In illustration of this unity of the races now occupying Madagascar, I have noted with interest that the names given to localities in all parts of the island, Sakaláva, Betsimisáraka and Hóva are of the same character; and are plainly derived from the present Malagasy language. Many of the Sakaláva names are distinctly Hóva. Off the north-west coast we find Nosibe, “big island,” Nosikomba, “monkey island,” and Nosifály, “glad island;” we have Ampásiména, “red sand village;” Mároláhy, “the village of princes,” and Andránomaláza, “famous water.” We have Márovoáy, with its “many crocodiles,” Mojangá “the restorer of health,” and Mevatanána “good place for a town.” On the west coast we have Máintiráno, “the black river,” Mafándráno, “hot springs,” and Mámiráno “sweet waters.” We have one town, Mánandáza “the glorious,” and another, Malaimbándy “the place of indolent lies.” We have Fierénana in Vonizongo and on the Sakalava coast. We have the pass of Ambodifiakárana among the limestone ridges of the Sakalavas, and under the granite moors on the Mania. Hundreds of names are scattered over the east and west coasts, bearing a striking similarity to those of the interior, and applied as fittingly to the places which they indicate. The names and the people are evidently one. Baron Humboldt, the linguist, long since detected the Malay element in their language. Other writers have followed him. And the more attentively and completely the subject is examined the stronger will the evidence of that origin appear. Unhappily such a complete examination has not yet been made. Malay scholars have but partially understood Malagasy: and Malagasy scholars have looked but little into Malay. And we know scarcely more than was written by the Rev. J. J. Freeman, forty years ago. Yet the materials are beginning to accumulate out of which the comparison may be made in full detail. Besides Marsden’s Grammar and Dictionary, in Crawford’s Malay Grammar, in Wallace’s Eastern Archipelago, in the Appendix of Dr. Turner’s “Nineteen Years in Polynesia,” there are lists of words and idioms in the Malay and its cognate dialects, Samoan, Máori and Tahitian, available for the discussion of the question: and ere long we may hope to see it undertaken thoroughly. I have no pretensions to a knowledge of either tongue. But it happens that during my visit to Madagascar unpublished papers from competent men came into my hands, and I will venture to give a few illustrations which they furnish of the connection between the two languages. Mr. Freeman observes with interest that it is the Betsimisáraka edition of Malagasy which comes nearest to the Malay; and it is the Maláya branch of the language, rather than Javanese or Báli, which comes closest to Malagasy. Here is a simple list of twenty words.