MADAGASCAR.-ITS MISSIONARIES AND MARTYRS.*

BY MRS. E. S. STRACHAN.

THREE hundred miles off the south-east coast of Africa is situated the island of Madagascar, the third largest island in the world, four times the size of England and Wales. With several mountain ranges, the highest peak reaching 9,000 feet, there is a delightful climate; numerous streams and lakes give fertility to many plains, now well cultivated. The hilly region is surrounded by a dense forest belt of valuable timber. The flora and fauna are abundant, furnishing two hundred and fifty varieties of ferns, and orchids unrivalled, with numberless birds of beautiful plumage, and small animals. in great numbers. Unquestionably the uplands are attractive. The climate in the low country, sloping to the coast, is, on the contrary, hot and damp, producing malaria, very prejudicial to the health of Europeans. Rice is the staple food, and fruits grow similar to those of India and China. The people are called Malagasy, from the Malays, being Polynesian rather than African, although the original inhabitants may have come from South Africa. They formed numerous tribes, speaking various dialects, but had no written characters till Christian missionaries reduced the language to writing, thus opening the door of intercourse here, as in so many islands of the deep, with the outside world.

Although not so degraded as some, yet many evils prevailed, such as lying, theft, laziness, drunkenness, polygamy, infanticide,

*Gleanings from " Madagascar, Its Missionaries and Martyrs." By William John Townsend, D.D. Toronto: William Briggs.

Current events in Madagascar give special interest to the story of its conversion to Christianity. A recent paper says: "The French are bullying the Hovas of Madagascar again. On the score of carrying blessing, with her she has positively no excuse at all for interfering in Madagascar. She found there a Christian government, progressing rapidly in civilization -a civilization due chiefly to the self-denial of English missionaries. The French carried thither a condition of ceaseless petty war between them and the lawful government. They found there a necessary prohibitory law

and slavery, chiefly of bankrupt debtors and prisoners of war, a slave trade also being carried on with the Arabs. Their houses were built of hard red clay thatched with grass or rushes; their industries were agriculture, spinning, weaving, and working among metals. A feudal form of government was maintained, the rule being moderate and the people generally law-abiding, although clans were often quarrelling. There seemed to be no special form of worship, and no temples, but idols were recognized and Fetishism prevailed. Persons suspected of witchcraft had to submit to the drinking of taugena water, or 'poison ordeal," causing the death of more than one-fourth of those undergoing it. The population of Madagascar is now estimated to be about 5,000,000. Antananarivo, the capital, containing 100,000 people, has been rebuilt since the introduction of Christianity and is a fine city. Tamatave, the principal port on the east, has a population of 6,000. Most of the early information concerning Madagascar is due to Robert Drury, who was shipwrecked in 1702 and was not restored to his friends till after fifteen years residence among the people.

Soon after the discovery of Madagascar by the Portuguese in 1506, some Romish priests commenced teaching, but the French broke up the Portuguese occupation and the mission. Again in the middle of the 17th century, other priests attempted the propagation of their faith, but using intimidation, they and their followers were put to death.

As early as 1796, the London Missionary Society began to look towards Madagascar as a field for Christian effort, but it was not till 1818 that Revs. S. Bevan and D. Jones arrived at Tamatave, having left their wives and children in Mauritius. As the king was at this time somewhat incensed against the English, it was decided to open work at the coast. Mr. Bragg, an English trader, showed much friendliness, inviting them to his residence and then erecting a mission house, where a school was opened with six pupils. All being auspicious, the two missionaries returned to Mauritius.

for the protection of the natives from their worst enemy; they carried with them brandy, and insisted on being allowed to use its befooling power in trading with people. The liquor power and the ever troublous Jesuit have been France's leading motors in her assaults on Madagascar, as in many other places. As for the wiping out of the Hova Government, and with it the Protestant religion and the morals of the people, France has tried it several times already, and has gained enough experience not to attempt it without a very serious armament. It seems a pity that no one may stand up for a brave people facing such fearful odds in the cause of patriotism and righteousness."

On the return of Mr. and Mrs. Jones they were saluted by "Welcome! welcome!" from their former pupils. The chief gave ground for a school-house, which was commenced. The season, however, was unhealthy; heavy rains fell, the house was damp and all were laid up with fever. On Dec. 13th their child died; on the 29th Mrs. Jones followed, while the bereft husband and father was himself very low. In January, Mr. Bevan and family, whom illness had detained in Mauritius, arrived. Before January closed he and his little infant filled one grave, and in February his sorrowing wife followed. To add to the troubles Mr. Bragg turned against Mr. Jones, the only survivor, and so ill-treated him in his repeated attacks of fever, that on the 3rd of July he sailed for Mauritius, where he remained fourteen months, studying the Malagasy language and teaching.

In December, 1820, Mr. Jones opened a school with three pupils, in the capital, and the king laid the foundation of a residence with considerable ceremony. In May, 1821, Rev. David Griffiths arrived, accompanied by a small band of European artisans. These were followed the next year by Rev. J. Jeffreys and wife,

with four skilled workmen, when a third school was opened. The missionaries, while learning the names of objects, performed the difficult task of learning, constructing and teaching the language at the same time. In two years they fixed the alphabet, which still continues to be used. Next year an adult school was established in the courtyard of the palace, which was attended by 300 officers and their wives. After a time schools had increased to the number of thirty-two, attended by 4,000 young people.

New recruits were soon added to the list of worthies devoted to the salvation of Madagascar. In 1826, a great impetus was given by the introduction of a printing press, and six young men were set apart to learn its use, but the printer was seized with fever and died two days after his arrival. Others, however, attempted to use it, and with such success that on January 1st, 1828, the first sheet of St. Luke's Gospel was printed.

Now came the first evidences of desire to confess Christ, bringing great joy to those who had so faithfully laboured. It was thought wise that the rite of baptism should be explained to King Radama by Mr. Jones, and permission was obtained for any to be baptized or married.

The health of the King began to decline, and through fever, aggravated by intemperance, his death occurred at the early age of thirty-six years. His reign was unequalled in many respects, in the improvement of the people and the country, most of the tribes being united in one, in alliances with western people, in commerce and civilization. The slave trade had been suppressed, education developed, industries and arts introduced, language reduced to writing, witchcraft and idolatry thrown off and the Gospel proclaimed and received by many.

Radama left no son, but adopted as his successor Rakatobe, an amiable, intelligent young man, the first scholar to enter the mission school eight years previous, and who, there was good reason to think, had been converted to God. While his friends were delaying to mature their plans, a plot was arranged by Ranavalona, one of Radama's wives, a bold, ambitious woman, who had Prince Rakatobe seized and taken out some distance to the brink of a newly opened grave. After a few moments' respite, reluctantly granted, which he spent in earnest prayer, he was heartlessly speared and buried.

All the relatives of Radama were put to death; the troops were pledged to the service of this wicked woman, who closed the schools and drafted 700 teachers and scholars into the army. She was crowned holding the old national idols in her hand and professing her faith in them.

By March, 1830, there were 5,000 copies of the New Testament printed in Malagasy, and Christian hearts were cheered by the crowds attending the preaching, twenty-eight converts being baptized in 1831, six of whom afterwards became preachers and teachers. Petty persecution developed devotion, meetings for the study of the Bible and prayer increased, and believers multiplied, so that at the end of the year there were seventy enrolled in one church. Several of the royal family and officials confessed their faith in Christ, and desired baptism.

In 1832 occurred the first death among the converts, a poor slave, who had learned to read while attending his young master to school. His parting words were, "I am going to Jehovah Jesus. He is fetching me. I do not fear, I do not fear." About 15,000 young people had passed through the schools and had taught others, so that multitudes could now read the Word of God.

The villages for a hundred miles around the capital received the Scriptures.

Ominous clouds, however, soon began to gather, orders being given that no one should learn to read or write except in Government schools, and that idols should be worshipped. The missionaries were summoned to receive the command of the queen that religion should no longer be taught. An edict was proclaimed, restoring idolatry, forbidding Christian observances, and requir ing all Christians to acknowledge themselves as such on pain of death. Hundreds of pupils, with twelve teachers, confessed their faith. Of those in the service of the Government, four hundred were degraded in rank and income, others were fined, and there was scarcely a family in the city which escaped. It was represented that Christians were disloyal, and the queen was incited to shed blood. Though a few apostatized, the great body of believers remained faithful, their testimony in some instances resulting in the conversion of those sent to entrap them. The