Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-27
the POET OF MADAGAscAR.


The Recent Oeeapatiea Of Tamaiav
and the stories 10 Recalls.
The occupation of Tamatay may be
described, says the London DAILY Ne,es,
as an invaria5le incident of French
attack upon Madagascar. The town
was captured and occupied by the
French in 1879, and IL has Away been
considered by them as important, no
less by reason of its being the chief
commercial port of the land, than on
account OF Its strategic advantage. 1t
was long ago described by the French
traveller Funtmicbel AS the most impor-
tant point in the entire island by reason
| OF the safety of its anchorage. the
trltiing expense which would be required
| TO place it in a respectable state of de-
fense, and the favorable nature of the
country for the construction of outlying
forts. Nevertheless, it was taken easily
by the French on the occasion referred
to, whereas the attack upon Foule
POinte a week or two later met with a
decided repulse. Mr.. Ellis tells as that
on visiting Tamatav in 1853 he found
1t empty-the natives having retired
into tho interior to fortify themselves
against a reported English invasion.
The native white flag, however. was still
floating over the fort, and as the voy-
ayers approached the town their eyes
met the grim sight of skulls of French
and English men, killed at the time of
the joint unsuccessful attack in lS45,
fixed on poles nesr the anchorage. The
narrative of this visit presents some
Curious tokens of the spirit of stubborn,
albeit at times, mainly passive resist
ance which seems characteristic OF the
people. A canoe full of shOeless and
stockingless natives, whose whole attire
consisted of a hat of plated grass or
PUSHES and white scarf, padded forth,
officially to examine the vessel. The
chief men sp Ike English. though imper-
fectly, and upon hearing that the vessel
only bore petition from the merchants
OF Mauritius praying for renewal of
trade, gave an answer which shows
that, though the Mala0assies we're ready
70 execute q strategic retreat into the
interior, they had, at all events, NJ in
tentiOn Of abandoning their logical po-
sition.
Mr.. Sibree describes Madagascar al
having but few indentations, cons der
ing its great extent of shore line, the
island being $50 miles in length from
north to south, with an average breadth
OF go miles, which implies total area
of nearly four times the extent of Eng
land and Wales. Along two-thirds OF
Its eastern side the coast is almost a
straight line, without any inlet: for Ia
,natay and Foule Points, though the
former affords excellent shelter for ves-
sells, are only open roadsteads protected
by coral reefs. Antongil bay, however,
Is ON this side, and is a deep and wide
inlet of great capabilities, RAINING, as il
does, northward for about 80 miles- The
population of Tamatay is estimated at
60O0 people, Of whom a considerable
portion are British subjects. The port
OF ramatay ia about 200 miles only from
the capital, Antananarivo, which il sup
posed to have about 10000 inhabitants
and Is the largest CITY in the island. II
has been almost rebuilt during the past
II or IA years, the old timber and rush
houses being nearly all replaced by
much larger and more substantial ones
of sun dried brick and stone, construct
ed in European fashion. A group of
royal palaces. says Mr.. Sibres, With lof-
t. roofs and stone arched verandas,
crowns the summit of the ridge on and
around which The city is built, and
hardly less conspicuous is the grand
new residence of the Prime Minister.
Four handsome stone memorial church
es mark the spot where the Christian
martyrs suffered.