The state herald., 1891-07-24
ALONE IN MADAGASCAR.
BEN LoWDEN AN ouroAsr
AMONG THE eAvAoEs.
Twenty. -Four Year, the Associate and
Comrade Of the Fierce Taulas-
How His Discoversr Found
Him Out.

On the western cost Of Madagascar,
among the dangerous Tauala people,
Lieut. Shuieldt, u. s. NJ, found q
white man whom he thus describes in
the Philadelphia Times;
In little while had told him the
story Of my wanderings, and asked
and answered host Of questions. He
was not very talkative person, how
ever, and dragged out his inquiries
and drawled out his replies quite out Of
accord with my patience. He took
me into low thatched hut In one cor
ner Of the stockade, and spread out q
mat on the ground for us to sit upon.
This, he said. as he squatted down
with his long legs bent under him. 'is
my living house; those on the other
side are mere store houses"
Yes" he drawled out "rve been
In this country a good many
years; going on twenty-four this COM
ing rainy season since ! showed of
from Frisco. Quite nip, sir, out Of
life OF man to look upon nothing
but niggers, TO eat nothing but fish
and rice; to be as dry as bone, hot
scorching hot one-half the year and
wet as sponge the other half. Quite
time never to know what's going on
out In tho world-out there-and
what's become OF ones kith and kin.
Why, sir. year after year goes jogging
along here, till l have forgot to count
them.
l was over 80. considerable and
had been knocking about all parts OF
the world in all sorts Of packets, when
in '69 ! turned up in Frisco first mate
Of a big bark and loaded with grain for
Sidney. The story Of her voyage was
bloody story. Our skipper WAS
down-easter, from Damarascotta, and
brute. She was a hell afoat, / tell
you, and found myself afore the mast
on her before we got in, for being
parson' and preacher the skipper
said. So ! left her and shipped again
Mt Melbourne, In little brig bound TO
the Cape in ballast We men got
there but was blowed up the channel in
hurricane; her bones and her crews
bones, except mine. are bleaching on
the beach about fifty miles north of
here That was in 81. And here /
have been ever since-here and up
country among Taualas and such.
haven't seen newspaper in eighteen
years nor white face, except twice,
in twenty. One Of these was Swed-
ish missionary and the other Portu-
gee trader. Yes, was married afore
/ left the states-had two children, too,
when l sailed away. God knows what
become of them"
We went behind the house and he
pointed me out about twenty natives
squatted on native mats, lazily sorting
out orchilla weed spread In little heaps
before them. "You see these fellows
bring this stuff down from the far in
terror They get it in the forests and
swamps where no white man dare go.
They bring It generally in little bum
dles-soon as they get thirsty enough
or want new ragout-down here and
l trade 'em for it. Then when they
sleep of their drunk set 'em asserting
Of the piles till they get tired and go
back for more.
Well, yes; I'm married into several
Of their families too. Had TO, you
know; its the custom. Come back 70
the house and I'll introduce you to
number six and the latest"
We crossed tho hot sand again and
into the hut 'Rabado" he called,
and In moment the rickety door OF
room on one side opened and woman
wrapped from chin to toe In course
blanket stepped out She WINS well
formed and tall, and not without n
native grace Of motion. She had a
very black. but withal a somewhat
comcly and good-nntured face. Her
hair was done up in tight ball.
saturated with beef fat and her fore
head was ornnmented with white
broad parallel lines Of clay. She's
Tauala," said Lowden. land
brought her down from up country
year ago Her father is a big chief
up there and never comes TO the coast
Many months afterwards IN New
York, delivered lecture on the sub
jcct OF my recent experiences In Great
Madagascar. On coming out from the
hall felt myself touched upon the
shoulder and turning around was con-
frontcd by an elderly gentleman with
gray hair and whiskers. He asked
me TO name time and place whore he
could call upon me. did 80 and he
called promptly. II saw" he said. In
ono OF the stercopticnn views mt your
lecture tho picture OF white man.
Have you that photograph" I had
and gave II 10 him. Hc looked mt Il
long and earnestly through his glasses.
els this from life sirP"
at is"
Has this man n slight limp In his
gait'"
Docs he drawl out his words7"
Has he habit Of walking up and
down when excitedp" and score of
other inquiries. TO all Of which ! nn-
swcred In tho affirmative, and told him
the story. 1T IL the man," ho ex-
claimed. II IL the same man. Twenty.
five years ago he came with his lies
and iorgcrics TO our house In San
Francisco We appointed him first
officer Of ono Of our finest vessels. lie
sailed for Sydney. He got the crow In
state Of mutiny and with his own
hands murdered tho captain and threw
his body overheard. He sold the ship
and cargo In Sydney on falso orders
from us. He pnid OF the crew three