Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-10-04
A BIG ISLAND.
THE RESOURCES AND PEOPLE
OF MADAGASCAR.
The Ruler, n Woman. Has Absolute
Power Over Ecr Subjects
Singular Habits AMI
Ceremonies.

Bornco, if We leave Australia out OF the
question: Ii is one OF the few regions
where :ic interests of France and Eng
land seriously clash. The former. after
contest of nearly 300 years, L;:s al last
succeeded in establishing It's protectora.c.
but the English are sill powerful through,
Their missionaries, who have sue
ceedcd i'll converting the people 10 the
Protestant faith and inaug,lrating Il
public school system, which gives ;iic:u
strong hold Oh ihc sympathies OF the
people. Tic island is over 1000 milcsin
length. T'nc breadth at il; wi,;cs. point
is 33S miles, while the area is consider
ably %reatcr than tina: Of France. Ii is
In /" part OF the world 10 which general
attention is every year more closely
drawn. 1t is just south of the equator,
not far from the southern extremity of
Africa. Opposite, on the African coast,
Is Mozambiquc, dominated by the por-
lugueSc but coveted l,y Inc English. a
little TO tie northeast is Zanzibar, where
The Germans :ra oontending for suprc-
macy, having divided The country with
England
The habits and Gust ons OF Tie natives
are 50 peculiar, SO mixed with ancien.
traditions AID modern ceremonies that :.
description OF them cannot fail to inter
Est even the most base reader of forci,tn
travel The occupant of the throne now.
Ranavalona III, is an absolute ruler, at
least III practice, though sl.c shares her
power with her husband She is the
hiecc oi Ran:tvalona II, to whom Rain
larivony Was also married, having ,ii-
vorccd his wife 10 accomplish that union
He is really the power behind the throne.
lie is the most influential person in The
kingdom, though: ne has numerous power
tul enemies, some OF whom are Of his
own family. The Queen has u cabinet
of advisers, comprising Foreign Minister,
Minister Of Finance, etc, i'll imitation oi
civilized aovercig;s. Important dcci-
hons, s;!ch ~ y change Of religion, are
taken ill l. popular assembly called labar,
made up of representatives of Different
provinces AID meeting meas ti.,. cll,:tai in
tic open air in q Elanner as secret as its
numbers will permit. This assembly
bears Il remarkable resemblance 20 the
popular councils OF the Druitls held in
The forests OF Saul before the Roman c..
eunasion. It's mission is rather that Of
vehicle Of the royal will titan adviser o!
The Grown.
The Queen occupies splendid palace.
built some years ago after the plans and
nn'cr the suporin:cudcncc of French
architect. 1t is furnished in Europcaa
fashion. In dress she follows the mode
Of Paris. She is regarded with humble
reverence by The mass CT her subjects,
among whom she makes once or twice a
year Il long journey from village to vii
iagc, attended by Il vast rctinuc and sur
eounded by all the poap and ceremonial
betting her rank. rs there are no
roads these journeys are necessarily made
by the Queen and court in filters, streams
having often to be bgidged and path
ways cleared t'rcugn the forests in
advance of the procession. When ar-
preaching II village The population conie
forth to meet the Queen, prostratina
themselves, dancing, singing and offering:
themselves and all their possessions 20
her. If she choose 10 add them to her
retinue they leave their homes aud follow
her. The giving OF - piece OF silver is
obligatory. 1t is an important addition
10 the rcvcnucs OF The kingdom. Size re-
spends graciously, waving the sccotcr,
which never quits her hand, and always
ending her discourse with the words:
"All You WHO live beneath tho skies own
your Queen, in whom there is no deceit"
To which the people WHO have Just been
mulcted reply la chorus hay
Izay!" THAT is So That is SOY The
speeches o., the Prime Minister IRE
formed on the sane iy,odei and end witt,
.heinvariable formula: 40, subjects ofihc
Queen, is not Ranavalona mistress OF all
the w0rld?" 10 which there is the same
response: "Izay! Izay.' Sometimes
these professions last for three months
and the income is important. 4 large
part Of the caravan is made up Fl persons
0f moderate meaEs vino, not being able
to pay the prices for the things they
need TO the merchants who follow and cs-
tabiish ba2ars at the haltiag PLACES, where
splendid camp is pitched, are lcf. be
hind and their bones bleach the ro,i;e ai-
ter the manner OF Ike pilgrims 90 Mecca
Another source OF income is coniisca,ion
to the Crown OF nil property OF parents
dying without children.
One Of the most singular CT Ike carc-
monies which has survived the cid re-
gimc is that OF the Frandroaua, OF fess:-
val Of the bath, which lasts several week.,
during which time business ut the ca,:-
tai is suspended. The IIovas, like the
Arabs, count by moons, and this bath
was instituted by Palam5o to celebrate
the new year, which begins on the 22d
of November. A royal decree announces
i'll advance the number of oxen to be
killed and the fax TO be pa:d by each OH
their purchases. This is 2j centimes g
cents for each Oldest son, 12 centimes
for tire youngest son and . confines 70.
infants. On the day OF the bath all the
caste are requested to assemble at the
palace. At the appointed hour the
Queen appears in the throne room, clad
in her richest garments and adorned with
the insignia OF royalty. Shortly after
ward she rctircs 10 Il tent in one corner OF
the apartment, within which she takes,
OF is presumed 10 take, the prescribed
ablution, after which she reappcars, held
ing i'll her hand a horn Tiled with water