if AL ARIA 2liJ 



The French have made more persistent efforts 

 than any other nation for the colonization and 

 conquest of Madagascar, but their success has 

 been marvelously inproportionate to their efforts. 

 And their failure is not owing to the resistance of 

 the inhabitants, although these have always hated 

 and harrassed the foreigner; but almost entirely 

 to the prevalence all along the seacoast of the 

 island, of a deadly malaria, to which nearly every 

 European resident sooner or later falls a prey. 

 Grim death himself keeps guard at the portals of 

 this fertile island. 



Those who had " liberty " in the forenoon, 

 returned on board in due time, laden with shells 

 and fruit. Directly after dinner we of the lar- 

 board watch were set ashore, where we amused 

 ourselves in various ways till half an hour before 

 sunset, when all but two of our number rendered 

 themselves on board. These two had determined 

 to spend the night ashore, all our remonstrances to 

 the contrary notwithstanding. 



The following morning, as we were getting 

 under way, they came alongside in a shore boat. 

 As they approached the vessel, the captain hailed 

 them, asking what they wanted. They were now 

 ready to come on board, said they. 



" I have marked ' deceased ! ' opposite yom 

 names on the muster roll. I consider you dead 

 men. I can not refuse to let you come cr board 

 but would rather you would stay ashore." 



They protested that they were in excellent 



