bastards of the Anacandrians. These are all fishermen, and are allowed to kill no land animal except a chicken.

The four classes of negroes are named Voadziri, Lohavohits, Ontfoa, and Ondevos. The Voadziri, the most powerful and the richest, are masters of several villages, and descended from the original lords of the country. They enjoy the privilege of killing beasts, when at a distance from the whites, and no Rohandrian or Anacandrian in the village. The Lohavohits are descendants from the Voadziri, and also lords; but with this difference, that the one commands a whole district, and the jurisdiction of the others extends only to their own village and family. They are also permitted to kill those beasts they intend to eat, when at a distance from the whites. The Ontfoa are next to the Lohavohits, and are their near relations. The Ondevos are the lowest of all, being originally slaves by father and mother. The Voadziri, Lohavohits, and Ontfoa, enjoy the privilege of submitting themselves, on the death of their lord or king, to any chief they please. In return for such homage, the new lord makes them a present, in consequence of which he becomes heir to all their possessions. Hence the lower classes both of whites and blacks, when death approaches, are under the greatest concern and anguish of mind, well knowing that their lords will not fail to deprive their children of every thing they possess. The Ondevos have not the same liberty with the others; but, in times of famine, the chiefs are obliged to supply them with necessaries; which if they fail to do, they have the liberty of submitting themselves to new masters. The inhabitants of this province have no temples, and very little appearance of religion; only they keep up a custom of immolating beasts upon particular occasions, as in sickness, planting yams or rice, on assemblies, &c. They offer the first-born beast to the devil and to God, naming the devil first, in this manner, Dianibilis Aminhanhabare, or "Lord Devil and God."—There are several towns on the river Franchere; and near this river the Portuguese had a fort built upon a steep rock, and several buildings below, with inclosures, which furnished all sorts of necessaries for their subsistence; but they were all massacred by the natives.

This province seems originally to have been inhabited by negroes. The whites or Zaferamini settled in it about 200 years ago, and conquered the negroes. But they themselves were conquered by the French, though under the government of a king whom they honoured as a god. In 1642, Captain Rivault obtained a permission to establish a colony in this part of the island; and accordingly he took possession of it in the name of the king of France, in the month of September, that same year. The French landed 200 men, well armed, and provided with store of ammunition and other necessaries for building a fort, which they immediately set about; but no sooner did the natives observe their intention, than they used their utmost art to prevent their design from taking effect. This created a war, in which the French were victors; and, the natives becoming in time much better reconciled to them, they intermarried, and lived up and down in several towns at some distance from one another, not above five or six in a place. This tranquillity lasted for some years; but at last the natives, growing jealous, resolved to free themselves from a foreign yoke; and accordingly formed a conspiracy to cut off all the French in one day; which they soon after effected, not leaving a single person alive. In 1644 the above-mentioned Fort Dauphin was erected in Lat. 25° 6' S. Many buildings were erected, behind the Fort, adjoining to the governor's house, with great inclosures that produced every sort of fruit and kitchen herb. In 1656 this fort was accidentally destroyed by fire; but was soon after repaired, and still continues, notwithstanding the catastrophe above mentioned, and its garrison carries on frequent wars with the natives.