New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-25
FRANCE AND MADAGASCAh
THE MARCH OF THE FOREIGN SO-DiTN'
AND OFFICIALS FROM THE carr
tail OF THE ISLAND III
THE WEST COAST.
Darts November 3.

Paris November 3.
What is passing in Madagascar must Nv do
good as a play to the Hovas. who FORM '"e '",''s
part of the population. The french e"'o' no"
con, T., his ultmatum which has been contempt
uouslv rejected by the Queens prime '''ihiS'e''
tho actual ruler Of the island for thirty years.
The French civil officers who kept up a $40" vi
what they fondly called their country's pro-
,,,ro,a,, over MADAGASCAR the little body or
soldiers who form their escort. rev merchants
and trader, and heaviest hearted or ALL the
Catholic missionaries. with their teaching proeh-
ers and sisters, have been ordered IN the name
Of the French Republic TO shake the uuS' VI
Madagascar from their feet END leave the is'a'u
10 its fate This fate according TO threats ''a"e,
is 10 be an invasion by military expe"it'o" VI
anywhere from 1000 10 $4,000 French soidiers'
uhicb ahal, march through Madagascar az soon
az the 100 OOO 900 francs necessary are Voteh an"
the weather Of the long. rainy season. now De-
ginning will permit. Apparently the HoVas' VII"
their astute prime minister are not frigh'eheu !"
the least In 1889 somewhat similar coineuE
was enacted before them. which resulted III ho'h-
ing At the present moment they are opserNi"s
placidly this new exodus OF their would-pe pro-
toctOrs
the representatives. Of French religion and
from the port Of Tamatave. This is little ag-
elomeration Of some 1900 nha bitants. or many
races and tongues. who attend to the trade
brought by 200 ships, more or less eacn year. WIN
an average value Of over a half million dollars
Of imports and considerably more OF exports
Here a French ship-of-war Is waiting TO take the
missionaries the last Of the refugees, over 10 the
island Of lie Reunion. They leave behind the
nd
at least one native priest to care for the niue
conqrepations which they gathered together pain
fully before French politicians undertook to pro-
too, ,be,, This native priest is. or was. a
notable man in his way. being the nephew OF
farmer Queen From this he called Pere
Rasilide and in the fifteen years OF his educa-
,ion in France he spoke reverently OF the
grandees Of his court.
The nominal religion Of the governing HoVas
is = Methodist modification Of Presbyterianism,
which German travellers assert is but thln
varnish over the innate paganism OF the race.
II dates from the times Of English predominih'e
before which time in the early days OF the cent
Iry. took place the violent deaths of native con-
yer,s So we'll known from the annals OF the
Protestant missions or late. years the h'Vas
have mainly managed their own religious anairS
with occasional help from English traders IKE
Abraham Kingdom. whose misfor;unes III 'he
cpining OF medals resembling money nave become
,,,,ii. in tho last few weeks in England T. him
,be French attribute much Of the unfavorable
lis,,osi,ion shown them by the Hovas. In gen
or,l however these ogtensibly religious diff
cultles NAV BE- safely discounted In connection
with the present conflict which turns on some
thing much more worldly and tangible. namely
whether Franc. is 10 pick UP and annex another
African territory with which to calm her jealousy
Of England by attempts at colonization
The representatives 81 French authority. civil
and military are leaving the island by the west.
Their march can hardly b. easy as that Of
the others has been From the capital city
Antananarivo with its 10000 Inhabitants IN
huts they have to make their way on foot 70 the
seaport Of Majunga, opposite Mozambique an"
having steamer connection with Zanzibar. The
bend Of the little column. NJ Anthouard has al
ready published a map Of his route With the
helm Of his present trained companions Of the
army ne can complete the observations for the
.xu.di,i,n which will have T. march up this way
as IN. popular French song So wofully mis-
urnuheaied about Marlborough. at Easter. or.
mayhap. NJ Trinity"
This route takes in the whole western slope 81
the ISLAND It comprises the stepping OFF, as 1t
were from two principal lodges. one at kinajy.
the other at Ampotaka. Like all The roads built
hv the natives II leads down by the drectest line
and steep-st descent. paying ~ attention To the
needs Of the simplest vehicle II is part OF the
French officers duty to see If they cannot dis
.,v.r At the worst spots some convenient detour
for the future transportation Of their cannons
,horscs there are none in the sland.
After Ampotaka The country becomes almost a
d.srr. This is due t. the constant incursons Of
the Fahaval0s race ~ brigands who respect
not the Hova prime minister. The natives never
pas. here unless armed and in strong numbers.
To reach Andriba. the most important market
for the trade Of Majunga. caravan OF thou
sand persons leaves the capital each week, bring
ing by hand the products Of the Interior 70 barter
for the imports from the coast The little band
of Frenchmen rely upon their arms and discl-
pInc to make this part of the Journey safely.
They left Antananariyo on October %. and now,
two weeks later. have scarcely reached this crit
cal stage Of the descent. No one is likely to
trouble them as all the natives regard their exit
In the light Of a spectacle But 1t furnishes a
good commentary on the prospects Of III" proposed
military expedition. This first part Of the dis
lance from the capital /" the coast does not eN-
coed 80 miles.
The mex, halt Is at he mining establishments
of Suberbieville where the French column should
arrive about November Is. This place. on the
River Ikopa H. not 800 feet above the sea level.
and is more than 300 feet lower than the high
lands around the capital From here on. account
must bc taken Of the fevers Of the lowlands.
A few miles distant near the junction of the
lkopa with the BetsibolSa. is the native city where
the notorious Hova Governor. Ramasombazaha.
has his seat. He is the one who gave expression
tn what will continue 20 be the fIova sentiment
l,yh.n there are no European soldiers actually
nj hand In a 60 neil Of State held in the Silver
Palace in September.
II 90 back to my post. Reckon on me. !
shall eat all these Frenchmen as they pass"