colleges, schools, hospitals, courts of justice and other government
buildings, and hundreds of good dwelling-houses. Since the French
conquest in 1895 good roads have been constructed throughout the city,
broad flights of steps connect places too steep for the formation of
carriage roads, and the central space, called Andohalo, has become a
handsome _place_, with walks and terraces, flower-beds and trees. A
small park has been laid out near the residency, and the planting of
trees and the formation of gardens in various parts of the city give it
a bright and attractive appearance. Water is obtained from springs at
the foot of the hill, but it is proposed to bring an abundant supply
from the river Ikopa, which skirts the capital to the south and west.
The population, including that of the suburbs, is 69,000 (1907). The
city is guarded by two forts built on hills to the east and south-west
respectively. Including an Anglican and a Roman Catholic cathedral,
there are about fifty churches in the city and its suburbs, as well as a
Mahommedan mosque. (J. Si.*)

'ANTARA IBN SHADDAD, Arabian poet and warrior of the 6th century, was
famous both for his poetry and his adventurous life. His chief poem is
contained in the _Mo'allakat_. The account of his life forms the basis
of a long and extravagant romance. His father Shaddad was a soldier, his
mother Zabuba a negro slave. Neglected at first, he soon claimed
attention and respect for himself, and by his remarkable personal
qualities and courage in battle he gained his freedom and the
acknowledgment of his father. He took part in the great war between the
related tribes of Abs and Dhubyan, which began over a contest of horses
and was named after them the war of Dahis and Ghabra. He died in a
fight against the tribe of Tai. His poems, which are chiefly concerned
with fighting or with his love for Abla, are published in W. Ahlwardt's
_The Diwans of the six ancient Arabic Poets_ (London, 1870); they have
also been published separately at Beirut (1888). As regards their
genuineness, cf. W. Ahlwardt's _Bemerkungen uber die Aechtheit der alten
arabichen Gedichte_ (Greifswald, 1872), pp. 50 ff. _The Romance of
'Antar_ (Sirat 'Antar ibn Shaddad) is a work which was long handed down
by oral tradition only, has grown to immense proportions and has been
published in 32 vols. at Cairo, 1307 (A.D. 1889), and in 10 vols. at
Beirut, 1871. It was partly translated by Terrick Hamilton u