Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-17

lie attention to certain seldom heard Of portions
OF the world and one Of these portions is the
Island of Madagascar, which writer in the
Universe describes very Interestingly:
The Island Of Madagascar is certainly one of
the rost interesting spots or the surface of the
earth. The school boy, hurrying through his
studies and learning little and caring less
about those far of countries which to-day are
occupying the thoughts Of the most powerful
European governments, knows nothing more
OF an elongated shape, situated close to the
eastern shore OF the southern part Of Africa
oucn aim Impressions as he may receive about
TINS distant isle he gets from his geography map,
very superficial chart. indeed and beyond that
ne does not GO. As he grows older the light he
mas does not get brighter, and sometimes.
indeed. it goes out altogether. Nor does he
leel the loss OF it In after years until some
war OF international importance or other
WORLD MOVING OCCURRENCE
takes place to attract attention. and then, when
the press with many contradictory and incom-
piete dispatches publishes the news he is an
noyed to find that he cannot understand it, be-
cause the history, customs and condition OF the
distant country are alike unknown to him.
How many people know. for instance, that
the Island of Madagascar extends over an area
larger than that of the whole Of the British
Isles. The area of Madagascar is estimated at
225, 600 square miles, while England. Scotland,
Wales, Ireland and the isles of Guernsey, Jer-
sey Man, etc., altogether can only boast of
III $50 English square miles. The length of the
Island ls l.OSO miles; its greatest breadth, $50
niles. Thus, so far as size, at least, is con-
cerned, it is not an insignificant portion of the
earth.
The character of the surface of the island may
De divided into two distinct parts, the noun
ta1ns In the north, and the southwestern part
which Is comparatively fiat. There are five
great mountain changes which traverse the is
land In north, northeast. and south, south
west direction. 1t has been ascertained by a
distinguished explorer, DIR. Mullens, that the
central provinces have been the scene of great
volcanic phenomena. Thus the Ankarat noun
tains. forming volcanic CENTER cover an area of
GOO square miles. Other volcanoes also exist.
But it must not be supposed that Madagascar is
altogether sterile or desOlate island because of
It's great extent OF mountainous surface; on the
contrary. on the north and east
MAGNIFICENT FORESTS
cover the hills. The flora and fauna comprise
many species, and many genera can be found
nowhere else. Horned cattle and rice are eX-
ported to Mauritius and Bourbon. The north
ern and eastern portions Of the island are by far
the most fertile, and it is this part which is con-
trolled by the Hovas. the most powerful sect or
tribe of the inhabitants. Tananarivo is the cap
ltal OF Madagascar, and has a population of
about y, 1000 The inhabitants Of the island are
known by the general title Malagash or Mala-
gasy. and it has not yet been decided whether
Cney are all OF one race Uf Malay origin or
whether there are three distinct races, namely,
the original Inhabitants. allied to the negroes
the free inhabitants on the west coast, resem-
bling the white races, and a third race belonging
TO the Malay stock. Like most of the eastern
countries the early
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR
Is involved in Obscurity. It is supposed to have
been known to the aHcients who regarded it as
part Of the mainland. When the Malays in
vaded and peopled it is unknown. The Hovas
are the present descendants of those ancient
wanderers, and these are the people who are at
present opposed to the French Although re-
ferred to by Marco Polo in the thirteenth CEN
fury, it was not until the sixteenth century that
Madagascar became generally known to Euro
peans. and it was not till 1910, in the reign of
King Radama l, that it became commercially
important. In 1916 this king entered into a
treaty with the English to suppress the slave
trade with Mozambique, and, in return. his
troops were disciplined by English drill-ser-
geants. Radama was furnished with firearms
to be used in destroying the slave trade, but the
king used these weapons to subdue the islanders
who still resisted his authority.
RANAvALO H.,
the present Queen. has shown great favor to
Protestant missionaries, and on February 81,
1867, she and the prime minister whom she had
married, and many of the most influential ma
tives were baptized. The chief idol, Kalimalaza.
was destroyed later in the year, and the Chris.
tlan world has since then regarded Madagascar
as one OF the most promising of the lands that
have been rescued fr0m the gross darkness of
paganism and idOlatry. But it may be ques-
toned whether Madagascar, though far ad-
vanced upon the
ROAD TO CHRISTIANITY,
has yet reached the full meaning of that word,
and it cannot be foretold what the effect of q
war will be upon the morals and religion of it's