The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-29

49,
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 a military suit, though the NADIA
gascar government refuses to recognize
their right to do so.
Madagascar is now nominally ruled
by the native queen, Ranavalona III, a
woman of 33 years, who succeeded to
the throne in 1888 and the same year
married her prime minister. The gov
eminent is an 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 a shrewd old fellow, more than
so years of age and very much alive.
He rose to power by disseminating 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 once a month at
her table. All these 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 throne and wears a solid
gold crown which weighs AZ pounds.
Few people realize the vast area of
Madagascar. It 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 1, 900, 900 to 1, $780,
900. The general name of the inhabit-
ants is Ma1agasy, but they are divided
into at least As 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 the
Sakalavas, who constitute about third
of the population and are the most war
like and savage of any of the island peo-
pies They are averse to civilization.
They are not cann1 balls, but they are
naturally lazy and stupid. They have
fine physique and average over 6 feet in
height, but they are by far the darkest
abOrigines from much mixing with the
slave population.
The Hovas, the second largest tribe
on the island, comprise less than
fourth of the whole population They
are much smaller than the Sakalavas,
averaging only a little above 3 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 Hovas 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 is straight, long, fine
and abundant, while that of the Salxa-
lavas is kinky, though it cannot be
called woolly.
The concession granted to Mr.. Waller
Is said to cover 225 square miles of the
southern part of the island and to in
o3ude the right to cut other valuable
timber as well as the rubber tree. Mr.
Waller, it will be remembered, was a
prominent cOlored Republican of Kansas
City and was appointed consul at Tama-
tave, the principal port of Madagascar,
by President Harrison