Betsimisarakas

Betsimisarakas, a main division of the Malagasy race, occupying a great part of the east coast of Madagascar, and extending round to the northwest side, where their domain is conterminous with that of the Sakalavas. The Betsimisarakas are politically subject to the dominant Hova nation, whom they resemble in appearance and language. Their chief subdivisions are the Sihanakas, Tanalas, Tankays and Ikongos; total population 300,000. See Bishop Kestell Cornish, Tour in the Madagascar, 1877.