Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/521

 islanders, who were thus brought under foreign influences, and who became to some extent initiated in the arts and ideas of modern civilisation.

The system of political isolation adopted by the Hovs was enforced with the greatest rigour during the period from 1845 to 1852. After an unsuccessful attempt of the English and French squadrons to avenge the wrongs of the plundered traders settled in Tamatave, the relations were completely broken off between the Malagasy and the Europeans of all nations. But on the west side the French had established relations with the independent Sakalavas and other populations, and had also taken possession of a number of nossi, or "islands," near the coast, such as Nossi-Bé, Nossi-Komba, and Nossi-Mitsio. They even claimed to have acquired sovereign rights on the adjacent mainland, although these pretensions were always strenuously resisted by the Hovas, and even by the local Sakalava chiefs.

When the Europeans were again admitted into the Hova kingdom, they soon again acquired considerable influence. But the international rivalries between the French and English were again revived, while the privilege which the whites claimed to establish themselves wherever they thought convenient, and to acquire absolute possession of real property, gave rise to endless discussions and bickerings. These troubles at last brought about the French war of 1883, which ended advantageously for France, without, however, securing for the subjects of the republic the right to purchase land. They can take it, however,