THE FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR.

Kumara Times, Issue 2821, 6 October 1885, Page 3

THE FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR.

Now that France is at ease with regard to Tonquin, oar readers, says a Home paper, may expect to bear that she will presently take up the Madagascar quarrel in earnest, if only with the object of finding “ work for idle hands to do” and glorifying “la belle nation.” France must always be doing something. Hence her designs upon the islands of the South Pacific, designs which would undoubtedly have been carried out but that the colonists put up very readily a board indicating “No thoroughfare,” and “Beware of spring guns,” It is different in Madagascar, however. There the people aie

as helpless as conies when they are within range of an experienced marksman—such as Sam Slick, for instance and that the French design presently to have a battue in that country cannot be doubted. Up to date they may be said to be masters of Majunga, Vehemor, and Mahanoro, and to be now entrenched at Tamatave, the chief port of the island. The design, from what we can gather, is to go direct to Antananarivo. Well, though the people may be powerless to resist any invading force such as France can, if it elects to do so, hurl against them, that unseen and potent enemy, in the gannt form of malaria, which lurks around the country between the coast and the capital will undoubtedly save the Malagasies an immense expenditure of powder and shot. We are very clever in Europe, but we want something of the experience which comes of expert knowledge when we undertake enterprises such as that which is now en(fßoing the attention of our neighbours iu Madagascar. For ourselves we are certain that the game which the French are playing in that country is not worth the candle, and that, while it will add millions to the taxtion of the people, it will bring them neither prestige nor profit..