The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-25
fN MADAGASCAR
The Land Where the Queen Takes an
Annual Bath.

/
The Land Where the Queen Takes an
Annual Bath.
Especial Correspondence.l
New YORK, May 2.-One of the youngest
of scientific explorers, Mr.. Frederick Tay-
lor, has just returned to New York from
an extended journey through the island of
Madagascar, and he is now engaged in
writing book giving some account of his
experiences in that remarkable island.
| Books of scientific exploration have in the
past ten or twelve years become very popu-
lar, where the author has something new
to describe and is able to tell his story in a
manner which pleases as well as instructs.
The sale of Stanley's book was enormous
and the royalties alone would have made
him comparatively independent. MIRA
! French-Sheldon, who last year made an
excursion into eastern Africa at the head
Of an expedition which she organized, is
now writing a book descriptive of that
somewhat sensational journey She has
nearly completed the manuscript and has
come to New York to put the finishing
touches upon it, and two or three publish
ers have made her handsome offers for the
right of publication.
! Mr.. Taylor, however, is an unknown
| traveller and explorer, SO far as Americans
are concerned, although his work has been
so highly appreciated by the Royal Geo
graphical society that he has been elected
a life member of it, and will in June read
| paper before it in which his Madagascar
experiences will be described. Mr. Taylor
was born in New York city. His family
has possessed wealth and high social stand
ing, and career in any of the professions
or in finance was open to him. However,
even from childhood he showed the strong
est inclination to travel, and before he had
reached mans estate he had made several
exciting trips. After he was of age Mr..
Taylor travelled extensively in Africa, Wis
tied Australia, and then conceived the idea
of making thorough explorations of I'M
! frequented quarters Of the globe. Having
wealth, energy and good health, he was
well fortified for such endeavors.
A year ago he determined to explore the
island of Madagascar from one end TO the
other, and in the early summer of last
year he started from Tamatave with
company consisting of some thirty porters.
-Four OF these were employed to carry him
They were muscular negroes and they lit
orally carried him upon their backs, for
there are no roads upon the island, the
jealousy of the native tribes against threat
ened French usurpation having caused the
edict to go forth that no road should be
constructed. Mr.. TAYLOR was carried in a
contrivance something like sedan chair.
The rest of the porters carried the pro-
visions. Thus over narrow footpaths, fire.
quently following the most trifing trails
through the forests and over the noun
tains, Mr. Taylor went from the east to
the west coast of Madagascar, and also
covered much of the territory of the island
from north to south.
He says that he had no startling adven-
lures, saw no wild beasts, for there are
practically none on the island excepting
one resembling the American mountain
lion, had no encounters with huge snakes
or poisonous reptiles, and was only twice
in danger of his life-once when he was
taken down with the coast fever and was
brought almost to deaths door. and once
when he was attacked by the savage tribes
which live upon the west coast of NADIA
gascar. He had battle with some of
these warriors, in which two of his com
pany were killed and several wounded,
while the warriors, after losing a number
were dispersed.
Mr. Taylor, however, was not seeking ad-
venture He desired to learn something of
the geography, the fora and fauna of the
island, and above all to study the people
With the exception of the savages upon
the west coast. he was everywhe-" treated
with civility and in many places Ith cor
diaIty. The queen was especially cour
teous to him, and he found her reigning in
capital of something like 100000 people
living in handsome palace and guarded
by considerable army drilled by Euro
peans well armed, but rather "rnusing so
far as uniform was concerned. he queen
invited him to be present at tie sacred
feast of her annual bath, and in other ways
especially honored him.
Mr.. Taylor in his book is likely to dispel
some ideas that have prevailed regarding
Madagascar. He will show that it is not
al island of very fertile soil and that aside
from rice and some fruits it would be
worthless, perhaps, for European colo
nists. Investigation revealed to him that
the island Is enormously rich in gold. He
picked up several nuggets of gold which
he found in the gold region, and he studied
that district for week or more with a
view TO determine something of IT'S wealth.
~ SSSAt4cI 70 MIN tndt lEe GCiu mines there
promised greater riches than do those Of
Australia, but he says that it VIII be many
years before this wealth gets to any mint
The reigning tribe is so fearful Of white
and especially French domination, that it
has put a practical embargo upon the
working Of the mines. II has granted
two concessions, bat has required as
royalty IS per cent. Of TIE gross output.
which is practically prohibitive- More
over, as there are no roads upon the island.
and as the gold district is practically in
accessible without roads, it would require
large army with a great corps of sap
Pers, miners and roadbuiIders to overcome
the army and subdue the territory. Mr.
Taylor says that If the French should
attempt 20 subjugate the island BY force
it would be impossible Tor the army to
reach the capital without a loss Of from
30.o0o 70 40, 900 men. For that reason the
gold mines Of Madagascar are likely TO
remain undeveloped for many years
Mr.. Taylor found evidences CT enormous
deposits Of iron and copper, but there is no
coal On the island. and in order 10 develop
such mines charcoal would have TO be
burned
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