The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-24

1865 her sister, Ranavaloua H., obtained the
throne. The present Queen, Ranavaiona III,
succeeded in 1888. She is the great grand
daughter of Rahety. sister Of King Andrlnanl
Poinimerina, who reigned from l1S1 to loIV.
At various periods, from 1920 1862 1850 and
1865 treaties have been concluded with the
United States Great Britain, and France. by
8 treaty signed at Tamatave, on Dec. y. 1850,
French Resident General, with small mill
tary escort, resides at the Capital and the Tor
eiCn relations of the country are regulated by
France which nationality occupies dlstrlcs
around the Bay of Diego Suarez as colony
By the Anglo French agreement of Aug. D.
1890, the protectorate of France over Madagas-
car was recognized by Great Britain. The ma
tive Government retains absolute independence
In all domestic legislation and control OF the
other tribes of the country.
The Government is an absolute monarchy,
modified and tempered by customs and uSages
that have the force of law. During the last
quarter of a century the power OF the sovereign
has been thus gradually limited and control led
The Sovereign is advised by her Prime MINIS
ter who is the real source of all political power,
and he is assisted by number OF Ministers
who act as Heads of Departments either OF Edu-
cation, Justice, the Interior, or Foreign Affairs,
but they are only deputies of the Prime Minis
ter and can originate nothing without his per-
mission.
The succession to the Crown is hereditary in
the royal house, but not necessarily in direct
succession, as the reigning Sovereign may des-
ignate his or her successor.
At large number of the chief towns of the
interior and at all the ports Governors are
placed by the Central Government, who are d.
rectly responsible to the Prime Minister. The
number of these Governors has been greatly in
creased in the last two or three years. Local
matters are still under the contro OF tribes and
il of
the whole people are called together for consul
t&tion. These have no defined authority. yet
the opinion of the majority has a distinct
weight and influence.
Among the Betsileo and other subject tribes
the representatives of the old chiefs are still
held in much honor and in almost idolatrous
reverence by the people.
Reckoning Australia as a continent NADIA
gsscar is the third largest island in the world.
1t is separated from Africa by the Mozambique
Channel, and the least distance across is 230
miles 1t has q population Of 100000. No
census has as yet been taken By the Govern
ment, and it resents any attempt by foreigners
to do so. 1t is only by vague estimates that an
idea has been formed of the population, either
Of the island a whole or of particular dis
tricts. 1t is thought that the population Of
1merina was decreased during the sanguinary
reign of Queen Ranavalona, from 1923 to 1861,
and it is now thought that it is increasing in
consequence Of the advance of civilization. The
females are in excess Of the males.
number Of foreigners live on the coasts,
and are chiefly Creoles from Mauritius and Re-
union, and they are mostly British subjects.
The most enteTprising tribe is the Hova. whose
language is allied to the Malayan and Oceanic
tongues and is understood over a large part of
the island
The HOvas have dominated for the last so
years The unsubdued tribes are>in the south
and southwest, but steps to bring them under
subsection have been taken. Tie people are
divided into many clans. that seldom inter-
marry. The Hoyas are estimated at 1000, 600;
the other races, who are more or less mixed,
are the SakalRvas, In the west, with 100000
the Betsileos with 100000, the Bavas with 200,-
coo, the Betsimi Sakaras with 400, 000 and the
ADtatiayas with 100000.
In the coast towns are many Arab traders,
and there are many African negroes that have
been introduced as slaves The Capital, An
tsnanarivo, is in the interior, and is estimated