MADAGASCAR 
ii6 
proved fortunate, however, in the choice of Majunga on 
the Sakalava Coast as the starting-point, and in hitting 
upon a road to Imerina which, though long, was beset 
with fewer difficulties than would have been encountered 
in pushing forward from the eastern side. 
This remarkable campaign was conducted by General 
General Duchesne. 
Duchesne. He advanceci with great energy and circum¬ 
spection, and by September 1895 reached the Upland 
country with his 3500 men and took the Malagasy capital, 
in full accordance with his orginal programme. The 
resistance of the Hova army was wonderfully small, but 
so also was the support rendered by the Sakalava, on 
which France had reckoned. 
