The sun., 1896-10-18

along the Indian Ocean. There are no horses
no mules. no draught animals except oxen. anc
no roads in madagascar. The sCtncrG is won
drously beautiful in the heart of ihe forests
and there are no dangerous animals except the
crocodiles with which its water 'ourseS abound
The landscape seems to he n continual VartR,
tion between mountain and swamp. jungle and
Catara :. and in 225 miles MIR. Taylor crossed
3b,! WAYS.
Thu, tne tlrst glance at the island shows the
difference between the problem presented &.
10 solve in the little islands of Nossi-bc. May.
otte, Sainte- Marie, and Reunion. The tenn
peratuIeis not wholly trying, the northwest
of the island Oeing the hottest. but that OF the
interior not much exceeding thht of France.
Malerial fever. however, is a terrible scource
throughout the east coast.
The eastern half of the island consists main
ly OF crys.4llir," rocks. chiefly rneiss. and the
western halt OF Il scdimsntary formation. The
conditions point To alluvial gold in TIA" valley :
and to true leads in the mountains. while Mr.
Taylor found nuggets of FREQ gold in several
placer beds ard recognized quartz lodcs in
the hills. The gold varies in color. but is ex.
re'lent in quality, and the possibilities that the
island may become the worlds next great gold
field may have an enormous influence on H. de.
yeiopmen.. Mr.; TAYLOR thinks there il no coal
in the island. The east coast is covered with
large Quantities OF pumice stone, with BIZ
valves attached.
yet been found. Magnetic ore nbounds. and
is smelted hy the natives and hammered into
spfies ,l%i ",far heads knives and hntchsts
hss not been discovered. but there is plenty
of copper. and Mr.. Taylor adds that 'while
tho native jewellers make rings and chains of
tine placer guid,nnd OF English sOyercigns melt
cd down. all their silver jewelry l. made from
the French iiTr.irnnc piece which suggests
Madagascar. Indeed, except in Diego Suarr2
and Tamaiave. the only money in circulation
hammer and chis"l into various stycs and
weighed out. when used AZ money. In The small
scales which every person OF any consequence
is supposed :" carry with him." Tire forest
furnishes mahogany. satin wood, teak, ehtny.
and n great variety OF beautifully velned woods
In Tanntave. the port of the east side, the
has only about 1000 inhu bitnnrs, and lis
wooden houses are built along one narrow
main street and number of narrow lanes
covered with thick sand. Beyond the grassy
plain on its rear rise the foothills. which lead
hill and through swamps the French marched
about ?25 miles inland Ia the capital. Antana.
nariyo' with is 100000 people. the chief
Diego suarrr, the port in tho north of the
saRa Is TIid 1y Mr. l"yloT t" hHye the finest
a narrow channel .hrh wid.ns OUT, snd sew. -
oral bays "psn into il, Its very formation.
however; makes II. while fine protection, a
Of. The wind is said IN be- rarely favorable
for their exit, aud formerly, at least. there
may by this time have been supplied. Ma.
zinga. containing several thousand inhab-
itants, Is al port on o-northwost coast In
holding there Fcw = aces tne French hnve the
But Mr.. Taylor asks, What can the
French make out OF tho llovasi Or the wnrlike
Sihanakas, their hereditary foesr Or the Bet
Or the Tanhosyr Or m" fierce
There are two native institutions
which stand In the way OF any n vancement
They are tdnnmpOdnd and slavery Tho for
mer Is fuedIl service which obligCs tn. nuIo
population 10 perform military hn' civic duties
without pay. and IS n gr.a; drawback TO enter.
prise. The Influence OF the French is Consld-
cred likely one day 10 set II aside. As TO
slavery, these details are pIrscalca;
ala
into three clasSeA, Ihe Isra Hova, the AndeNu
and the .hozamiques. The ZRIa are of the SAM,
STOCK as thH HovA- themselves, from the central
provinces. their ancestors having become slaves
either from being sid Tor debf. or as a punish.
ment for certain crimes. The second, the Andeyo
or slaves proper. are descendants OF those can.
Iureo ~ the numerous wars carried on BY the