Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-04
Slavery in Madagascar.

While the missionaries are free to preach and to teach, there is one subject which they all know must be excluded from their ser mons. They must not allude to the system of slavery which prevails throughout Mada- 'gascar Should any missionary lift up his soiGe agaiRet that institution, he is well aware that in short time his church would be de- serted The secret influence of government would bs brought to bear and he would Prac
 ticalIy find himself ''boycotted." Until re- gently Madagascar was the chief market for slaves on the east coast of Africa. Although the importation by sea was against the law, yet that law wes continually evaded, until at last the government, urged, and even threat ened, by England, determined to order the liberation of all slaves not born in the island This measure was carried into effect in 1877, and since thenthe foreign traffic at least has ceased. But every Hova continues to hold slaves, many of them in largo numbers, and consequence no HoVa will do any labor, thinking work to be beneath him. It is true that the slavery is of a somewhat mild de- seription. Ill treatment is rare, and often the slaves are allowed to do pretty much as they like, so long as they report themselves occasionally, and pay to their masters share of their earnings. Still, every Friday 4n the Hova capital, when the great market of the week is held, there is stand for slaves, and yesterday saw over 150 individuals exposed for sale. They were chiefly boys and girls, and it was pitiable to watch the expression of hopeless misery on their young faces as the intending purchasers felt them over, ex- amined their teeth, or made them walk or run.
 saw many painful scenes, mothers weep. ing at being parted from their children, and children crying bitterly at being separated from the companions of their youth. As 8 missionary review recently published here says: IA Malagasy who does not own a slave is very badly off, and suffers extreme inconvenience. In all the churches and con-
 gregations there are slaves, and some of them
 are composed chiefly of slaves. Nearly all
 the pastors, deacons and preachers, as well
 as members of the churches, are slave own- ers" Wealth in Madagascar is represented
 by slaves, and to interfere with 8 system so
 closely interwoven with the domestic life of
 the population would be dangerous task.
 It is one with which neither government nor
 missionaries have as yet attempted to grap- pie. To liberate the slaves at single stroke would be unwise, if not impossible; but there is no good reason why all children borr of slaves should not be proclaimed free This is undoubtedly the first step to take and there are grounds for believing that dip lomatic advice judiciously rendered by tht English government in that direction might have effect. It has occurred to me that tho extension of the sugar industry on the coas might also help toward removing from Mada gascar the curse of slavery. A sugar planter l in Mauritius pays for the importation of an In dian laborer, as preliminary outlay, larger sum than would suffice to purchase Mala- gasy slave. It might thus be easily arranged that slaves here, by engaging to serve for { term, like the Indian laborer, would obtair | the money wherewith to purchase their free dom. As matter of fact, numbers of slaves are thus set free by Englishmen, who, reqair ing servants arrange for their liberation iI the manner described and the existing plan l tations are worked in 8 great measure bl slaves, who doubtless will with their earningi | eventually purchase their liberty.