GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND. 25 
of France for centuries to secure a footing in tlie 
island, render it impossible for the politician to 
look upon this isolated but rising kingdom with 
indifference; and its physical conformation, its 
almost unlimited natural resources, and its valu¬ 
able mineral deposits, combined with the thrilling 
history of its intestine struggles, often renewed, 
between tyranny and freedom, barbarism and 
civilisation, superstition and enlightenment, at 
once secure for it the interest and sympathy of 
the philanthropist and the scientist. 
The stirring and eventful history of this island 
during the past eighty years compels us to believe 
that it has a great and important future before it. 
That it will ultimately become in some measure 
to the great African continent what England is 
to Europe, we have every reason to hope, from 
what we have seen of the energy and capacity of 
the Malagasy in the past; and in the friendly co¬ 
operation in time to come of themselves and the 
English Government, we have doubtless the key 
to the solution of that perplexing problem—the 
effectual and complete suppression of the slave 
traffic in East African waters and the South 
Indian Ocean. 
What more splendid position can her best 
friends wish for her than that Madagascar, with 
her central situation, her large and fertile area, her 
rich natural productions, and her intelligent and 
