Their colour is nearly black, and differs but little from that of
the natives of the Malabar coast. But this writer differs
from Le Gentil in his account of the Ovas or the Tawny race ;
he says they are remarkably thick-set in their persons, with
lank smooth hair, and an olive complexion. He adds that
they have a strong resemblance to the Malays.
Paragraph 3.—Characters of particular Races.
The different tribes of Maleeassians are now so intermixed
that it is difficult to assign particular traits to each clan.
Mr. Ellis says they are now nearly the same people, which,
as he observes, is manifested by “ their general colour, language,
customs, and the names' of towns, hills, rivers, and
natural productions!.” i Nevertheless some traces of distinct-
ness in former times, if not still, subsisting, may be-eollected,
I have above cited some observations to this effect from
Le Gentil and De Pages; I shall now add Mr. Ellis’s
statements.
He says that the principal divisions of the Maleieass&n
races are four, as f o l l o w s 1. The Hovas. :{2; The Sakalava.
3. The Betsileo. 4. The Betanimena and Betsimisaraka.
That these tribes are in some measure distinct is manifest
from the difference of their dialects and some peculiar
customs.
1. The Hovas, who inhabit the province of Ankova, are the
predominant race, and possess an entire sovereignty over -most
of the other provinces.
2. The Sakalavas are the black natives of Madagascar;
they are the next people to the Hovas, and they are more
numerous. In the last century they were more powerful than
the Hovas; whom they had reduced to subjection. The Sakalavas
are a brave and generous people, and physically considered
they, are the finest race in Madagascar. “ In person
they are tall and robust, but not corpulent; their limbs are
well-formed, muscular, and strong. On them a torrid sun
has burnt its deepest hue, their complexion being darker than
that of any others in the island. Their features are regular,
and ©seasonally prominent; their countenance open and
prepossessing; their eyes ' dark and their glances keen and
piercing; their hair black and shining, often long; though the
crisped or cuily hair occurs mote frequently among them than
thd inhabitant of other provinces® Their aspect is bold and;
imposing, theirstep firm thongh quiek, and their address and
movements often graceful and always unembarrassed, *
The Sakalavas are divided into two races, the northern and
southern Sakalavas: the first includes the natives of Iboina in
the north and of Menabe in the south and south-west of the
island, extendingoon the west side&o Fiarenana to; thefssobth
Of St. Augustine’s; Bay*,I This is called tfee.Sakalavmeo«ntry,
/ The Sakalava race ato consideredft©f«ekide as subdivisions
the Bezanazano, a small tribe inhabiting chiefly Ankay to the
south-east of Ankova, as well as the Antsiaiiaka to the north
of Ankova, These tribes are supposed to have been separated
in war from the otber Safkalavas.
“3, «»The Betsileo, a;term third
distinct race in Madagittsff fl and
they resemble their neighbours andjconquerors, the IlovaS, in
others they are distinct. Theyi are^ generally ;l®vf in stature,
slender in figure,;eree&®iill nimble in'their movements.; their
0lour4s oceaStoriaEy dighf fiebpper; though frequently -dark ,
their lips are thick, theseyfiS, hazel, and their hair-blacky long,
and curling. In tHes^etoope^toithef upptoxMafe: to; the
Hovas; but in their patriarchal mode of life, modest unassuming
address, the absence crflcaaay th in g ,lik e ^ ?hdd. and
martial bearing in aspect not behaviour, their - attachment to
the peaceful labours of agriculture, want of that = energy,
enterprise, and cunning which have made the, Homs sovereigns
of a large portion of the; island, asrwell as in many of
their manners and customs, the^ yapped to be a^dif&gpft
people, and seen! to poeteess.-fewwhich
could have assumption
Of the name by which they are now distinguished.”+■
4. The fourth division -areM/the sBefcanimena and Betsimisaraka,
who constitutetouespeople differing us much from.the
* Ellis’s History of- Madagascar> Vol. ii.TSfi