Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-11-28
THINGS or CURRENT INTEREST.


Lieutenant Shufeldt of the United States
navy, who recently crossed Madagascar from
east to west, accomplishing what few white
men aud no American had done before, told
large audience at Chickering hall, New
York, the other night, something about the
island and his explorations there.
Madagascar" he said, lis the third lar.
gest island on the globe Its area covers
230, 600 square miles, being /, 900 miles long
and averaging in breadth 23O to 4OO'mil
II is four times the size of Great Britain.
The interior gives The observer potent sense
Of silent and ma jesto yastness II exhibits
some Of the grandest specimens OF natures
handiwork, consisting Of mountain peaks,
plains and forest cataraots. Around the sta
coast stretches a dense belt of tropical forest,
the home Of malaras aud deadly fever, the
abiding place Of savage and barbarous peo-
pie, aud of richly plumaged birds. The chief
river, the Sizebouge, is the size Of the Ohio,
and shows some of the most magnificent riv-
er scenery in the world, thunderous water
falls, aud cataracts bordered by prmeval for
ests.
The speaker said that he thought this river
would prove navigable and might be made
the highway for the products of the interior,
ebony, sugar, rice, and other articles of com
meroe, in quantities sufh lent to make it the
"El Dorado of the eastern seas" The eli
mate he described as variable. 10 the inte-
rior it is equAble and temperate, frequently
reminding one of N3w England autumn,
but about the setcoast it is always warm and
unwholesome. He estimated the population
at ., 700, 900, embracing many races Of men
varying in color, physique and civilization.
The principal tribe, the HOva5, are men of
Malay origin, with fair complexion, black
and sparkling eyes, sqriline noses, number
inc about NOn 4 far in, ad a fba
rest Of the inhabitants iu intelligence and the
arts Of civilization. Tue women are often
haldsome Some of these Advantages can be
attributed to climate, the region inhabited by
them averaging 500 above the sea level,
and adording bracing atmosphere. Next
in importance and intelligence lie placed the
B-tsileo tribe, the men possessing 1.-the and
active frames, but the women, unlike the
Hova women, are seldom or never handsome
The Bdrra people, in the southern part of
the island, are distinguished by their utter
lack Of ennobling qualities. The morality of
the Barra, sail Lieut.. Shufeldt, might thus
be summed up Give me my gun and my
spear, my rum aud my wives, and my oxen,
let me steal plunder aud destroy everybody
let nobody modest me, and care not who is
my king"
Lieutenant Shufeldt then described his
journey across Madagascar. After many vi.
cissitudes and by dint of much perseverance,
be made a landing at town on the south.
eastern side of the island, on April 9th of this
year. and soon after began his journey across
the island He reached the capital without
encountering many dangers. There he was
presented to the Queen, whom be thus de-
scribed she is u young woman of medium
height, of 1.-the figure and graceful move
ments and distinguished by majestic bear
inc thOugh girligh "a Gba bau
dark waving hair, light complexion and black
lustrous eyes. She dresses in modern Paris
ian female costume. Her husband is the
prime minister, and is 90 years old" Ac.
cording to royal custom, she never left the
palace without large retinue and much GER
emony. When royal property was carried
through the streets, the people were expect
ed to keep themselves within their houses.
II any body was met IN the street who had no
tune to run to his house, he had to PROSTATE
himself on the ground until the queens
goods had passed Wnen Lieut.. Snufeldt
was presented to the queen, she was seated
at the top Of a throne with thirty steps. On
the first step, on one knee, with hand eI-
tended toward the young queen, was her
husband the prime minister-a dark com
plexioned, gray haired man. She was clad
in light pink satin dress and on her head
wore gold crown studded with diamonds.
| bowed on being presented to her, but she
gracefully extended her hand. ascended
the throne and shook her extended hand. the
first white man to grasp it"
The journey across the island occupied
about four months. The traveller started
out with $50 natives and three white men,
and when he reached the western coast there
l5O of the islanders remaining, and he was
himself the only surviving white man.