CHAPTER VIII.

THE SIHANAKA PROVINCE AND PEOPLE.

Special reason for a visit to this PAGES Province—Crossing the Granite Moors—Basin 227-267 of the Mananára—Anjozorobe and its People—Spend Sunday with them—“The Gate of Rock”—The Wilderness of Ankay—Capital of the Sihanaka, its Governor and People—Christian work and the Native Pastor—Tour round the District—Ambohidehilahy—Ambodinónoka—Petulance of our Bearers—The great Swamp and its Reeds—Ambohitromby—Reception at Ambohipeno—Amparafaravola and its kind Governor—A Volcanic Hill—Ambohijanahary—Ambohitsara—Enquiries about the Gun—The Alaotra Lake and the Scenery around it—Marosalázana and its bright Scholars—Memorials of the Dead—Whence came the Sihanaka People—How they became Christians—What the Gospel is doing for them—Form, Extent and Population of the District