Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/568

 466 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. revenue of the fiefs granted them by the liberality of the Government, or on the perquisites derived from the exercise of their judicial functions. Such is the consequent venality in the administration of justice, that all verdicts may be said to be knocked down to the highest bidder. On being presented to the sovereign all are expected to offer the hasina— that is, the tribute of vassalage, generally a piece of gold or silver. His subjects are also held to personal service, and there- fore liable to the fa iiompoana, or statute labour. The produce of the tithes and poll-tax, as well as the castoms dues, belong to the king, who is not required to account for their disposal. At present the customs in the six chief seaports are held in security for a first loan of £600,000 raised to pay off the indemnity claimed by France after the late war. The charges of the protectorate, however, represented by the resident at Tananarive, the vice-resident of Tamatave and other places, and the controllers of the customs are defrayed by the French Government. Christianity is the official religion, no favour being shown to one sect over another. The heaopij, or English episcopalian church, represented by the London Missionary Society, has the largest number of adherents, comprising in 1887 three hundred thousand members, four thousand one hundred and fifty preachers, and one thousand two hundred churches. The Roman Catholics number about one hundred thousand. The new religion was imposed upon the people, just as the courtiers and inhabitants of the towns were ordered to adopt the European garb. They are required under cert.iin penalties to observe the Sabbath, to assist at the services, and join in the prayers for the prosperity of the sovereign. But amongst the independent populations conversions are rare, and several Sakalava chiefs still call themselves Mohammedans, The p igan feast of the Fandroana, or Bath, cele- brated by the court in the holy city of Ambohimanga, has been gradually modified until it is now little m^re than a week of general festivities. Education is compulsory, and when choice is once made of a Protestant or Catholic school the pupils can never leave it, for another. English and French are taught in the schools, and scientific works have already been translated into Mala- gasy. Thousands cf copies are issued of the local periodicals, but no regular ]X)8tal service lu;8 yet been established, except between the French residencies of Tananarive and Tamalave. The central provinces of Imerina, Betsileo, Ant' Ankai, and Ant' Sihanaka, completely subjected to the Ilova government, are accurately defined and divided into administrative districts. But in the independent or partly-reduced regions, tbe districts expand or diminish according to the strength of the garrisons stationed in the military posts. At present the number of provinces is fixed at twenty-two. III.— The Comouo Islands. Lying midway between Madagafcar and the African mainland, the Comoro archipelago is equally separated from both by marine abysses some 500 fathoms deep. It comprises four islands with a few islets disposed like satellites round