The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-15

RANAvALONA, QUEEN OF MADAGASCAR.
edging her as the ruler of the island.
The other consuls take their exequaturs
from the French representatives, though
the island does not belong to France,
and the French are quite powerless in
its domestic affairs. They have consid-
cradle influence, however, in determin-
ing the foreign policy of the country
and maintain there a resident general
with q military suit, though the NADIA
gascar government refuses to recognize
their right to do SC.
Madagascar is now nominally ruled
by the native queen, Ranavalona III, q
woman Of S3 years, who succeeded to
the throne in 1888 and the same year
married her prime minister. The gov
eminent Is am absolute monarchy, in
which the prime minister usually man
ages the sovereign and makes puppets of
his subordinate ministers.
The prime minister, who rejoices in
the simple and euphonious name of
Rainilaiarivony, is not of royal blood.
He is q shrewd old fellow, more than
so years of age and very much alive.
He rose to power by assassinating his
predecessor during the reign of the pre-
vious queen.
1t has always been the rule that the
prime minister should be the husband
of the queen. The former queen was
married to the predecessor of the present
prime minister.
Another curious custom of the island
Is the compulsory duty imposed by the
queen ON all the foreign members of her,
court to render service ones a months Mt
her table. Allfhese gentlemen carry rice
and chicken to her majesty. They have
the further pleasure Of crawling ON
their knees before her once a month In
the throneroom. On this occasion the
queen sits on a throne and wears a solid
gold crown which weighs AZ pounds.
Few people realize the vast area of
Madagascar. 1t is the largest island in
the world, counting Australia among
the continents. It's greatest length is 400
miles, with an average width of $50
miles, and the population is ~variously
estimated at from /, 200, 900 to /, AGO.
GOO. The general name Of the inhabit-
ants is Malagasy, but they are divided
into at least 45 tribes. 1t is a popular
idea that the Malagasy are negroes. As
a matter OF fact, they are Malays.
There are wide differences between
the tribes. The most numerous are tho
Sakalavas, who constitute about a third
of the population and are the most war
like and savage of any Of the island peo-
pies. They are averse to civilizations
They are not cannibals but they are
naturally lazy and stupid. They have d
fine physique and average over 6 feet I'M
height, but they are by far the darkest
a~borigines from much mixing with the
slave population.
The Hovas, the second largest tribe
ON the island, comprise less than a
fourth Of the whole population. They
are much smaller than the Sakalavas,
averaging only a little above 6 feet.
They have straight, regular features and
take very kindly to civilization. They
are intelligent and quick to learn and
have preserved the strong feeling of
caste that exists among the natives of
India The Hoyas are the ruling tribe,
all the kings and queens of Madagascar
having been Hovas. The Hovas do not
mix largely with the other tribes, and
their dark hair ID straight, long, fine
and abundant, while that OF the Saka-
layas is kinky, though il cannot he
called woody.
The concession granted to Mn. Waller
Ii said 10 cover 225 square miles on the
southern part of the island and to In
clude the right to cut other valuable
timber as well as the rubber tree. Mr..
Waller, il win be remembered, was Il
prominent colored Republican Of Kansas
City and was appointed consul at Tania-
taye, the principal port Of Madagascar,
J by President Harrison.