280 
MADAGASCAR. 
Labour is cheap and easily obtainable in the 
country, and crowds of the inland natives flock 
down to the coast and offer their services at very 
small wages for the heavier work of the planta¬ 
tions. But the curse of the whole coast is the 
cheap rum which is often used for the payment 
of wages in the place of cash, and for the pur¬ 
chase of bullocks for the Mauritian markets. 
The Betsimisaraka tribe is perishing through the 
effects of this spirit. It is estimated that ten 
thousand barrels are imported yearly amongst a 
population of about half a million. The result of 
this traffic can be easily foreseen. The late 
Queen of Madagascar long mourned over this 
desolation of her people, but she was not allowed 
to forbid the introduction of the cursed thing, or 
even to put a much higher duty upon it, although 
it was killing off one of the strongest, most inter¬ 
esting, and most industrious of the native tribes. 
The causes which have combined to bring 
about the good results which we have noted in 
these pages are many, and first and foremost we 
place the labours of such men as Sir Robert 
Farquhar and SirW. Stephenson, former governors 
of the Mauritius, and our two consuls, Mr Hastie 
and the recently deceased Mr T. C. Pakenbam. 
In the officials whose duty it was to represent 
this country in matters relating to Madagascar, 
the natives were particularly fortunate, for they 
