Saint Augustin, Madagascar

Saint Augustin (also known as Ianantsony; Malagasy: Anantsono) is a rural municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Toliara II, which is a part of Atsimo-Andrefana Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 15,000 in 2001 commune census.^[2] The mouth of the Onilahy River is near the town.

Saint Augustin Ianantsony
Saint Augustin
Saint Augustin Location in Madagascar
Coordinates: 23°33′S 43°46′E
Country	Madagascar
Province	Toliara
Region	Atsimo-Andrefana
District	Toliara II
Elevation [1]	39 m (128 ft)
Population  (2001)[2]
• Total	15,000
Time zone	UTC3 (EAT)
Postal code	602

Primary and junior level secondary education are available in town. The majority 60% of the population works in fishing. 23% are farmers, while an additional 10% receives their livelihood from raising livestock. The most important crops are sweet potatoes and rice; also lima beans is an important agricultural product. Services provide employment for 7% of the population.^[2]

England's Courteen association attempted to sponsor a colony nearby in 1645 but by 1646 famine, disease, and conflict with the Malagasy drove the English settlers away and the colony failed.^[3] Pirates such as John Pro, Thomas White, Samuel Burgess, and John Halsey frequented the area in the early 18th century. Ex-pirate John Rivers established a pirate settlement at Saint Augustin, resupplying passing ships for a fee and trading in slaves; his trading post lasted from 1686 until his death in 1719.^[4]

Geography

It is situated south of Toliara (Tuléar) at the mouth of the Onilahy River to the Bay of Saint-Augustin and the Indian Ocean. There used to be a ferry over the Onilahy to Soalara but it broke down.^[5] It is necessary to take small outrigger canoes or to make the trip around the bay (250 km) since 2021.