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.

    26/182 (page 24)
    shown to them, for they seem but little more than ordinary porters. You see, however, that wherever they go, the people all hurry out of their way as quickly as possible. On asking the meaning of this, you are informed that these are the Queen's baggage carriers, and, whatever they are carrying, water or rice, or goods of any description, free course must be given them ; and if any one presumes to-get in their way, he is in imminent danger of being speared. A missionary once was riding on horseback in a narrow lane, and his horseboy running in front of him, when some of the Queen's baggage carriers suddenly came in sight, approaching in the opposite direction. There was no room for the poor lad to stand aside, and to run back would have brought him face to face with the advancing horse. Before he had time to consider, or the missionary to interfere on his behalf, the men were upon him, and wounded him with their long spears. The missionary, however, wrote to the Prime Minister about him, and a present of money was sent down to him as compensation. Passing on, we soon see a very different sight ; the road is filled with a throng of noisy children just let loose from school. They are shouting, laughing, and playing, and looking as happy as any English school children. But we will let them pass for the present, hoping to learn more about them and their surroundings in the succeeding chapters.