4 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
sixteenth century, the Dutch thus write: “ The riches of 
this island are great, abounding in rice, honey, wax, cotton, 
lemons, cloves,” &c. The French draw a far more splendid 
picture: M. de Modeve, in his Memoir respecting the 
island of Madagascar, remarks, “ Les objets que Ton peut 
tirer de Madagascar sont varies a Finfini, cette lie reunit les 
productions des deux zones; elle peut fournir abondam- 
ment au commerce de l’Asie et de l’Europe, le coton, la 
sole, les gommes, tous les raisins, Fambre gris, Febenne, 
le bois de teinture, le chanvre, le lin, le meilleure fer, tous 
les metaux, meme de l’or (!); on peut y fabriquer plus 
utilement que partout ailleurs, toutes les etofles de l’lnde.” 
The prize, as thus announced, certainly looks tempting, 
but it has never yet answered the eager expectations of 
adventurers. 
Highly coloured as the above may appear, our own coun¬ 
trymen have shewn themselves equally capable of appre¬ 
ciating its excellencies, and exhibiting its beauties and its 
worth. Mr. Richard Boothby, a merchant of London, who 
visited Madagascar about the beginning of the seventeenth 
century, and published his account in 1644, after describing 
its soil, productions, &c., adds, “ And, without all question, 
this country far transcends and exceeds all other countries in 
Asia, Africa, and America, planted by English, French, Dutch, 
Portuguese, and Spanish; and it is likely to prove of far 
greater value and esteem to any Christian prince and nation 
that- shall plant and settle a sure habitation therein, than 
the West Indies are to the king and kingdom of Spain; and 
it may well be compared to the land of Canaan, that flows 
with milk and honey; a little world of itself, adjoining to 
no other land within the compass of many leagues or miles ; 
or the chief paradise this day upon earth.” In another 
place, after having again spoken of its resources, he adds, 
