Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/551

PBOGBESS OP MADAGASCAR. 46S cultivated tracts arc regularly displaced every year. The herbage and brushwood of some favourable 8|K)t are cleared by fire ; then in the rainy season the ploughed ground is sown, and the harvest gathered in due course. Next year this temporary camping- ground is abandoned, and the same rude system of clearance repeated in some neighbouring district. Round about Tananarivo the irrigated lands laid out as rice-fields are prepared with great care, and never sown until first well manured. Besides rice, the Mala- gasy cultivate most of the alimentary plants of the tropical and sub-tropical regions, such as mmioc, sweet potatoes, yams, ground-nuts, and saonio, which is the same vegetable [arum esculcntum) that, under the name of taro, is so widely diffused throughout the Oceanic world. The Europeans lave also introduced into the central plateaux the cereals, fruits, and vegetables of the northern hemisphere. The tea shrub has made its appearam e on the uplands of Imerina, and for some years planters on the seaboard have turned their attention to the cultivation of cotton, coffee, and sugar. The central plateaux of Madagascar, being destitute of forests and mostly covered with herbage, are amongst the regions best suited for stock-breeding. There are two species of oxen, the South African, and the zebu, or Indian buffalo, introduced from the East at some unknown epoch, and now numbering many hundred thousands, if not over a million head. The ox is the most attaehe<l companion of the Sakalava ; no ceremonj'^ takes place from which he is excluded, no legend is related in which he does not play his part. The Malagasy sheep belongs to the fat-tailed fleecy variety. But nei^rly all the European live-stock thrives equally well on the Madagascar plains, except the horse, which for soine unknown reason frequently perishes. The hardy equine breed introduced from Burmah succeeds best. The pig, formerly loathed as an impure animal, is gradually spreading over the whole of the Ilova territory, but has not yet penetrated«nto the Sakalava country, where the people are still slightly affected by Mohammedan influences. All the European farmyard poultry have already become thoroughly accli- matised amongst the Hovas. Some rising agricultural establishments have begun to cultivate the Chinese variety of the silkworm, which is fed, as in Europe, on the mulberry-leaf. Some of the indigenous species also yield a stout silken thread. Under the influence of their European teachers, the Malagasy have already greatly modified the national industries, as shown by the dress of the people and the style of their domestic architecture. Nevertheless, most of the local crafts are still maintained on the old primitive lines. The native weavers make stout silken fabrics of bright colours, as well as cotton and linen stuffs which are used for the national costume. The fibre of the raphia palm is also employed in the preparation of garments, hats and sails. The mats exported from Madagascar, and woven of raphia, papyrus, or other kinds of reeds, are highly esteemed for their strength, durability, and brilliant colours. The various factories established by Laborde and ei^cournged by Radama II.,