The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-02-28
MRS. LEAVITT TELLS OF
HER TRIP TO THAT
ISLAND.
An Audience With the Reienine
Queen at That Place-A
City Built of Brick.

The lecture on Madagascar by
Mrs. NJ. c. Leavitt, honorary life
president of the w. C. T. o., at the Y.
NJ. G. A. Hall Friday night was fairly
attended by ladies and gentlemen.
Mrs. DR.. Whitney introduced Mrs.
Leavitt to the audience, who received
her with applause.
Mrs. Leavitt commenced her adj
dress by giving an outline of her jour
ney by steamer from Colombo, island
of Ceylon, to Tamative, port on the
Eastern coast of Madagascar, an ISL
and about 1880 miles long, lying be-
tween III and % degrees south latitude
and between A and 81 degrees east
longitude. Mrs. Leavitt landed OH
the island alone and knowing no one.
When she landed at Tamative the
acting American Consul kindly re-
ceived her and supplied her with in
formation concerning her intended
journey inland. Prior to her arrival
at that island she had heard stories to
the effect that the natives were unre-
liable, and that strangers were not
safe travelling with them. This idea
was entirely contradicted by the Con-
sui.
Mrs. Leavitt wishedto reach Antana-
narivo, the capital, which was stu
ated about 234 miles inland. And in
order to reach her destination, her
kind host secured sixteen ahle-bOdied
and trustworthy natives. There were
no roads from that seaport to the cap
ital, and the traveller had to reach Ia
nanarivo the best ways he could. Mrs. |
Leavitt was borne by the natives on a |
stretcher-like apparatus, there being |
no wheeled vehicle of any kind on |
the island. The men travelled at the I
rate of twenty-five to thirty miles a
day. The capital was reached on the
sixteenth day. Mrs. Leavitt des-
cribed the journey in a humorous
vein, which frequently brought forth
bursts of laughter from the audience.
The temperature during the day was
96 deg. in the shade. At night the
party rested at villages, ready to start
at early morn. She spoke of the men
in highly complimentary terms, and
added that they were as reliable set
of men as could be found anywhere.
After passing through these many
miles of rough country-sO rough and
rugged that she did not hope to meet
with anything better inland. On the
morning of the last day of her jour
ney, feeling of admiration ran
her veins when before her Law
in the elevated distance the beautiful
city of Tananarivo, city not built of
marble like Rome, but built of brick.
Little did she dream of ever seeing
such sight i'll such place, evidently
ar away from civilization. There
we're no roads to the capital, the paths
being for the most part worse than
mountain trails, and only fit for beasts
If burden to travel on. The idea of !
iuch bad condition of roads Mrs.
Leavitt soon found out was not to
hut out civilization, but to keep out
armies of foreign invaders, and thus l
he reigning sovereigns feel them
elves secure from the horrors of war.
is city entirely built of
,urned bricks, and contained many
arge churches, most of which would
afely accommodate over 1000 persons.
1t the four corners of the city were .
uilt churches of the different reli-
iOus sects, such as the Roman Catho-
les, COngregationalists, Episcopal
ians, etc. There were also meeting
ouses. The Queens palace was
plendid edifice. During Mrs. Lea
tits stay of about three weeks, she
many lectures. On one oc-
aston she was hOnored with special
1vitatian from the reigning Queen to
ay that dignitary a visit The in
itatiOn came when the distinguished
ecturer was about to address
lrge audience, but the invitation
'as such rare thing that Mrs. Leav-
It gave up the lecture and hurried TO
ne Palace, where Her Majesty the
,ueen received her right royalty. The
,ueen's husband, who was also Prem
n according to custom, also attended.
Irs. Leavitts views were explained
, the Queen through an interpreter.
he subject of the audience was on
lie subject of strong drink. The
ueen informed the lecturer that she
as eager to Danish it from her borders.
he Queen was described as being
cry Intelligent, and a good ruler
yer her four and half millions of
lbJects. The government is despotic.
lie voice of the Queen being almost
lie law, and the people are very SUBJ
rvient.
The education of the kingdom is
ainly by the Christian churches.
he chief resources of the island being
title, sugar, rice, etc. The country
as united in 1910, when the mis-
onaries were first permitted to 90.
revious to that, former kings had
'rsecqted the Christian natives, and
lat abuse ended with the present