HINTS TO TRAVELLERS. 
301 
way of even progressive legislation. But the 
time is coming when something will be done to 
introduce a national coinage. In fact, so far 
back as the days of the second Badama ( 1862 ), 
dies were prepared and sent out to that monarch, 
but were never used for minting purposes. As I 
have before hinted, I think, for practical pur¬ 
poses, the rupee and our Indian currency gen¬ 
erally would be best adapted for these people. 
They have already a considerable experience of 
the use of the rupee, &c., which they have gained 
through their constant intercourse with the 
numerous Indians and free coolies who pass over 
to Madagascar, and settle there, from the Mauri¬ 
tius, year by year; and with a fuller and freer 
development of coolie emigration to the east 
coast, for the working of the sugar and coffee 
plantations, which are now spreading on all 
sides, the Indian monetary system will be best 
adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the 
community, especially in the great centres of 
trade. Doubtless the English Government will 
see the wisdom of enlarging the facilities for the 
importation of coolie labour into Madagascar, on 
the same footing as that upon which it has been 
introduced, with so much success, into the 
Mauritius. The surplus population of many 
villages in India could thus be assisted to keep 
themselves in comparative comfort, whereas now 
