National Republican., 1883-03-07

pleasant, the weather excellent, and, like
most men of their race, they wcrc too much
accustomed to seagoing to get even seasick.
MADAGAsCAR
lies on Tho east coast of Africa, separated from
that continent by the channel Of Mozambique,
which in its uurrowcst part is 250 miles wide.
The island is almost altogether in the tropics,
only about 20 miles of its southern extremity
running below Capricorn. 1t is 1000 miles
luu-, with an average width of 225 miles, con-
taiuiHga an area Of from 100000 TO 100000
square miles, with an estimated pop
ulation of five millions. The southern
part is low, sandy and comparatively
stcfilc the northern part mountainous,
wooded, and fertile. It has many good har.
bots The mountains are not high, the loftiest
rcns estimated at from six to twelve thou
eHal feet. Tho northeast section, catching
thc winds of the Indian ocean, is very
fertile, with luxurious vegetation lt
has many rivers, but few of them navi-
gable. Its largest lake is thirty miles
long. Along the east coast are many salt
lugoons, and one salt lake, Mananpetsotse,
twenty miles long, very narrow, very
salt, and devoid of fish. There are
many medicinal and warm springs which the
suporstitons Of the people prevent them from
using. Tho lOwlands are hot, the highlands
generally temperate, and the mountain tops
cold. The coast fever is fatal to natives and
foreigners alike. The island Is rich in min
erals, IRON salt, coal, slate, limestone, gold,
and copper, The arbOral wealth is great and
valuable. Tho Botany is rich especially in
the northeast section. There are many curl
Gus forms of vegetable and animal life.
Among tho former is the famous raven
ala or travellers tree, which yields when
cut a cool, sweet, wholesome drink. The
zozoro is also peculiar. The ampaly has a
hard leaf which is used to polish wooden ware.
From the leaves Of tho avoha paper is made.
Ia pf AZ M - ptt nut ~ pun
and Its juice furnishes q superior kind Of glue
The voatcna furnishes gum elastic. Most
singular of all is the plant found deep in the
northeast forests which may be called the
vegetable devil fish. Its long petals reach QUITO
every moving thing within its reach, gripping
IL with force no power can break and draw
ing il into the gigantic calyX where the un-
fortunate victim, man or beast dies from
construction, and is literally digested by the
plant All tropical productions and many
temperate ones are produced Rice is the
staple food. Sugar, cotton, and coffee are
grown. bumped cattle abound, Sheep with
long legs and fat tails, like those of the Cape
of Good Hope, are covered with hair
instead of WOOL Horses have been re-
Gently introduced. The curious and
pretty aye-aye is found here alone of all the
world. The lemur is II native of Madagascar,
where there are many varieties, notably tho
flying lemur Crocodiles abound, as also huge
serpents, though few of the latter are venom
Gus. AS in New Zealand the fossil remains of
of the Opyomis Maximus and the dinomis
are found This is the bird that gave rise to
the crab tales of the Roc. Its eggs were six
times larger than those of the ostrich. 1t is
possible that in the far interior these birds
may still be found.
There arc
TWO GREAT DIVISIONS OF THE PEOPLE,
black race on the west coast and an olive
or light race on the east The latter have tho
features, color, and characteristics of the
Polynesian race, with straight or curly hair.
Tho former are stouter and black with
woody hair, and bear a strong resemblance TO
the Iulus. Tho races are evidently mixed.
The dominant race hundred years ago was
the Sakalavas, ON the west coast, OF black
races. The Hovas, of the lighter races,
gradually threw of tho yoke OF the former
and are now the dominant race They have
become civilized and have formally adopted
Christianity. For all practical purposes
the Hova kingdom is the island
Of Madagascar. They are hospitablc,
ingenious and kind. Ardent spirits are for
hidden, and drunkenness is unknown, ex-
copt in the seaport towns, whore Europeans
are mostly found. The higher classes smoke
tobacco, the lower classes are fond of smok-
ing tho native hemp or rongOna. The people
are fond of music, with but little skill or
correct taste therein There arc many strong
features of resemblance in the government to
that of Japan. The island is capable of sup
porting 2Or000,00O of people, is rich country,
its people are showing unusual capacities for
progress, and tho value of its growing COM
nerce is a matter of much moment,