366 MALAGASY MISSIONARIES. 



three years ago, has been extensively circulated; and other 

 serial publications, Vitry tondrahan-tantdly (" Eice mixed with 

 Honey "), a Malagasy edition of the " British Workman," and 

 Ny Sahaizati' ny Anhlzy madlnika (" The Children's Friend "j, 

 a publication in which the Eeligious Tract Society's illustra- 

 tions of " The Child's Companion " are used, have also a large 

 sale. In several of these, articles by native writers, as well 

 as by Europeans, frequently appear, and often display no small 

 amount of ability and observation ; while in all the mechanical 

 processes of printing and book-binding, and in the combined 

 mechanical and artistic skill required in lithography, native 

 talent, under European guidance, produces books that may 

 challenge comparison with those turned out of English work- 

 shops. 



The energies of the native churches of the interior provinces 

 of Madagascar are not entirely confined to their own part of 

 the country, but are now being extended into some of the 

 more distant and heathen portions of the island. As long- 

 ago as thirteen or fourteen years from now, the first native 

 missionary was sent out by one of the Antananarivo churches 

 to the Sih^naka province. There he did a good work, which 

 is now being carried on in a much more complete way by an 

 English missionary assisted by four native helpers. Since 

 then other native evangelists have been sent out to others of 

 the distant heathen tribes ; in one instance, especially, a great 

 work has been accomplished through the labour of one excel- 

 lent man ; and although some missions sent had to be with- 

 drawn through the suspicions of the people, who feared a 

 political meaning in them, the Imerina churches were not 

 discouraged, but again sent out several evangelists last year 

 (1878) to the south-east provinces. Eive young men offered 

 themselves at the missionary meetings in June, and money is 

 also forthcoming for their support. The missionary spirit of 

 the Malagasy churches has been fairly awakened, and a work 

 has been begun which, we may hope, will not now stop until 

 all the heathen tribes have been brought under the influence 

 of the gospel. 



Erom what has been already said it will be seen that the 

 position of Madagascar at the present time is one of peculiar 



