The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-24
QUEEN OF AN ISLAND
Not Lii, Of Hawaii, but Ranaval-
Omanjaka, of Madagascar.
She Dresses i'm Paris Gowns and Is Fond
of Observation-Disclosures Customs and
Method of Government.
San Francisco Chronicle.

the SakalaVaS were active and energetic
they might make it uncomfortable for the
Little Queen" as she is affectionately
called. but they know that the first sign
OF internecine difficulty would be the sig
nal for French occupation and conquest
The Queens name is Ranavalonanjaka,
and she is always known as the Queen Of
Madagascar, although her sway over the
island is not complete. Her seat of gov
eminent is Antananarivo, the only city
of Importance in Madagascar. Ranaval-
omanjaka is about thirty-five years Of age.
One Queen preceded her, before which
there was a long line of kings of the
Radama dynasty. On the extinction of that
line the crown passed to the female
branch. The heir apparent to the throne
is also a woman, the Princess Rainarasua,
about thirteen years old. The Queen looks
like the rest Of the Hovas, and has a very
light complexion.
She Is dignified in her manners. prefers
seclusion and never gives a personal audi
ence to any Caucasians, except the official
representatives of foreign governments.
These audiences are held in the reception
room or the large palace, which was built
eight or nine years ago, but which has as
yet only one room furnished-the audience
chamber. was exceedingly anxious to pho
tograph the Queen, but she is 50 carefully
guarded that a snapshot was an impossi-
was out of the question.
During an audience the Queen is always
attended by some of her twenty-five ladies
in waiting. Her tall, slender figure is draped
In imported gowns, which come ready-made
from Paris Her tastes simple. and she
wears few jewels, although brilliant dia-
found in the island. The Queen has q
strong face, but is not good-looking. She
has beautiful and very abundant hair, which
she wears in European style. Her residence
is little house In the rear or the palace,
where she receives white ladies formally.
OF whom there are very few on the island.
The Queen has penchant for Americans,
the American consul being the only one
who took out his exequatur through the
Queens government, acknowledging her as
the ruler of the island.
If diplomacy is allowed to take it's course
the French will eventually get the island,
but the conquest will be an imperceptible
to ' take Madagascar by force they were uR
successful. The island can never be sub
dued until Antananariyo is taken and 9TH, the
and impregnable in its location. The
French found it impossible to transport an
army there, as there are over one hundred
miles of marshy land full of fever be-
tween the coast and the city. Rivers and
streams are very numerous and there are
made dangerous by the alHgators. There
is not half mile of wagon road I'm the
tives on their backs and the few horses
in the island are the property of the
Queen. This lack of roads makes it en-
barrasSing for invading army, and it IS
this knowledge which has kept the island
ers from building roads
THE PRIME MINISTER.
The most important person in the govern
nent of -Nadagascar Is the Prime Minister.
| He is, in truth, the power behind the
throne. The Queen is sometimes consulted,
| but her opinion cuts little figure. She fills
| a place in the heart of the people who must
have something tangible to worship. She
| is very correct in her habits of life. and
| carefully observes ali the old customs Her
example as to morality is not initiated as
closely BY the people as it might be. While
it cannot be said that the MalagasyS are
immoral, il must be acknowledged that
! they are not easily shocked. The leading
and for money they would do anything,
| though personally | found them honest,
% 6ne of the boss n to me By
| Prime Minister for an escort would take
some of my clothes to wear to church. but
! not bother himself to tell me that he was
going to take them. but he regarded it
| The Prime Minister, who rejoices in the
simple and euphonious name of Rain
ilaiariyony. is not of royal blood He is a
| shrewd old fellow, more than sixty years of
| age, and very wide awake. He rose to
| power by assassinating his predecessor dur
| ing the reign of the previous Queen Rain
\
| m6nder-in-chief of the army. and he prof
4! tied by his rivals fall, and has always
| stree his own accession kept the important
| place Of general of the army in his own
| tail and thin, with high massive fore
head and gray hair, which he keeps care
| public in a faultless dress suit.
| Once a year the Premier summons the
Kabana, which which is an assembly Of all the
means are discussed here, and if the views
OF the Kabana coincide with those of the
they do not coincide, all goes Well also,
for the Prime Minister does as he chooses
and the chiefs go home. The Ka5ana is.
| and gives the chiefs q sense Of response
| pity and Importance. There are very
few fey promulgated laws in the island.
| the various chiefs have it proclaimed in
the principal villages by a public crier.
appointed by the Prime Minister. they
| are. of course. subservient to his wishes.
The governors are the supreme lords of
| their own provinces, and there is no an
peal by the people beyond them.
| L was one day present at a most peculiar
case decided in the little courthouse of
| one of them having In his possession three
| COWS, which were left in front of the court
| house The native who was out of possess
sion claimed that the other had stolen the
| cows from him. This was denied by the
other party. The slaves of each man were
| TO the statement of their respective mas
| ters. The judge was puzzled at the conflict
| of testimony and the scales OF Justice hung
nicely poised for a few seconds. Then the
| Judge announced his decision. He gave one
| COW 10 the man who claimed that the three
were originally his; another he awarded 10
| the man who denied having stolen them,
| and the third he kept for himself The It'll
giants were satisfied and the court fairly
| beamed.
The penal code Of Madagascar is prini-
| tive and irregular in its enforcement. For
stealing men have been condemned to
chains for life. After such sentence the
| convict IS allowed 10 roam at large, but is
| compelled TO work for the government, and
| shackles and chain. For food and shell
| ter he depends on charity. but in AIadagas-
| car, where food grows wild and shelter is
| q superiority, this is no great hardship
| Punishment for murder depends upon the
| wealth OF the murderer. II he be n rich
man he pays an indemnity to the murdered
| mans relatives.
THE "FANIMPOONA"
The method of taxation in Madagascar
is peculiar but has plenty of analogies in
our own country. 1t is called "faniu.
| poona," and corresponds more nearly 70
our working out road tax than anything
else. Every Hova subject is Obliged "a
work three months OF each year for the
government and support himself DURING
that time Sometimes the government
does not demand ii. and other years it re.
quires double amount. No taxes are
paid in money and every man under the
''fanimpoona-" Rich men serve the gov
eminent in a capacity suitable TO their
| station, and even slaves are required tc
render service. This is hard on the own.
out OF every four constantly In the EN-.
ploy of the government. All the public