Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-16

9aily geuaebtt 5cnrnal,
A Day on Shore. No. 10.

it is almost a continent in itself being
more than 1000 miles in length and
about 259 miles wide.
The date of its discovery is not
known. Lorenzo de Almeida. a Portu-
Sucsc navigator visited it as early as
1906 and that nation formed a settle
mcnt about that time, but We're muir
dered by the natives Il few months
after. The French planted a colony in
1912, and two years later the English
cndeayored to get foot hold but We're
unsuccessful in permanently estab-
fishing themselves. In 1745, however
the French established a permanent
colony and have since been the con
rolling foreign element of the country
\ range of mountains running the
whole length of the land send down
brooks, streams and rivers that watel
the fertile uplands and plains on both
the eastern and western slopes. en-
richinS the clayey soil until the land
is burdened with its own productive
ness. Some of its rivers are large and
deep. being navigable to the very foot
OF the mountains for vessels of goodl,
size.
Extensive deposits of iron. coal and
rock salt have been discovered. Will
hints of gold and silver, but the eyet
present Warlike aspect of the native.
Keep strangers at distance, and 70.
iulufe ages must remain the glory o
developing the resources that undoubt
eddy exist
The cotton plant has been brought
from the Fiji islands, sugar came from
Mauritius and the coffee plant from
Java. all of which flourish as well O
better then in their native soil. Rice i,
largely cultivated, and is the principa
ROOD. Vans, arrOWroot, cocoanutS figs
bread fruit, bananas, plantains, musk
melons, lemons and tamarindS, cate
TO the simple needs of an INDECENT PEG
ile, and they live and wax strong OF
what generous nature provides Ebony
mahogany, gum copal, India rubbe
and "bullpckS" are exported. The cat
tie are of the bumped or .zebu species
and | bought a beauty that dresse,
100 pounds for an old United State.
musket. minus its flint lock If III,
lock had been there | could have hat
two "bullocks' instead of one. Thes
half wild cattle find Il ready market i
mountains. and give the trader an i'm
tneilSc proht, as he 'dickerS' an oils
sun or some @audy trifle for tn
bullock, and sells for $50 to $50 each ii
the Isle of France. Fat tailed sheer
having hair instead of wool. the sam
as are found at the Cape of Good Hope
goats. domesticated swine and vii,
ho%S, are sold to vessels touching Il
thclf ports, the traffic calling for to
oacco, Cloutee, (cloth) muskets
powder and GeW-gaWs.
In the forests are wild dogs. coward,
II met singly but. like our wolves. I'm
comfortably courageous if met i
packs, small ieopards, monkeys, mo
! cats or lemurs ana last but not least
4 huge snake often 10 feet in length
In the rivers are crocodiles and whe.
ililng our casks with water it Woul'
not be a surprising thing to have a /
looter rub up against you. Just To max
your acquaintance-oUgh' i
What | have been telling you relate
| 10 Madagascar as whole. Sain
Augustine, remote from the large elite
| where commerce centers, was people,
| 10y a fl"rcely incident seEihat"cared 70
nothing but to live without labor 50 IA
| as possible. not above thieVing or com
hitting far greater crime if seeming
| ~ to their advantage to do so, an,
there are numerous cases on record o
! pitched battles at that very spot. on
| of which happened only two years be
| fore my visit there.
The third mate of the ship William
| Badger, had some trouble With a ma
| tive woman and her friends to the mum
| Der Of one hundred or more went III
board the ship apparently for the pur
pose of trade. The Badger had been il
port a week and trade had become dull
50 that so large a crowd all at ono
made the crew suspicious. All at once
| the natives attacked the crew will
harpoons. lanccs, spades. axes, any
thing and everything. having quietl,
possessed themselves of all the craft
| in the boats or out. so that for a few
moments it looked as if the ships creV
| were at the mercy of the blood THIRSTY
Wrctvhcs The first mate coming from
| he cabin At the unusual commotioi
| received a slash from an axe that La
| his cheek open to the bone The cap
| tain's revolver spoke to some purpose
saving the mates life at the sacrifice %
| another. The little gun" that spoke
| so toftcn and to such purpose turnec