ETHNOLOGY. The generic term for the natives of Madagascar is Malagasy. Of their three prin eipal tribes, the Novas are Indonesians, more or less mixed with Malay. They are supposed to be the last wave of the Malay migration, coming about eight centuries ago. They have straight black hair and olive yellow skin: their eyes are sometimes narrow: their stature is short, their noses prominent and sharp: their head is globu lar. Agriculture, cattle-raising. and trading are their occupations. Their principal food is rice. Many customs and arts pointing to their ances tral home are preserved, as the square pile house, bellows, outrigger canoe, musical instruments, dress, taboo, infantieide, ordeal, burial, and the like. The Ilovas were until recently the ruling people on the island and were gradually sub jecting the other tribes, to which they are much superior in culture. They were divided into nobles, freemen, and slaves. In recent years, however, these class distinctions became weaker and the royal and slave classes were finally abolished by the French. They are nominally Protestants in religion. The principal tribes of the Hovas are the Voromaliery, Tsimianboho lahy. Tsinahafoty, Mandiavato, Marovatana. and others. The Betsileos living to the south should also be placed with the Horns.
The Betsimisarakas are less pure than the Horns and are doliehocephalie: they are below the average height and have curly or almost smooth hair and light chestnut complexion. They are rather backward in culture and show influ ences due to the Arabs who settled in Madagas car about five centuries ago. The principal tribes are the Antamhalionka. Antaimo•o, Antaifasina. Antaisaka, .Antaisara, Antanosi. Tannin. and Si hanaka. They were conquered by the Hovas early in the nineteenth century.
The Sakalavas are dark, long-headed, and of high stature; their hair is frizzly, their lips thick, and their noses tlat. Most strongly of all the Madagascar tribes they show the negro ele ment. The best-known tribes are the Menabe, Milaka, Ronondra. and Mahafali.
HisTonv. The identity of Madagascar with the ancient Minuthias has been conjectured, but not proved. The island appears on Arabian charts of the twelfth century and it is probable that Arab traders visited the country as early as the eighth or ninth century. Marco Polo used the name Madeiqasear. but apparently ap plied it to what is now Mozambique, on the main land of Africa. The discovery of the island by the Portuguese occurred, not in 1506 as gen erally stated, but in 1500, when, according to Grandidier and Reclus, Diego Suarez sighted the land and named it Silo Lourenco. Attempts at settlement made before 1540 by the Dutch, Eng lish, and Portuguese failed, but in the seven teenth century the French set up a claim. to
Madagascar, or Dauphila% as they called it, and in 1642 Louis XIV. granted it to the Coinpugnic de l'Orient. Stations were established at Sainte Marie and Fort Dauphin, but the rule of the French was so cruel that the natives rose in 1672 and massacred them. France regained Sainte-Marie in 1750, lost it to Great Britain darino. the Napoleonic wars, and reoccupied it after during together with Tamatave, Fort Dau phin, and Sainte-Luce. French influence, how ever, made little progress owing to the rise of the powerful monarchy of the Novas, a people of the central plateau, who, under the leadership of Andrianampoinimerina, had subjugated the greater part of the island. During the reign of Radama I. (1810-28) the British gained the as cendency. English officers drilled the nova troops and English missionaries introduced schools and the Christian religion. Under Queen Rana valona I. (1829-61) a strong reaction from Euro pean ideas occurred. Reforms were abolished, the missionaries were persecuted, and trade re lations with England were broken off. An un successful attack on Tamatave by the English and French in 1845 led to a general massacre of Christian converts. After 1853, however, the Europeans regained an entrance into the capital, Antananarivo, through the influence of Prince Rakoto, heir to the throne. As Radama Rakoto showed himself friendly to the French, and undertook to restore the reforms of Ra dama I. Be was murdered by the conservative faction at Court. Though Queen Ranavalona 11. adopted Christianity in 1869. the Hova Govern ment remained jealous of European aggression and took measures to prevent the foreign acquisi tion of land in the island. In 1883 the invasion of French territory and the plundering of French citizens led to the bombardment of Tamatave. After two years' fighting Madagascar, by treaty, became virtually a protectorate of France, though it. retained its nominal independence. Renewed hostility on the part of the Hovas was followed in 1895 by the dispatch of a French expedition under Duchesne, which occupied Antananarivo and forced Queen Ranavalona TM to confirm the treaty of 1885. In 1896 Madagascar was de clared a colony of France, though the native Government was retained. and a proclamation was issued abolishing slavery. The same year the outbreak of a rebellion in which the Court was found concerned led to the deposition of the Queen and the institution of a military govern ment. The former Queen was exiled to R6union. and afterward to Algeria.