CONQUEST BY THE HOYAS. 
45 
The repeated attempts at aggression by foreign 
nations will be in the end beneficial to Madagas¬ 
car, as they have tended considerably to consoli¬ 
date the power and strengthen the influence of 
the native Government over those portions of the 
country where hitherto its rule has been scarcely 
more than nominal. The great and only real 
hope for the future prosperity and advancement 
of the Malagasy lies in the Hova domination; 
and this all friends of the country wish to see 
secured, as the only possible or feasible means 
for securing the certain and systematic progress 
of all classes of the people, and for the preven¬ 
tion of those devastating tribal wars, which, as 
in South Africa, have been a constant source of 
alarm and spoliation, and a certain hindrance to 
all industry, and to the extension of legitimate 
commercial enterprise. But apart from these 
considerations, the Hova is evidently born to 
rule : he has the air and gait by nature of a king 
of men ; and better still, he has great sagacity, 
indomitable perseverance, great powers of endur¬ 
ance, much patience, strong self-restraint, and a 
natural adaptability to trade and intercourse with 
the foreigner. In all these respects he stands 
out in marked contrast to the neighbouring and 
subject tribes. His presence on the island is, 
however, an interesting mystery ; and in the 
absence of any authentic information, various 
