The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-24
Persecution of Christians in Madagascar.

Persecution of Christians in Madagascar.
IDA PFEIFFER's Last Travels" just pub
lished by Messrs. Harper & Brothers, will be
received with great interest. A brief sketch
of her life precedcs the diary, from which we
learn that this remarkable woman exhibited
decidedly masculine traits in carly life, which
we're encouraged by the fact that, till she was
nine years old, she was the only girl in par
ty OF six children. We also learn that her
travels extended over nearly 100000 miles
Of sea and 10000 miles Of land, We are
sorry that the book is marred by very un-
kind and unhandsome statements in regard to
the Protestant missionaries of Madagascar.
She herself was brought up Roman Catho-
lie; nevertheless, her testimony as to the
persecution Of the Christian converts by
Queen Ranavola, and their admirable and
heroic behavior, is valuable and interesting.
We quote from her diary beginning with the
! Of July 6, 1859:
"The Queen had long suspected that there
were many Christians among her people,
Within the last few days she had become GER
tain of the fact, and had heard with horror
that several thousands Of this sect dxelt in
and around Tananariva. Every one knew
how much she hated and detested this sect,
and how strictly she had forbidden the prac.
tice of their religion. As her commands were
SO little regarded she should use every effort
to discover the guilty, and should punish them
with the greatest severity. The duration of
the kabar was fixed Tor fifteen days, and it
was announced to the people, in conclusion,
that those who gave themselves up during
that period should have their lives spared,
but that all who were denounced by others
might be prepared to die a terrible death.
Who would believe that the traitor, the
denouncer of the Christians, was Christian
himself and half priest into the bargain,
whom the English missiona ries had honored
with the title " Revercndissimus = The name
of this miserable creature is Ratsimandisa.--
He belongs to the race Of the Hovas, and is
a native of Tananariva, and has had semi
European education, ich unfortunately had
no effect i'll enabling his mind Or his heart
In order to win the favor Of the Queen, and
hoping TO obtain great reward, ne declared
that he only pretended TO adopt the Christian
relig ion with the view of gettinga knowledge
Of all the Christians and thus giving the
Queen an opportunity of annihilatng them
at one blow. lie had really made out com
plctc register OF the names of Christians re-
siding IN Tapanariva. Fortunately, it did
not occur to linn to request an audience Of
the Quccn, and to give this register into her
own hands. He gave it to one of the minis
tiers who belonged to Prince Rakoto's party
and was one Of the Prices most faithful fol-
lowers. Tbs man would not deliver docu-
mc.t Of such Importance to the Queen with.
cut first telling the Prince Of the circumstance
No sooner had the latter read the document
any ouo who dared to make out seco.d list,
or even to accept one with the intention Of
laying it before the government, should be
Immediately put to DEATH This action GER
tainly saved the lives of some thousands of
Christians; they gained time and had an op.
portunity Of escaping, Of which the majority
have awaited themselves. But in tie wild,
inhospitablc forests, where alone they can
hide themselves, without roof 10 shelter
| tucill, WlthOut IOOU W Cat, NUW many Ol tHCSC
poor people must fall victims TO hunger and
misery
ITO increase their misfortune an English
missionary Mr.. Lebrun had como from the
Mauritius to Tauatavc for few days, short
ly before Ratsimandisa's treason, and had
written etersir0m Tamatave to several Chris
tians IN Tauanariva, exhoring them 10 be
firm I'D their laltD, and seeking to strengthen
their courage with tn assurance that the day
OF persecution would net last much longer.
and that better times would soon come for
them. The poor among them also received
promises OF aid, and some money was, it ia
said, distributed among them. UnhappiIy n
few OF these letters Tell into the hands OF the
government and others were found during the
search instituted in the houses Of those So s.
pocted of Christianity and rs the names Of
several Christians were mentioned in these
letters to whom the missionary sent messages
or greeting through the recipients, these at
least could be seized. The unhappy people
were tortured i'll all kinds OF ways, like the
, Professionals of Spain in the days Of the IN.
, QUESTION to induce them to gave up the names
Of the Christians they knew, and the govern
mani cucrohl cd in oo nt,,;ny n tolo,,hl, $3.50,