TWELVE MONTHS IN MADAGASCAR.
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[Illustration:
ANTANANARIVO.—MEMORIAL CHURCH AND ROCKS AT ÁMPAMARÍNANA.
]
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_TWELVE MONTHS_
IN
_MADAGASCAR_.
BY
JOSEPH MULLENS, D.D.,
FOREIGN SECRETARY OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
_NEW YORK_:
_ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS_,
_535 BROADWAY_.
1875.
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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