♦ 
ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR. 551 
Wars are frequent in Madagascar, which might be ex- 
pected from the number of independent governments, and 
the general ignorance of the people. The arms used pre- 
vious to their intercourse with Europeans were the bow, 
the lance, and the spear, which they throw with much dex- 
terity. Swords and fire arms have been carried to them by 
Europeans. The conqueror claims all that formerly belonged 
to the conquered. In genera^ prisoners are not ill treated 
till sold to Europeans. 
Cattle, rice, slaves, and cloth, form the chief articles of 
export. The best rice fields are in ihe interior of the 
country, which causes the people to remove, and makes 
them more unsettled. They bring down their articles to 
the coast, and continue there till all be disposed of, after 
which they return. 
Slaves are persons taken in war, whom the Arabs and 
others purchase from the victor, bring down to the coast, 
and sell to such Europeans as traffic in human beings. 
This is one of the principal causes of Madagascar wars. 
Gain prompts the chiefs to outrages, on purpose to obtain 
captives. 
Coin is almost unknown in the interior of the island : 
they trade by the exchange of such articles as they re- 
ciprocally need. Spanish dollars pass on the coast, which 
are sometimes cut into four parts. They are very fond of 
powder, ball, fire arms, knives, and ornaments of various sorts, 
European cloths, pictures, 8cc. Those who live in the towns 
on the sea coasts are said to have embraced many of the 
customs of those who trade with them. 
There is a constant trade carried on with Madagascar 
from Bourbon and the Isle of France, both in French and 
English ships. The trade is almost exclusively carried on 
with the southern parts of the island. 
The Island of Joanna, which is one of the Comora Isles, 
lies to the westward of the north end of Madagascar. The 
chief has long been friendly to the English. He goes by the 
name of King George, and some of his children are named 
after some of the branches of our royal family. An ambassa- 
dor was lately sent from this king to the governor of the Cape 
of Good Hope, soliciting his assistance against the people of 
Madagascar, who came over in boats which held forty or 
fifty persons, and plundered their island; but the Governor 
did not comply with their request. 
