THE CORONATION OF RANAVALONA III. 253 
defence of the fatherland. A gentleman who was 
in the capital during the whole of this period of 
distress and anxiety, writing in the beginning 
of the year, thus describes the state of affairs 
in January 1884 :— 
“ Details have come to hand of the fighting near Amo- 
rontsangana, and of the occupation of Fort Dauphin. 
The former place is on the north-west coast, and is one 
of the Hova towns first assailed by the Drench. Being 
only some 35 miles south of Nosibe, their island head¬ 
quarters, the people have been open to Gallic influences 
for many years, and it is not surprising that a few of 
the tribes in the neighbourhood should have been led to 
take arms against their Highland conquerors. At pre¬ 
sent, however, their taking sides with the foreigner has 
done them more harm than good. After making them 
believe that the hour of their deliverance was at hand, the 
Drench suddenly withdrew their ships, and left them to 
the tender mercies of their enemies. These have not 
been slow to take advantage of the opportunity. Im¬ 
mediately the news of the bombardment and consequent 
Sakalava rebellion arrived, the central Government 
sent down to the scene of operations a well organised 
force, which is apparently succeeding in making the 
rebels regret the day that they cast in their lot with 
the foes of Madagascar. According to the Hova 
accounts, they have been beaten in five engagements, 
and many of their towns and villages destroyed. In 
the beginning of last November the Hova commander, 
hearing that the Sakalava were gathering together and 
fortifying themselves near Bemanevika, sent out an 
expedition to disperse them. Their whereabouts were 
