THE FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR
First rumours of the existence of Madagascar—Confusion with
Zanzibar and the Komoro Islands—Portuguese discovery—French
Company of the East founded to colonize the Island—Fort
Dauphin—Pronis, the immoral governor—Vacher de Rochelle,
King-Consort of a Malagasy Queen—French East India Company
founded. Île de Bourbon colonized—The Madagascar Pirates—French
found settlement of St Marie de Madagascar—Send scientific
expeditions to Madagascar which first make known its peculiar
fauna—Benyowski, the Polish adventurer—The Malagasy—The
Hovas—English capture Mauritius and Bourbon and turn the French
out of Madagascar—French regain Bourbon and re-occupy St Marie
de Madagascar—First missionaries of the London Missionary
Society arrive in Madagascar (1818)—Rise of Radama and the Hova
power—French repulse in 1829—The shipwrecked sailor,
Laborde—Queen Ranaválona and persecutions of the Christians—The
Sakalavas—Prince Rakoto and Lambert’s frustrated coup
d’état—Accession of Rakoto (Radama II)—Deposition and
death—French concession repudiated and indemnity paid—The
Laborde succession—Quarrel with France in 1883—The Shaw
incident—General Willoughby—England recognizes French
protectorate over Madagascar—final invasion, conquest and
annexation of the Island by the French—Réunion and Komoro
Islands 423