Chapter I: Preface

IN adding another to the list of works written about Madagascar I have been anxious to confine its contents to what was special to our visit. During that visit my colleague and I enjoyed unusual opportunities of observing various matters relating to the country and the people in the principal portions of the island. Being deputed to visit the Government and the Churches, by those who had befriended them for more than fifty years, we were cordially welcomed everywhere, and were permitted to see and examine all we wished. The portion of the country which we visited was very extensive. We saw in all their length and breadth the two Central Provinces of the island, Imérina and the Betsileo: we visited the Sihánaka Province, and left the island by the north-west route and the Port of Mojangá. Everywhere we came into closest contact with the native Churches: to an extent that no Englishman, missionary or traveller, had ever done before.

We saw the religious life of the people on the large scale; not merely in its details in a single locality: but as it shows itself in all parts, the most advanced and the most ignorant. We can say much on the things we saw in various localities. We can also testify that the great religious revolution, which is said to have taken place in Madagascar, is a REAL THING: that it has affected and improved the nation most powerfully at its heart, in the Capital and Imerina: and that its effects are also real and truly beneficial far away in the interior, and even at extreme points on the coast.

We shared in most important consultations of the missionaries, respecting the actual position of things, and the form and extent to which Christian work should be carried on in the future. We were in constant communication with the members of the Norwegian, the Friends’, and the Medical Missions. We held most pleasant intercourse with the Authorities, and were present at several important public gatherings. We were honoured with a formal reception by the Queen and a formal farewell.

Being aware of great defects in our geographical knowledge of the interior of Madagascar, we prepared ourselves before leaving England to gather new information. In all our journeys we took observations: and we have prepared a new Map of the Country which we traversed. Among the special results of this geographical exploration, we may note, the discovery of a wide-spread volcanic region, including a hundred extinct craters; the delineation of Lake Itasy; the survey of the Sihánaka Province, with its fine Lake Aláotra; the survey of the Betsileo Province and of the District of Betáfo; and that of the route to Mojangá.

We have also gathered important information relative to the extent of the population. These questions were in many respects new to ourselves; we learned much respecting them: and that information we now lay before the many friends of the Mission.

Though deriving great help from the observations and views of my colleague, I alone am responsible for the statements contained in this little volume.

I will only add that in the pronunciation of the many Malagasy names which it contains, if the reader will kindly have regard to the accented syllables and pronounce the first three vowels _a_, _e_ and _i_ as the Italians do, and the vowel _o_ as they pronounce their _u_, he will not go far wrong.

J. M.

CANONBURY, _March 29, 1875_.

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

WHY AND HOW WE WENT TO MADAGASCAR.

Religious Revolution in Madagascar—The Idols PAGES 1-24
burned—Increased Help sent from England to
the Mission—A Deputation appointed to visit
the Island—Our Journey
thither—Marseilles—Naples—Fellow-passengers—The
Suez Canal—Aden—The Indian
Ocean—Mauritius—The Bullockers—Passage
across—Tamatave; the Town, Port, and
Market—English and Native
Friends—Sunday—The Native Churches and
their Worship—Help they need—Importation of
Rum into Madagascar and its evils—The Trade
of Madagascar

CHAPTER II.

FIRST EXPERIENCES OF MADAGASCAR AND ITS PEOPLE.

East Coast of Madagascar, its Character and PAGES
Population—Supplies needed by a Traveller 25-49
to the Capital—Our Journey—Inland
Lagoons—Park-like
Scenery—Andevoranto—Ascend the Iharoka—“See
the conquering Hero comes”—The Pass of
Tániakóva—The Sorrows of the old
Slave-system—System of our Journey—The
great Ridge west of Befórona—Scenery of the
Forest—The Plain of Ankay—The great Ridge
of Angavo and its Forest—The Eastern
Valleys of Imerina—Our Arrival and
Reception—Population of the East Coast
scanty—First Visits—The City
empty—Why—Description of
Antananarivo—Origin, Name, and Growth of
the City—Interest of the Native Churches in
our Visit

CHAPTER III.

VISIT TO THE BETSILEO PROVINCE.

The Betsileo Province, its importance and PAGES
position—The Mission recent—Journey 51-98
thither—The Ankárat Mountains, their
breadth and height—Encamp at the foot—The
Vava Vato—Betáfo and Sírabé—The River
Mania—Ambositra—Nándíhizana—Ambohinamboárina—Ikála—The
Matsiatra River—Fianarantsoa—Visit of the
Queen to the Province—Worship in the
Camp—Examination of the Schools—The
Tanála—Our Visit to Ambohimandroso and
Imahazony—The Southern Terrace and
hills—The Ibára Tribes—Ambóndrombé—The
Iárindrano—Fianarantsoa
again—Ifanjakana—Latitudes and
Heights—General Conclusions concerning the
Betsileo Province: its Population and
Resources—Religious condition—New
arrangements of the Mission for its
Instruction—Return to the Capital