Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/552

454 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. wero all de.stroyod during the subsequent civil disorders, and the countiy lacks Buffieient iutornul resources to replace tlieni. The mineral deposits, which are described by the natives as very rich, but which have hitherto been only some- what 8Ui)crHcially surveyed by Europeans, have not yet acquired any economic importance, mining operations having long been severely suppressed by the Hova Government. Guillermin's researches have shown that Madagascar possesses a coal basin lying on the north-west coast over against Nossi-Be, and very rich, Specially in the AmbiKlinia liro district on the shores of Passandava Bay. But accurate details are still h.cking on the actual extent of this bisin, on its probable contents and the facilities for working it to advanta.^e. The sands of the Ikopa River are auriferous, an 1 a few gold iind copp.T mines are now being worked for the benefit of the Government. The Ilova Government watches jealously over the commercial iiitore-sts of the countrv, nuiintaining an effective system of custom-houses at all important .stations round the coast, and even in the districts occupied by still independent papulations. An impost of from 8 to 10 per cent, is levied on all articles of the import and export trade, with the exception of books, stationery, and school furni- ture, which are aduiitted freely. A large part of the traffic, especially on the east coast, is carried on with Mauritius and Reunion, which islands require cattle, rice. UMi'i'/.Q, and provisions of all sorts for the hands employed on the plantations. The dirLct trade with Europe is concentrated in the hands of a few wholesale dealers, who introduce woven goods, draperies, hardware, rifles, and other arms, taking in return hides, suet, wax, caoutchouc, copal; which they obtain from the agents stationed in all the seaports round the coast and in the large villages of the interior. The United States also takes a large share in the foreign commerce of the island, which is estimated at about £1."200,0()0 a year. The French five-franc piece, whith here takes the name of " dollar," is the only current coin. It is cut into small factions, which have to be cin-rully weighed, so that dealers always carry their scales wi;h them. The development of eommer. e is much obstructed by the bad or deficient com- munications between the elevated plateaux and the seaports on the coast. Specu- lators have aire idy prop )sed to construct railways along the seaboard and thence inland to the cential markets; but meantime the capital itself is connected only by rough tracks with Majanga and Tamatave, the two chief seaports, the former on the west, the latter on the east side of ihe island. liut the traditional policy of the state at last broke down under the pressure of growing trade, and even of the urgent requirements of the administration itself. Tananurivo is already connected by telegraph with its eastern port, Tamatae, while some of the narrow paths are being widened and otherwise improved. At present all merchandise is forwarded from Tananarive to Tamatave and Majanga by means of Betsimisaraka and other porters, whose loads weigh on an average from a hundred to a hundred and ten pounds. But the transport .charges increase enorraouJy in the case of bulky objects, which cannot be reduced to con-