The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-11-27
MADAGASCAR.


Lieut.. Mason A. Shufeldt, of the
navy, who recently returned from the
exploration of Madagascar, had quite a
wonderful experience. As he told the
story of his travels to Star reporter
the othet evening; it sounded more like
an Interesting. narrative Of adventure
from the world Of fiction than the &C:
tual experience Of young naval officer
in the line Of duty: "For a long time
I had felt a desire to explore some Of
the unknown eastern. countries"
said Lieut.. Shufeldt, "but it was
not until a year after I had
Volunteered MY services to explore
Madagascar that I was authorized to do
80: The course pursued by the French
In that country rendered it advisable
that some steps should betaken by this
government to obtain information of a
general nature regarding the country
for commercial reasons. A cable mes
sage from the secretary of the navy de-
tached me early last spring from my
vessel in China and sent me on special
duty in the shape of a trip through
Madagascar. had no instructions re-
garding the expedition ana everything
was left to my own Judgment. I went
~ for as that country in the Pensacola
and then made my way direct to the
capital, Antananarivo. 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 a
population of about 100000. The
greater part of it 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 de-
gree of civilization, and have
extended their power through a
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 CORES
pond exactly with the Malay type,
while the rest of the tribes all have the
African characteristics. The SUPPOSE
ton is that centuries ago these people
must have landed on the shores from
some of the Eastern countries and set
tied there. It was impossible for
chem to dwell near the marshy malari-
Gus shore, so they pushed their way
to the elevated plateaus of the interior,
where they still are. They have abso-
lutte control of about $4,000 square
miles. They are equal to the Japanese
in civilization, and are progressive,
intelligent people. The capital has
about 300 white residents, principally
missionaries, and some of the buildings
are beautiful.
The queen has her palace there. By
the way, she is only 10 years old, and
is very pretty girl. Her husband is
go years old, and is the prime minister
The Hovas are literally surrounded by
these hostile nations that spoke Of
They had partly conquered them all,
except the Sakalavas, who inhabit the
entire western part of the island. One
of the most important questions that
the country 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 Sakalavas never recognized the
emancipation. They have immense
herds of cattle, which are cared for by
the slaves or macaos, and without them
their herds would run wild. As I said,
l made my way to the capital, but that
was an easy trip, without danger, as
the civilizing effect of the Hovas is con-
siderable in the eastern part of the
island 1t was through the wild Saka-
lava country that my expedition proper
was to be made. I remained at the
capital three weeks perfecting the ar
engagements. I had two interviews with
the queen, and I guess I was the first
white man to shake her by the hand.
Shortly after arriving I gained her
sanction to the expedition, and I saw
her again, just as I was about to start.
She intrusted to me letters to the pres
ident, which I have Just delivered to him
in person"
II gathered about me forces amount
ing to six hundred," continued the
lieutenant. "They were an either ma
tiyes or slaves, with the exception of
myself and three miners who volun-
tered to go, two Englishmen and an
American. At last we started on our
journey of 600 miles to the western
coast. It was slow and attended with
many dangerous disasters. The hos
tile Sakalavas lowered about us during
the entire journey, but only ventured
twice to make an attack upon our party.
Then were replused both times, with a
loss to my party of twente-nine men.
They were dreadful looking antago-
nists-those Sakalavas. Their physi-
pie breech cloth was their only apparel,
and their bodies were creased until
they reflected the sunlight like mirrors.
They seemed to have no fear of firearms,
but made the attack with savage yell.
Each man carried five assegais, throw
ing them one at time as he ran to-
ward us. They soon found that they
could not conquer our party, and had
to be content with DIGGING our steps,
lying in wait for any poor straggler
who was unable to keep up. I had a
body guard of Macaos, who were con-
tinually about me. Some of them
were always ahead while on the
march, and during the fights
they gathered about me and protected
me so we'll that 1 was not wounded.
The deadly fever played havoc with
my forces. Indeed we all had it. and my
white companions succumbed to it.
The disease is intermittent, and is &C
companied with the most terrible vomit-
ing and retching, and utter prostration,
rendering it utterly impossible to eat
anything. 1t was not the fever itself
which killed my men, but the complete
exhaustion which resulted from it.
Then, too, the natives, who were bare
legged suffered terribly from liberated
sores. The long wet grass through
which we travelled in early mornings
would cut their flesh, and the heat OF
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