Three visits to Madagascar during the years 1853-1854-1856 : including a journey to the capital, with notices of the natural history of the country an

Front matter

LIBRARY

OK THE

Theological Seminary,

Preface

The chief part of the following pages was written in Madagascar. It was my habit, whether traveling or residing in one place, to note down, generally at the close of the day, the impressions produced by the novel or attractive objects I might have met with, or the information I might have gathered from the people. This record of daily occurrences was from time to time sent home in the form of journal letters ; and from these letters chiefly the following narratives have been prepared.

More than twenty years have elapsed since the last English missionaries left Madagascar, and during this period religious changes of the most decisive nature, and events of the highest and most sacred character, have occurred among the people. The imperfect, and, at times, conflicting accounts of these events received in England indicated the desirableness of a personal visit. Such visit has been made, and was, there is every reason to believe, welcome to the government and people of Madagascar ; while its results, it is hoped, will prove satisfactory to their friends in this country. The visit proposed by Mr. Cameron and myself was one of friendship to the queen and people, not an official religious mission, though no objects were so deeply vi PREFACE.

interesting to us as the religious state of the people. For observing this, ample opportunities were afforded ; and on this subject I received much valuable information from the people themselves ; part of it exceedingly painful, on account of the sufferings it made known, the rest, though highly satisfactory and full of hope, I have not, for obvious reasons, included in the narrative of my visits. The profession of Christianity is not permitted by the present government of Madagascar, and statements acceptable and interesting to ourselves might affect injuriously good men in a country where civil and religious liberty does not exist, where it is contrary to law for a man even to leave his country without permission from the government, and where the most cruel death I heard of on the coast had been inflicted on men who had attempted to quit the country without leave from their superiors.

As a friendly visitor from England,, I was kindly received by the queen and all classes of the people; and nothing could exceed the hospitality and attention shown me on the coast, during my journeys, and at the capital. I have described the novel and often singularly beautiful aspects of the country through which I passed, and the chief incidents of my visits, as they occurred, leaving my readers to form their own opinions of the character of the people, their resources, and present civilization; which would advance much more rapidly, and develop itself far more satisfactorily, were the people not so frequently harassed by threatening rumors of invasion from a foreign power. The accounts comprised in the following pages of

PREFACE. vii

my intercourse with the people, especially with the young prince, the queen's son, and the heir to the throne, for the preservation of whose valuable life the affectionate anxieties of the people are at times intensely excited, will, I most sincerely trust, increase the interest felt in the people of Madagascar, and particularly in the young prince personally, by the English generally, and more especially by the religious portions of the community.

The language and physical character of the people frequently suggested attractive ethnological inquiries, and the new and beautiful plants which I met with in the forests or plains not only afforded much gratification at the time, but have enabled me to add a few specimens of some that are highly esteemed as rare and curious to those already cultivated in England. Besides those which are described, I have, since the following sheets were printed, been informed by Sir W. J. Hooker that among the ouvirandra which I brought over there has recently been found a second species, the Ouvirandra Bernieriana, bearing delicately rose-colored flowers. This new species Sir W. J. Hooker has described and figured recently in the "Botanical Magazine."

The map is reduced from the outline of the late Commodore Owen's survey.

I am indebted to photography for the chief part of the illustrations of the volume. The different portraits, some of which exhibit remarkable heads, are all from photographs taken in the country. Several of the views, as well as the representations of a number of trees and plants, were viii PEEFACE.

obtained by the same means, or from sketches made, with one or two exceptions, while the objects were before me. The ouvirandra was drawn from a plant brought to this country; and I beg to return my sincere thanks to the proprietors of "Knight's Museum of Animated Nature" for the use of three illustrations of subjects of Natural History.

In my remarks on the native language, I have made use of the grammars of Messrs. Baker and Griffiths, but more especially of a valuable paper on the language kindly furnished for me some years ago by the late Eev. J. J. Freeman.

I also avail myself of the present opportunity to acknowledge my obligations to Sir "W. J. Hooker and Dr. Lindley for the useful suggestions which they kindly offered, in directing my attention, previous to my departure from England, to the botanical treasures which Madagascar was known to contain. Nor would I omit on this occasion to express my grateful sense of the hospitality and kindness of His Excellency Sir James Higginson, governor of Mauritius at the time of my visit, to General Sutherland and General Hay, the late Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey, the Eev. J. Le Brun, and Messrs. l'Estrange, as well as that of other friends in Mauritius and at the Cape of Good Hope.

The kindness evinced by these friends was not only gratifying to myself personally, as a stranger among them, but also highly encouraging as an expression of the deep interest felt in the welfare of the people to whom my visits were directed. W. E.

Hoddesden, October. 1858.

Contents

CHAPTER L

Brief historical Introduction. — Treaty between the English and Malagasy for the Abolition of the Slave-trade. — Introduction of useful Arts, Letters, and the Knowledge of the Christian Religion. — Death of Radama — Prohibition of Religious Teaching. — Departure of the Missionaries. — French and English Attack on Tamatave. — Severe Persecution of the Christians. — Conversion of the Princes. — Departure of the Author from England for Madagascar. — Voyage to St. Vincent's. — Ascension. — The Cape of Good Hope. — Public Rejoicings at Cape Town. — The Schoolchildren's Feast. — Last Sunday on board the Indiana. — Arrival at Port Louis. — Reports of the continued Sufferings of the Christians in Madagascar Page 17

Chapter II

Departure from Port Louis. — Stormy Voyage. — Arrival at Tamatave. — Appearance of the Village. — The Harbor-master and his Officers. — Letters sent to the Capital. — Invitation to the Shore. — Welcome from the Officers and People. — Native Custom-house. — The Harbor-master's Dwelling. — Important Conversation with some of the chief Officers of the Port respecting the Intentions of the English. — Conversation respecting the Christians. — Curious Mode of taking Snuff. — Analogies between the Polynesian and Malagasy Languages. — Appearance and Dress of the People. — The Trade of the Island. — Feelings of the Native Christians. — Our Annoyances on board the Ship. — New Plants and Flowers. — The Ouvirandra fenestralis. — Letters from the Capital. — Hospitality on Shore. — Departure from Tamatave. — Arrival at Mauritius 34

Chapter III

Compensation sent to the Queen of Madagascar. — Situation of Port Louis. — Cosmopolitan Aspect of its Inhabitants. — Designation of the Shops. — Number and splendid Appearance of the Trees and Flowers of Port Louis. — Description of the Bazar. — Exhibition of the Society of Agriculture and Arts. — Arrival of the Survivors of the Wreck of the Meridian. — Hospitality and Munificence of the Inhabitants of Mauritius. — Testimonial to Captain Ludlow. — Religious Services for the Seamen. — Visit to Moka. —

X

CONTENTS.

Residence of the late Dr. Thorn. — Ascent of the Pouce Mountain, and View from the Summit. — Plant-hunting in the Woods. — Return of Mr. Cameron from Madagascar. — Terms on which the Trade of foreign Countries with Madagascar was renewed. — Letter to Foreigners from the Queen's Secretary Page 69

Chapter IV

Visit to the Governor at Reduit. — Luxuriance of Tropical Vegetation. — Plants and Flowers from Europe and Asia. — Arrival of a Missionary from India. — Proposed Efforts for the religious Instruction of the Coolies. — Efforts on behalf of the Creole Population of Grande Riviere. — Photography in the Tropics. — Visit to Mr. Che'ron at Plaines Wilhelms. — Fete of the Children in the School. — Sugar-works on the Estate. — Place of Worship for the Malagasy. — Excursion to the Country. — Spice Plantations at Grande Donjon. — Preparations for the Feast of the New Year. — Permission given to bury the Skulls of English and Frenchmen fixed on Poles at Tamatave. — Visit to Beau Bassin and Wolmar. — Magnificent Species of Artocarpus. — Effects of frequent Hurricanes. — Heat of the Weather. — Preparation for a Hurricane. — Visit to the Royal Gardens at Pamplemouses. — Splendid Avenue of Palms. — Missionary Stations in the Country. — Missionary Anniversary at Port Louis. — The Cemetery. — Fearful Ravages of the Cholera at Mauritius. — Departure for Madagascar 98

Chapter V

Second Voyage to Madagascar. — Quarantine on account of the Cholera at Mauritius. — Residence on Shore. — Visit to a sick Chief. — His Secretary. — Presents from the People. — Correspondence with the Government at the Capital. — Hospitality of M. Provint. — Evening Walks. — Drawers of Water. — Cattle-market. — Mode of embarking and landing Cattle. — Articles sold in the daily Market. — House of the Son of the Chief Judge. — The national Festival of the New Year. — Presents. — Visitors from the Capital. — Annual Festival Dinner by the Governor. — Dresses of the Company. — Eating of the Jaka preserved since the last annual Festival. — Accounts of the destructive Progress of the Cholera at Mauritius. — Death of Mr. Kelsey. — Visit to the Capital prohibited on account of the Cholera at Mauritius. — Astonishment of the Natives on witnessing the Effects of Photography. — Remarkable Countenances of many of the People.— Application for Medicine. — Toothaches. — Varieties of native Medicine. — Poisonous Fish. — Serpents. — Habits of the Aye- Aye .... 133

Chapter VI

Domestic Slavery in Madagascar. — Prices of Slaves. — Modes of Punishment. — Numbers of Slaves. — Native Manufactures. — Rofia Cloth. — Native Bask-

CONTENTS.

xi ets.— Fondness of Natives for Barter.— Conversations with the People.— Desire after Education. — Historical Notice of the Persecution of the Christians.— Simple Scriptural Character of their Faith. — Testimonies in their Favor. — Scriptural Basis of their religious Organizations and Observances. — Social Gatherings. — Perils to which they have been exposed. — Public Confessions. — Constancy unto Death. — Nature and Severity of their Punishments.— Numbers who have suffered on account of their Religion. — Executions in 1849. — Latest Edict against Christian Observances. — Opinions of the Natives which render Christianity peculiarly criminal in the Estimation of the Hcr.then.— Claims of the Christians to Sympathy and Compassion Fage 173

CHAPTER VtL

Journey from Tamatave to Foule Pointe. — Native Gardens. — Photography in the Forest. — Novel Aspects of the Vegetation. — Native Lodgings. — Malagasy Travelers. — Abundant and beautiful Orchidaceous Plants. — Angrrecum superbum. — A. sesquipedale. — Native Lizards and Birds. — Arrival at Foule Pointe. — Native Accommodations and Hospitality. — Pleasant Intercourse with the People. — Hospitality of the Residents. — Interview with the Governor. — Brief Notice of Benyowsky. — Return to Tamatave. — Last Night on Shore. — Affectionate Interest of the Natives. — Early Morning Embarkation. — Last View of the Land. — Arrival at Mauritius. — Departure for the Cape of Good Hope 197

CHAPTER Till.

Tisit to the Missionary Settlements in the Cape Colony. — Journey to Paarl. — African Omnibuses. — Driving ten in hand. — Intercourse with an aged Missionary. — Departure from Cape Town. — Accident on the Road. — Aspect of the Country. — Variety and Abundance of Flowers and Fruits. — Zurbraak. — An African Congregation. — The Montague Pass. — Ostriches.— Extent and Beauty of the Cango Caverns. — Hospitality of a Negro Woman. — Matzie's Riviere. — Settlement of African Christians. — Spirited Conduct of the People of Oudshorn. — Journey across the Desert. — Graaf Reynet. — Fruits of Frugality and Industry. — Flight of Locusts. — Large Herds of Springboks. — Kindness of Mr. Gilfillan, Wonder Hill. — Encampment on the Banks of the Orange River. — Subsidence of the Waters. — Journey to Philipolis. — Sunday with the Griquas. — State and Prospects of the People. — Hospitality of the Boers. — Sheep-shearing in South Africa. — Cradock. — Disease among the Cattle. — Orange Grove. — Venomous Reptiles. — Anecdotes of Caffres. — Visit to Mr. Hart at Glen Avon 222 xii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.

Journey to Blinkwater. — Beacon Hill. — Intercourse with Mr. Van Royer and the People. — Arrival at Philipton. — Venomous Serpents. — Instances of their Power over their Prey. — Intercourse with the People of the Settlement.— Gratifying Effects of the Visit from the Governor of the Colony.— Sunday at the Kat River. — Farewell View of the Settlement. — Knapp's Hope in Caffreland. — Site of Dr. Vanderkemp's earliest Labors among the Caffres. — King William's Town. — Agreeable Intercourse with Mr. Brownlee and Jan Tzatzoe. — Visit to Peelton. — Effects of the Labors and Influence of Mr. Birt. — Journey to Graham's Town. — State of the People. — Port Elizabeth. — Visits to 'Uitenhage and Bethelsdorp. — Hospitality of the People at Hankey. — Their Recollections of the Past. — Return to Cape Town. — Review of the Events and Objects of our Journey.— Reflections on the State and Prospects of the Colored Population of the Colony.— Return to England Page 256

CHAPTER X.

Overland Route to Pointe de Galle. — Detention in Ceylon. — Voyage to Mauritius. — Arrival in Madagascar. — Signs of increasing Traffic at Tamatave. — First Night on shore. — General Fondness of the People for Music. — Introduction of the Violin. — Dinner with the Governor. — Deaths of former Friends. — Applications for Medicine. — Presents from the Princes. — Visit from the Governor and Suite. — Astonishment excited by the Electric Telegraph. — The Queen's Preference for running Messengers rather than the "Wires. — Native "Work in Iron. — Iron-smelting. — Native Smiths. — Message of Condolence from the Queen to a bereaved Family at TamataTe# — Mode of estimating the Worth of the deceased. — Homage to the dead. — Scenes of Riot and Drunkenness. — The Governor's Dinner to the Officers from the Capital.— Bearers engaged for the Journey.— The Government Seamstresses 280

CHAPTER XI.

Departure from Tamatave.— Slaughter of an Ox, and subsequent Rejoicing. —Arrival of Sodra.— Number of our Party.— Native Officers.— Dwellings of the People.— Native Hospitality. —Forest Explorations, and new Plants and Flowers.— Beautiful Lake Scenery.— The Bird beloved by Cattle. — Aspect of Andevorandro, and Occupations of the People. — Voyage on the Iharoka. — The RofiaPalm. — Magnificent Astraposa Trees.— Speeches on offering Presents. — Interview with an Officer from the Ca] ital. — Retail of spirituous Liquors.-r-Aspect of the distant Country. — Apprehensions from Crocodiles. — Size, Habits, and Ferocity of Crocodiles.— Crocodiles' Eggs collected for Food or Sale in the Markets. — Perils and Privations of a Party of Christian Fugitives. — The hot Springs

CONTENTS.

xiii at Ranomafana. — Native Music. — Continuance of Rain. — Physical Appearance of the People, and Modes of dressing their Hair. — Appearance of the Rocks. — The Traveler's-tree, its magnificent Form and varied Uses. — Meals on the Journey. — Exceedingly difficult Roads. — Objects of Reverence or Worship Page 303

CHAPTER XII.

Beauty of the Mountain Scenery. — Mode of catching a Bullock. — Charms against evil Dreams. — Tomb of a Chief. — Weeping-place of the Hovas. — Beautiful Forms of Growth of the Bamboo. — Wild Cattle and wild Boars. — Former Hunting-excursions in Madagascar. — Frightful Roads. — The great Forest of Alamazaotra. — Magnitude of the Trees, Beauty of the Flowers, and Rarity of the Ferns. — The Ferry of Mangoro. — Military Salute. — Friends from the Capital. — Breakfast with a Hova Family. — Prince Ramonja's Village. — Salutation of his aged Nurse. — Presents from his Tenantry. — Extent and Beauty of the Valley of Angavo. — The Mountain Pass and Fortress. — Village Market. — Locusts caught and preserved for Food. — Houses of Ankova. — First Night in a Hova Village. — Depredations of the Rats and Mice. — The feudal-looking Village of Ambatomanga. — Accommodations and Lodging. — Friends from the Capital. — Tombs of the Hovas. — Interior of the House at Amboipo. — Native Silkweaving 342

CHAPTER XIII.

Arrival of the Queen's Officers. — Entry to the Capital. — Extent and Appearance of Antananarivo. — Palace and chief Buildings. — Intricacy of the Roads. — Description of the House and Accommodation provided by the Queen. — Welcome on arriving. — Salubrity of the Climate. — Munificent Present from the Queen. — Visit from the Prince Royal. — His Person and Dress. — His Estimate of the English. — The Meaning of Protection. — Inducements offered to him to become a Roman Catholic. — Prince Ramonja. —Message from the Queen.— Satisfaction of the Court with the Friendship of England.— Affecting Interview with the Family of a former Friend.— Presents from the Prince and Princess, and the chief Nobles.— Excursion with the Prince. — Native-built stone Bridges. — The silver Spear. — Palace of Isoaierana. — Places of Execution. — Excursion with the Prince and Princess. — Procession and Music. — Princess's Figure, Dress, and Palanquin.— Culture of the Vine. — Simple and primitive Homage of the Villagers to their Rulers. — Inquiries of the Princess respecting the Royal Family of England. — Music. — English National Anthem. — Dancing. — Military Encampments. — Request of a Slave....,,,,.... , 379 xiv

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV.

Audience of the Queen at the Palace. — Salutation to the Queen. — Allusion to Presentation to Queen Victoria. — Offering of the Hasina. — Declaration of the Friendship of the English toward the Malagasy. — The Queen's Reply relative to the Constancy of the English. — Assurance of Friendship and Good-will from the English Government. — Desire of the Queen for Amity with all Nations. — Description of the Palace. — The Queen's Appearance, Dress, and regal State. — The Members of her Court. — Satisfaction of the Queen with my Visit. — Breakfast with M. Laborde. — Conversations with the Prince. — Wealth of Malagasy Nobles. — Dinner given by the Queen. — Number of Dishes. — Native Plate. — Music. — Speeches after Dinner. — Sovereign Rights of Nations. — Visits of the Sick. — Intercourse with Natives who had visited Bourbon. — Photographic Difficulties. — Presents for the Queen. — Portraits of the Queen and Prince Consort peculiarly gratifying. — Invitation to the Palace. — Music. — Sakalave Dance. — Native and European Dances. — Gorgeous and splendid Costume of the Court Page 410

CHAPTER XV.

Visit from the Prince. — Letter to the Queen. — Message and Presents from the Queen. — Regrets on account of my approaching Departure. — Visits to the Sick. — Arrangements of the native Dwellings. — Social Affections.— Portrait of the Prince. — Conversations with the Prince. — Astonishment and Delight of the Prince and Princess with the Photographic Process. — Breakfast with the Prince and Princess. — Conversati n. — Portraits of Members of the Malagasy Court. — Proposal of the Prince and Princess and their Friends to spend the last Evening of my Stay in the Capital at my House. — The Prince's Band. — Interesting Conversation.— Why the People of England love their Queen. — Security of God's Protection. — Desire of the Youth of the Country after Knowledge. — Possibility of a future College in the Capital. — Departure of t e Guests. — Intercourse with beloved Friends. — Bearers provided by the Queen. — Conversation and refined Attention of the Prince. — Departure from the Capital accompanied by the Prince and Nobles. — Affecting Spectacle of a Prisoner. — Parting with the Prince and his Friends. — Reflections on the Visit. — Recent Events. — Sufferings and Constancy of the Christians. — Martyrdom in 1849. — Recollections of the Prince. — Estimate of his Character 441

CHAPTER XVI.

Breakfast at Amboilefo. — Intercourse with Friends from the Capital. — Hospitality at Prince Ramonja's Village. — New Plants collected. — Lodging in the Forest of Alamazaotra. — Noise of the Monkeys or Lemurs —

CONTENTS.

xv

Lycopodiums and other Plants. — Heavy Kains. — Extreme Difficulty of Traveling in the Forest. — Meeting with French Priests and Merchants. — Acceptable Collection of Plants. — New Species of Platycerum or Stag'shorn Fern. — Arrival at Tamatave. — Visit to the Locality of the Ouvirandra Fenestralis. — Crocodiles. — Kindness experienced at Tamatave. — Arrival of the Castro. — Presents from the Queen. — Departure from Madagascar. — Hospitality at Mauritius. — Storm on the Ocean. — Rescue of two shipwrecked Mariners. — Eemarkable Meeting with a Native of the Sandwich Islands. — Safe Arrival in England Page 475

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Map of Madagascar 1

View of the Capital, and Procession Frontispiece. ,

Harbor-master's House, Taniatave 43

Lace-leaf Plant (Ouvirandra fenestralis) 62

African Palm-tree 77

Artocarpus integrifolia, or Jack-tree 117

Female Slaves drawing Water at the Well 139

Pandanus-trees and Cattle-pen 143

Portraits of Hova Officers, etc 152

Portrait of Hova Woman and Betsimasaraka Woman 161

Portrait of Hova Officer 164

The Aye- Aye 171

Modes of punishing Slayes 175

Forest-tree, with Orchidaceous Plants 200

Mode of Traveling, and Angrcecum sesquipedale 207

African Aloes and Zamia 274

Iron-smelting and Native Smiths 294

Rice Granary 314

Group of the Traveler's-tree 333

Idol 341

Travelers in the great Forest of Alamazaotra 353

Mode of catching Locusts 367

Fahitra 369

Audience of the Queen at the Palace 418

Portraits of the Prince and Princess Koyal 452

Portraits of Hova Princess and Officers 457

The Spiny Tenrec 476

The Lemur 480

Street in Tamatave 486

VISITS TO MADAGASCAR, &c.

CHAPTER L

Brief historical Introduction. — Treaty between the English and Malagasy for the Abolition of the Slave-trade. — Introduction of useful Arts, Letters, and the Knowledge of the Christian Eeligion. — Death of Radama. — Prohibition of Religious Teaching. — Departure of the Missionaries. — French and English Attack on Tamatave. — Severe Persecution of the Christians. — Conversion of the Princes. — Departure of the Author from England for Madagascar. — Voyage to St. Vincent's. — Ascension. — The Cape of Good Hope. — Public Rejoicings at Cape Town. — The Schoolchildren's Feast. — Last Sunday on board the "Indiana." — Arrival at Port Louis. — Reports of the continued Sufferings of the Christians in Madagascar.

The Island of Madagascar, extending over an area larger than that of Great Britain and Ireland combined, and inhabited by more than three millions of people, has at different periods attracted the notice of the chief maritime nations of Europe, but, with the exception of a short period in the early part of the seventeenth century, it is only since our possession of Mauritius, and the subsequent treaty of friendship and alliance entered into between the late king Eadama and the Governor of Mauritius in 1817, that our own countrymen have given much attention to the island or its inhabitants.

In their treaty with Eadama, whom the English chose to regard as the supreme ruler of the country, they sought chiefly the abolition of the slave-trade, and in order to compensate the king and his chiefs for the loss which this measure would entail upon them, and to secure their co-operation in rendering it effectual, an annual payment was made

B

VISITS TO MADAGASCAR.

Chap. I

by the British government to the king. This payment consisted partly of ammunition and arms, and men were sent to Madagascar to instruct the native soldiers in the use of fire-arms and in military tactics. To the arms and discipline thus supplied, and used with a wanton disregard of human life and human suffering, happily unknown in warfare among civilized nations, are to be ascribed much of Eadama's success in extending the dominion of the Hovas far beyond the central province of Ankova, its original boundary. Besides the superior arms and training thus supplied to the Malagasy soldiers, a number of native youths were received on board ships of the British navy, in order that they might learn practical seamanship, and be able to act as pilots, or to hold other offices under their own government at the several ports of the island ; while others were sent to England for education, and instruction in the arts of civilized life.

Missionaries from the London Missionary Society reached the coast of Madagascar in 1818 ; and, after the treaty with the British government had been finally ratified in 1820, they proceeded to the capital, and were cordially welcomed by the king, who appeared still more delighted when they were followed by a number of intelligent men sent out by the same society to instruct the people in the practice of many of the most useful arts. The strange and somewhat complex language of the people was acquired by the missionaries, who introduced an alphabet into the language, arranged its grammar, prepared elementary books, and translated the Holy Scriptures into the native tongue.

In the space of ten years after the settlement of the teachers at the capital, not fewer than 10,000 or 15,000 of the natives had learned to read, many of them also to write, and a few had made some slight progress in English, at the same time that a number professed themselves Christians. "Within the same period, among the 1000 or 1500 youths who had been placed as apprentices under the missionary artichap. i. GOOD EFFECTS OF ALLIANCE WITH THE ENGLISH. 19

sans, some had been taught to work in iron, which abounds in the country ; others had been trained to be carpenters, builders, tanners, curriers, shoemakers, etc. These were some of the most satisfactory results of the king's alliance with the English, and the settlement of English missionaries in his country ; and although the advantage of so sudden and large an increase of fire-arms among a people very partially civilized may have been questionable, the substituting of legitimate and honorable commerce for the degrading traffic in slaves, the opening of a way for frequent and friendly intercourse with foreigners, the teaching of useful arts, the introduction of letters, with the knowledge of Christianity by wliich this was followed, will ever cause the treaty between Sir Kobert Farquhar and the king Kadama to be regarded as one of the most important events in the modern history of Madagascar.

To his own people, Eadama's reign was one of unprecedented prosperity, though of comparatively short duration. He was a ruler greatly in advance of his time and his people ; but he died in the year 1828, at the early age of thirty-six, and the enlightening and humanizing influences which were so full of promise for the nation appear in a great measure to have terminated with his life. The amiable and intelligent Prince Kakatobe, eldest son of Eadama's eldest sister, was nominated by the king successor to the throne, but on the death of Kadama he was assassinated, and the present ruler was raised to the supreme authority. For a time the schools and the religious teaching of the missionaries were allowed, but it soon became evident that the policy of the government was changed. The influence of the idol-keepers, and of the supporters of divination and other superstitions of the country, was soon restored to its former supremacy. In 1835 the profession of the Christian religion by any of the Malagasy was prohibited ; it was also required that all Christian books should be given up to the

VISITS TO MADAGASCAR.

CHAT. I.

government, and in 1836 the missionaries and their excellent coadjutors, the Christian artisans, departed from the island.

Eight or nine years afterward the evasion of the queen's orders prohibiting the removal of natives from the island greatly irritated the Malagasy government, and the application of the native laws to Europeans residing in Madagascar, as a means of maintaining native authority, gave great offense to the foreign traders at Tamatave. The latter appealed for assistance to the English governor at Mauritius, and to the French governor at Bourbon ; and in June, 1845, one English and two French vessels of war went to Tamatave to endeavor to adjust the differences and disputes existing there. Failing to effect this by amicable conference, they employed force, fired on the people, burned the town, and landed and attacked the fort. But, though they killed and wounded a number of the natives, they were ultimately obliged to retire to their ships, leaving in the hands of the natives thirteen of their number, whose skulls, according to the Malagasy practice, were afterward fixed on poles in front of the fortification which they had assailed.

This aggression, so deeply to be deplored, produced long and serious evils. The government prohibited the exportation of every article of native produce ; and the trade in rice and cattle — the latter so important to Mauritius and the Isle of Bourbon — was thus destroyed ; and notwithstanding the efforts of the English admiral Dacres in 1848, and the French admiral Cecile, to restore friendly relations between those nations and the Malagasy, all amicable intercourse entirely ceased for a period of eight years.