The children of Madagascar / by Herbert F. Standing.

  • Herbert Standing
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The children of Madagascar / by Herbert F. Standing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Madagascar will chiefly refer to the boys and girls of Imerina ; among whom I have lived and worked since I came into the island. The Malagasy seem to think that their island is the hest country in the whole world ; indeed, many of them appear to imagine that there is no other land under the sun worth speaking of beside their ' fatherland,' as may be seen from some of the names they often use in speaking of it, which when translated mean, ' This all' or ' This whole.' And why should not a Malagasy be proud of his island home ? He certainly has good reason to be. Let me ask you to accompany me on a journey from the coast to the capital, and after I have pointed out to you some of the lovely scenery by the way, I think you will agree with me that the natives are not far wrong in thinking they live in one of the finest countries in the world. Well, here we are at Tamatave, the largest town on the east coast of Madagascar. The voyage out from England to this place used often in the old days of sailing-vessels to occupy three or four long months ; but now, by taking our passage in one of the large ocean steamers which leave London every month for the Cape, we may reach Tamatave in five or six weeks ; or by crossing France and taking steamer at Marseilles, we may perform the journey in less than one month. This town is the most European-looking in the whole island. A great proportion of the houses belong to English, French or Creole traders, for during the late war with France the native part of the town was entirely burnt down. Within the low curve of sand mounds on which the town stands, nestles the calm water of the harbour, where trading vessels from the neighbouring islands of Mauritius and Reunion as well as European men-of-war may often be seen riding at anchor; and bounding it on the outer side runs a long, low line of coral reef, on which in rough weather the surging waters of the Indian Ocean lash themselves into white foam. But we must engage our bearers for the journey up-country, for we are going to leave the region of steamships, locomotives, and wheeled conveyances far behind; and for 150 or 200 miles our