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Richard Hakluyt - Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, 10
line (Madagascar or S. Laurence is an Islande belonging to the Countrey of Africa, and lyeth Southwarde
vnder 26 degrees, ending Northwarde vnder 11 degrees by the inhabitants it is called Madagascar, and by
the Portingalles the Islande of S. Laurence, because it was discouered on S. Laurence day: The riches of
this Island is great, it aboundeth in Ryce, Honnie, Waxe, Cotton, Lemons, Cloues, etc. The inhabitants
are blacke and go naked, but the haire vpon their heades is not so much curled as those of the
Mosambique, and they are not ful so blacke.)
The 23. of Ianuary we ankered before a Riuer where likewise we had all kind of necessaries, and after
that we went to lie vnder a small Islande within the same Bay.
[The wilde people came on borde their ships and seemed very friendly.] The 25. Ianuarie there came
some of the wild people aborde our ships, making signes to haue vs go on land, which we did, and there
we had good Ryce and other fruits in great abundance. On the left side of the entry of the Riuer lyeth one
of their Townes, and on the right hand two townes, where we had most of our trafique.
The 26. of Ianuarie wee had interpreters, whom we made to drink wine, wherewith they were as drunk as
beastes.
The manner and condition of the people inhabiting in the great Bay of Antogil, on this side the
Equinoctiall line vnder 16 degrees, on the South side of the Island Madagascar.
It is a very great Bay, about ten mile broade, behind it lyeth a high Island, and three small Islands: there
is good harbour against all windes. The Island is inhabited, and therein groweth all kindes of fruites, it
hath a great fall of water that commeth down out of the hilles, where we laded all our water, and halfe a
mile from thence within the land, there runneth a great Riuer, wherein likewise there is much water to be
had, when you enter into the Riuer about a quarter of a mile inward on the left hand, ther is a smal towne
or village, not closed nor fortified, in it there is about 200. houses, and on the right hand where the Riuer
diuideth it selfe, there is two other such Townes: They were all compassed with palles, and the houses
were placed about two foote aboue the ground, vpon foure or fiue palles or stakes of wood, and all the
vpper partes of reede and strawe. [Why their houses stand so high aboue the earth.] The cause why their
houses are made so high from the ground is to auoide the danger of venemous beastes that are there in
great aboundance, as Serpents, Snakes, Camelions, and other kindes of beastes. The people are very
blacke, but their hayre and beardes are not so much curled as the right Mores, nor their noses nor lippes
so great nor flat. They are subtill and strong people, much addicted to drinking, for they will bee as
drunke as Swine, with a kind of drinke made of Honie and Ryce. [The maner of the wilde men in that
countrey.] They go naked, onely that about their midles they weare a cloth made of the barke of a tree,
drawne in small threedes: they make and use very fine Mats to sitte vppon: They haue no great store of
weapons, for that halfe of them are vnprouided, and that they vse is a speare of nine ten foote long with a
great wooden Target: They are very fearefull of our Caliuers, for 5. or sixe men with Caliuers will cause
great numbers of them to flie away: We taught them what our peeces ment for wee perceyued that they
knew them not, before they had proued them: at the first they thought they coulde carry no further then
their owne lengthes, for they knew not what they were: Their Kinges ornamentes were ten or twelue
Copper Rings about his armes: if we had had such Ringes with vs, wee might haue sold them at what
prices wee woulde. They likewise vse beades of Glasse, which they weare about their armes and neckes,
by them esteemed for great ornaments: for a boxe of beades of small value, we had an Oxe, or three or
foure Sheepe; rounde about this Bay are townes and villages, where you may haue of all things to refresh
your selues, Lemons and Citrons are there greater and better then in Portingall: Likewise Oringes, Ryce,
Hennes, Goats, Honie, and many other sortes of fruites, and to conclude it is the best Bay in all the world
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