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Madagascar Peoples of the Tsaratamana Massif and the Southwest
The Antakarana, living on the Tsaratamana Massif and
the
northern tip of the island, make up 0.6 percent of the
population. The topography of the region isolates them
from the
other Malagasy peoples. They are both cattle herders and
tropical
horticulturalists.
The major peoples of the arid southwest region are the
Mahafaly and the Antandroy, making up 1.6 and 5.4 percent
of the
population, respectively. The Mahafaly occupy a region
between
the Onilahy River to the north and the Menarandra River to
the
south, encompassing an area of some 45,000 square
kilometers. The
Antandroy territory lies to the east, a desert area full
of cacti
and thorn bushes. Its terrain makes their name, translated
as
"people of the thorns," especially apt. Both peoples
depend upon
the raising of cattle. Limited cultivation is also
practiced. The
Antandroy region is especially poor, causing workers to
migrate
to other parts of the island to make a living. Along with
cattle,
the prickly pear cactus is vital to the people's
livelihood. Its
spiny growths have served as a source of water and
nourishment
and as a means of defense against outside invaders.
Data as of August 1994
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