SLAVERY IN MADAGASGAR.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 29, 20 December 1845, Page 1

SLAVERY IN MADAGASGAR.

The Cerceen of the Ist of July contains intelligence of a very extraordinary nature from Mauritius via Algoa Bay, conveyed thither by jhe barque Lady Emma to the effect, that the question of freedom and slavery has come to a violent issue, and blood, most precious blood has been spilt in the attempt to vindicate the cause of liberty. Ranvola Manjaka, that- cruel Queen of Madagascar, had placed herself.in the vanguard in defence of slavery ; and this woman had the presumption to threaten the,jEuropean trader* with expulsion and the confi'&atibn of their property, unless they became slaves. "H M. Fiigate Conway and H. F. M. Ships the Zelee and the Berceau met in Tamative roads, according to the arrangement agreed to by the Governors of Bourbon and Mauritius. The object of their voyage was to obtain from Ranvola Manjaka less harsh conditions than those which she had imposed upon the European traders, whom she had threatened with immediate expulsion and the confiscation of their property, if they did not become naturalised Hovalis, and slaves.— The representatives, of the two nations not having succeeded in their negociatious, an obstinate combat took place, the details of which, have been brought by the Conway. "350 men, of which 100 were French soldiers, and the others belonging to the crews of three ships, under the command of Captain Feiseck and Lieutenant Heseldine, landed on the afternoon of the 16th inst., and advanced across a plain, under a sharp .tire from the fort and battery, and the guns were spiked. The outwork or screen which had been supposed to be the fort itself, was stormed and taken. They here discovered the real fort, which is a circular one, and' mounting about 30 guns which were casdmated and in a circular gallery. The wall is at'out 80 feet high, and surrounded by a ditch of about the same width. Possession was kept of the top of the screen for upwards of half an hour, and a constant fire kept up. Having no means of breaching the wall, and the men falling fast, they retired, carrying, off the flag for the possession of which the French and English sailors disputed fora long 1 time, but it was finally settled that it should be equaJly_div.jded> betweenthe-two parties> thc-ohe- 1 obtaining a portion with the word *Uanvola/ and the other with' Manjaka,' inscribed. They burnt the Guard- house, tiie Custom-house, and a considerable part of the town. The iinng from the men-of-war was excellent. " They landed next day and carried off all the i emaining European property. T tie wounded were all brought off but not the killed, whose heads were next day exposed on the beach, stuck on spikes. The men-of-war and all the mercuant ships mailed from the harbour. - < English. French. Killed. Killed. 4 men, 3 officers and 14 men. Wounded Wounded 1 officer and 11 men 1 officer and 42 men. V The Z'elee and the Berceau lost each a topmast from the fire of the enemy; the Conway had only n few ropes cut. Nearly all their balls passed over the ships, which had anchored about eight hundred yards from 'the shore."