The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-27
MAD4GAsCAR,s CAPITAL.
A Handsome City OF European Aspec,
Evolved from n Town OF Straw and Waffle

A Handsome City OF European Aspect
Evolved from Town OF Straw and Waffle.
Any one who has read OF Madagascar
progress has heard Of the Rev. James Sibree.
who for thirty years has boon identified with
missionary work there. He has now returned
to England f. \ Antananarivo. the capital.
and has given 10 the Royal Geographical So
ciety an account OF Madagascar civilization.
He describes the capital Of the Hova king
dom. town which thirty years ago contained
only huts OF straw and mud. and the place
whore hundreds OF Christians were killed dur
ing tho heather prosecutions. To-day the
capital is far advanced in civilization. and
contuns hundreds OF fine stone and brick
buildings.
Antananarivo stands upon long hill 800
feet above the valleys that surround it. 1t was
the old custom in Madagascar to build all
towns upon emnencas. In order that they
might be more easily defended The hill Is
covered with houses from sum NIT to base. and
hundreds OF structures are perched upon its
sides on terraces cut into the rock. On one side
OF tho hill Is the preclpice where In 1849 hun
dreds OF Mulagasy Christians were hurled to
death because they refused to disavow their
belief in Christianity. Road making Is very
difficult. because the bare rock almost
everywhere comes to the surface.
A silly law was once In forco. No building
OF stone or clay was permitted within the
limits OF the town. Tho houses OF the mobiles
and wealthy people were of massive timber
rooted with wooden shingles or thatch.
Fires. therefore, were OF frequent occurrence
When, tho Queen, and her Government ac-
cepted Chri ;tanity in, 1868 this foolish law
now almost wholly given pince to structures
% Gfs s S'o Wsoo TaS ana art
ha
memorial Churches. The city city now t" Contains
several thousands Of good two and three story
residences Of some Of the wealthier s' peopie
have spacious verandas with pillars OF
not arc s SSaRars
aspect OF ncatness and tdiness IL lacking.
Still. when the visitor remembers that the
settlement Of straw and waffle no wonders that
the Hova people have made such progress.
roSa largest Of u whieh are thr tae
story timber structure, is surrounded with a
Great STOLE ieransa an. ars.. s.tsnsthsned
mense stone and brick palace OF the Primo
Minister. who is also the Uueep's husband
officers The High Court Of Justice IL d m,Gn
nppsarance Of u Greek temple; Tbs SPIRES %. or
mich mich to Tho honnty Of the city,
there and in other towns Of tho Hova nation
arc tnachn. loU;Ooo children in their schools,
anl It is those inissionarics who have wrought
the wonderful change in Madagascar. TEey
have lifted q once ignorant ami semi-harnar-
ous pc"plc To the position OF an enlightened
and Christian natipn; Nowhere In tho world
has tho good OF missionary work been more
strikingly manifested than In Madagascar.
The Govcrnment has never taken u census
hut Nr, Sihree hed his friends have counted
the buildings in the city and made inquiry as
to tho average number OF OCCUPANTS. They
N I'm IA
ltants., Thore arc often many strangers in the
capital. as people como from all parts Of thy
Island on Government business. bringing
tribute 70 tho queen ana receiving orders from
her The nam. Antnnanarivo means at the
town OF n thousand" The city is the heart OF
Madagascar. Officers and soldiers are sent
from It to garrison all the ports on the coast
and important towns in the interior. Every
week thousands Of hooks and periodicals are
distributed from AnIanan9rivo AL over the
nars..s. schqolmasters. and evanrelsts are
Taught AMI then sent away TO other parts of
III, kirGd"m To cary on the good works the
waite man has Drought Into the great island.