Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Vol. 18

The soil is infertile for the five grains original: 五穀 (wugu); a traditional Chinese term for staple food crops like rice, wheat, and millet. The key Portuguese territories in this region are the two cities of Sofala and Mozambique original: 所弗刺 (Suofula) and 摩散北 (Moshanbei). There is also a city of the Muslims original: 回回 (Huihui) called Malindi original: 墨林他 (Melinta). Although the coastline stretches for nine thousand li a Chinese unit of distance, roughly 500 meters, no men of letters have traveled here to record their observations; therefore, the specific details of this region are difficult to verify.

The great island to the east is called Madagascar original: 馬大狆甲 (Madazhongjia). It extends from the South Pole referring to the Southern Hemisphere from twelve degrees to twenty-six degrees [South latitude]. It is eight hundred and forty li in length and two hundred and twenty li in width. Through its center runs a chain of high, craggy, and steep mountains with cascading waterfalls. The valleys are filled with sappanwood original: 蘇木 (sumu); a tree used for making red dye, tall bamboo, orange, and nut-bearing trees. The flatlands and marshes offer beautiful scenery. The population consists of two million people.

The inhabitants were quite inclined toward civilization. During the Daoguang era The reign of the Qing Emperor from 1821–1850, the sovereign of the island King Radama I invited teachers from England to encourage the people to pursue learning. As a result, literacy and the arts advanced significantly, and many embraced Christianity original: 耶穌之敎 (Yesu zhi jiao); literally "The Religion of Jesus". However, the King was suddenly poisoned to death by his Queen Queen Ranavalona I. She expelled the virtuous and instead recruited lawless elements. The officials of France original: 佛蘭西 (Folansi) attempted to establish new settlements there, but their efforts were ineffectual, and they eventually withdrew. The...