THE PAST AND THE FUTURE. 
275 
tion, that they might face the enemy of their 
fatherland. 
It may be interesting to state, in a sketch of 
the progress in the past, that there are now more 
than 100,000 pupils under instruction through¬ 
out the country; the number of publications 
issued from the presses at the capital during the 
past few years cannot be much less than 
2,000,000 ; whilst one periodical, ‘ Good Words/ 
in the native language, has a monthly circulation 
of 2700 copies. But we must not overlook the 
important fact that French and English are also 
taught in the best schools at the capital, and 
amongst the Betsimisaraka, and many of the 
native officials and others can now use either 
language with great facility, and are able to avail 
themselves of the vast stores of literature of both 
countries, which must exercise a strong influence 
for good upon them in time to come. 
The change that has passed over the natives 
in reference to slavery, presages a complete and 
early extinction of even the modified form of the 
evil which now prevails in the island. The pur¬ 
chase and sale of slaves even by their owners is 
now not permitted, and the “ slave market ” of 
the capital has ceased to exist. 
The invaluable educational work effected at the 
hospitals and dispensaries of the capital has had 
a remarkable effect upon the people of Madagas- 
