is extremely probable tbat the Quimos were the people termed
by the present Malagasy Vazimbas, as Mr. Ellis Conjectures*'
and that the description of them given by Roebon and other
French writers isincorreet* having been derived from accounts
reported by natives. Mr. Ellis observes that in the same part
of the island, though at a greater distance than two or three
days’ journey from Fort-Dauphin, a tribe of Vazimbas are
said still to exist. « The remains of the Vazimbas, the original
inhabitants of Ankoya, now reside between the rivers I mania
and Amanambolo in the province of Menabé. From this it
would appear tbat the race, though expelled from Ankova,
is not. extinct from the island of Madagascar, and it is
possible that their history and language may yet be elucidated.
They are mentioned by Robert Drury, who was shipwrecked
near the southern point of Madagascar in 1702, and resided
a long time on the island, under the name of Vif£imbd*&r
In his time they were still Well known :as a part of the population
of Madagascar. He says they Were different from the
Maleeasses : their hair was neither so long nor so woolly as
that pf the other natives : their manners and religion Were
different. They paid a superstitious reverence to the new
moon and to several animals, as lizards. They flattened the
heads of children.’2 They bad, he says, a language quite
peculiar to themselves, which was unintelligible to him though
he spoke familiarly and constantly used for manyiyears the
Malecassian language. Drury supposed them to be the
aborigines of the island.
It is much to be» desired that we could obtain specimens of
the language of those hordes yet existing in Menabé who are
said to bé descendants of the Vazimbas. It Would be a
remarkable fact if it should be found that a lank-haired race
are really the aborigines of the island, and that they preserve
a different speech from that of the Ho vas, while the black
and woolly-haired tribes everywhere speak the Malagasy.*
* The preceding enumeration of tribes is that of M. Fressahge. I have
given that of Mr. Eilis, which- differs Somewhat, below.
: ¥ll.—MiMid^ttpêié(r¥> Characters o f the
Mhlecmsians.-
. ^-General I Characters.
The Malecassian tribes enumerated in the last section are,
according to Mr. $p§jpNfl evidently distinct nations derived
from different original stems, though now united by Conquest.
In èÖm© points they a#e observed* tb bear, howév^'a general
resemblance. These common characteristics are thus- described
SpN They-;are generally below the rniddle! stature,
which feW exeeed : the men are better formed than the women,
who have a tendency to OOrpufencyv Thffbeardsof the men
are ”'jsveàk, and they * afé*' > plucked 'Oit during« y otóh* Their
hands îàW- not so warm as those óf Europeans.#- Mr. Ellis
says that thédemperature-óf their blóödris colder by the ther-
momé'ter. The’ former trait they have in common with other
African and with most dark^eOloured races. The last remark
requires confirmation.
Each tribe- displays variations in 'the physical eharacter of
its members. They are separated into two cl&ssè% supposed
to descend from two different races. - One is distingtaished
by a light, exquisitely formed person, comparatively fair complexion,
and straight or Curling hair ; btheri more robust
and dark-coloured, with woolly %&#.-• The former apparently
belongs to the Polynesian race ; the latter probably
descends either from the African Negro or from a Papua or
Pelagian Negro race. Thé-straight^haired tribes who descend
from the Mâlaÿo-Polÿfiesian race hate riot, however; the
complexion of the Malays, but rather that of' the Oceanic
Polynesians. Mr. Ellis assures’ us that “ the vigour of health
frequently gives a riiddy tinge to the olive-coloured race,
which removes them from approximating in complexion to
the yellow hue of the Malays, while it does not1 give them
any resemblance to the copper-coloured Indians of America.
Between the two extreme qualities of the hair, which are