Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-07
N THE LAND Or THE HoYAs.
An AmerESnn OfEiserss Perslous Jour-
ney Ia madagascar.

navy, who recently returned from the
exploration Of Madagascar, h1d quite q
wonderful experience. As he told the
story of his travels to a Washington Star
reporter the other evening Il sounded
more like an interesting narrative Of in
teresting adventure form the world of
fiction than the actual experience of
young naval officer in the line of duty.
For long time had felt desire to
explore some of the unknown Eastern
countries said Lieutenant Shufeldt,
s.but il was not until a year after | had
volunteered my services to explore Mad
agascar that was authorized to do so.
The course pursued by the French in
that country rendered it advisable that
some steps should be taken by this gov
eminent to obtain information of gem
eral nature regarding the country for
commercial reasons. A cable message
from the secretary of the navy detached
me early last spring from my vessel in
China and sent me on special duty in the
shape Of trip through Madagascar. /
had no instructions regarding the expe-
dition and everything was left to my
own judgment. went as far as that
country in the Pensacola and the made
my way direct to the capital, Antanana-
rive. Now. to give you an idea of the
country and what was before me you
must know that it is an immense
island, considerably larger than
the republic of France, with population
of about 5000, 900. The greater part of
1t is entirely unknown and occupied by
various tribes, who are for the most part
utterly uncivilized and wholly barbarOus.
The ruling people, however, have
reached quite high degree of civiliza-
ton, and have extended their power
through great portion Of the land, and
would probably succeed in subduing the
whole country but for the opposition of
the French. These people are called
Hovas, and are entirely distinct from
any other inhabitants. They correspond
exactly with the Malay type, while the
rest of the tribes all have the African
characteristics. The supposition is that
centuries ago these people must have
landed on the shores from some of the
Eastern countries and settled there. 1t
was impossible for them to dwell near
the marshy malarious shore, so they
pushed their way to the elevated plateaus
of the interior, where they still are.
They have absolute control of about
so, 900 square miles. They are equal to
the Japanese in civilization, and are a
progressive, intelligent people. The
capital has about three hundred white
residents, principally missionaries, and
some of the buildings are beautiful The
queen has her palace there BY the
way, she is only nineteen years old, and
Is very pretty girl. Her husband is sixty
years OLD, and is the prime minister. The
Hovas are literally surrounded by these
hostile nations that | spoke of. They
have partly conquered them oil, except
lhe Sakalavas, who inhabit the entire
western part of the island. One of the
most important questions that the coun-
try has to deal with is slavery. Great
numbers of slaves were annually brought
from Africa, and all of these tribes kept
their slaves. About twenty years ago
the queen emancipated them, but the
bakalavas never recognized the emanci-
patton. They have immense herds of
cattle, which are cared for by the slaves
or macaos, and without them their herds
would run wild. As said, / made nv
way to the capital, but that was an easy
trip, without danger, as the civilizing
effect of the Hovas is considerable in the
eastern part of the island. 1t was
through the wild Sakalava country that
my expedition proper was to be made. ]
remained at the capital three weeks per-
fecting the arrangements. had two in
terviews with the queen, and guessI was
the first white man to shake her by the
hand. Shortly after arriving l gained
her sanction to the expedition, and saw
her again, just as was about to start
She intrusted to me letters to the Presi
dent, which have delivered to him in
person.
Il gathered about me forces amount
ing to six hundred, /" continued the lieu
tenant. "They were all either natives or
slaves, with the exception of myself and
three miners who volunteered to 90, two
Englishmen and an American. At last
We started on our journey of GOO miles
to the western coast. It was slow and
attended with many dangerous disasters.
The hostile Sakalavas lowered about US
during the entire journey, but only ven
tured twice to make an attack upon our
party. They were repulsed both times
with loss to my party of twenty nine
men. They were dreadful looking an
tagonists-those Sakalavas. Their ply
steal proportions were superb. The sim
pie breceh-cIOth was their only apparel,
and their bodies were creased until they
reflected the sunlight like mirrors They
seemed 70 have no fear of firearms, but
made the attack with savage yell.
Each man carried 1--WE assegais, throwing
them one af time 40 he ran toward ne