The early history of Madagascar is involved in obscurity. It is supposed to have been known to the ancients, by whom it was generally considered as an appendage to the mainland. When it was invaded and peopled bv the Malays, from whom the Hovas descend, is unknown. It was referred to in the.13th c., by Marco Polo as Mad gastar or 3Iadaigascar. In 1643 the French took possession of the Ile Ste. Marie, and thus formed a connection with 31adagascar which they have ever since retained. It was not till 1810, when Radaina I. king of the Hovas, extended his influence over the greater part of 3Iadagascar, that 'Madagascar became important to the connuercial coun tries of Europe. T:ie English entered into a treaty with him in 1816, and in considera tion of his promise of assistance to suppress the slave-trade with Mozambique, English drill-sergeants were sent to him to discipline the native troops. 3lissionaries had previously established themselves, and by their aid a few English mechanics found the means of introducing useful arts among the inhabitants. With the ostensible object of carrying out his agreement, Radama was furnished with fire-arms for his troops, which he quickly, however, made use of in the reduction of such tribes as yet remained in opposition to his supremacy. Upon the death of Radama, in 1828, he was succeeded by Ranavalo I., a woman whose reign was marked by every cruelty possible to be prac ticed against the native Christians. She closed the missionary schools, and banished Europeans from the island. In consequence of the outrages to which het orders gave rise in 1845, English and French troops made an attack on Tamatave, the usual trading port on the east coast, but without any satisfactory result. Iu 1862 the queen died, and
her son was proclaimed king under the title of Radama II. He concluded a treaty granting concessions of territory to 31. Lambert, ft French merchant acting in the name of France. A conspiracy was formed against the king, and he was strangled in 1863. His wife, Rosaherina, then ascended the throne. The change was favorable to English lift opposed to French interests in the island. In 1865 treaties were concluded with Eng land and America, while that which 31. Lambert had negotiated was declared null. On the death of Rosaherina, disputes again broke out as to a successor, between the native or Hova and the European parties. With the aid of the prime minister, Raini taiarivoy, a female relation of the late queen, was raised to the throne, under the name of Ranavalo II. She showed great favor to the Protestant missionaries, had herself instructed in the Christian religion, and on Feb. 21, 1869, she, the prime minister, whom she had married, and a large number of the nobility, were baptized. Towards the close of the year, a body of mounted officers, by order of the government, set fire to the Kali malaza, the chief idol, and the temple in which it stood. The destruction of other idols followed. The effect was most favorable to the Protestant missionaries.—See History of Madagascar (Loud. 1838); Three Visits to Madagascar (Lond. 1858); and Madagascar Revisited, 1867, by the rev. W. Ellis; Voyage et Madagascar, by Ida Pfeiffer (Paris, 1862); Histoire physique naturelle, et politique d,e Madagascar, by Grandidier (vol. i. Par. 1876); L'lle de Madagascar, by E. Blanchard; and Twelve Months in Madagascar, by Joseph. Mullens, D.D. (1875).