Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/955

 SHIPPING — MONEY — BOOKS OF REFERENCE 83*3

Of the imports in 1911, the value of 1,541,127/. was from France, and 65,157/. from French colonies (the two together being some 90 per cent, of the whole). Of the exports, the value of 1,202,273/. was to France, and 63,323/. to French colonies.

Shipping and Communications.

Tamatave, the principal seaport of the island, is visited by the steamers of two French shipping companies, and the principal ports are connected with each other by steamers plying monthly. In 1911, 11,928 vessels of 1,616,687 tons entered and cleared at the ports of Madagascar. Of the total tonnage 18,579 vessels of 2,533,256 tons were French, 4,182 vessels of 306,236 tons were British. There are as yet but few roads in Madagascar in the European sense of the word. At the end of 1911 there were 1,175 miles of metalled roads. The transport of mails and passengers by motor cars is being extended. A fortnightl}'^ service of motor cars has been established between Antananarivo and Miarinarivo (61 miles), and a service — twice weekly — between Antana- narivo and Amb )sitra, a distance of 166 miles. Waggon roads have been made from Tamatave to Antananarivo, from Antananarivo to Majunga, and between most of the chief military posts. A road (124 miles) is being con- structed between the port of Tamatave and Lake Aloatra in the north, of which 20 miles had been completed in 1910. Tamatave is also connected by a railway of about 7 miles with Ivondra, then by a canal with Brickaville whence a railway of 168 miles is open to Antananarivo (total, 190 miles). Transport over the waterways, near the coast, is in the hands of a French Company.

There is postal communication throughout the island. The telegraph line has (1911 ) a length of 4, 461 miles, and a cable connects with Mozambique, and another with Mauritius. There are 385 miles of telephone line, and three Government wireless telegraph stations.

Money and Banks.

The Comptoir National d'Escompte de Paris has agencies at Antanana- rivo, Tamatave, Diego-Suarez, Manauzary, Majunga and Tulear ; in 1911 the Bank of Madagascar, with headquaiters in Paris, was o})ened at Tamatave (soon to be removed lo Tananarivo) with a capital of 600,000 francs.

The only legal coin is the silver 5-franc piece, with its silver sub-divisions as well as copper coins of 5 and 10 centimes, but the Italian 5-lire piece and Belgian, Greek, and other coins of equal value are also in circulation. For smaller sums the coin used to be cut up into fractional parts, and weighed as required ; but this is now an illegal practice. The Government has°withdrawn this cut money at the rate of 30 grammes of silver for 5 francs, and has replaced it by fractional silver and (opper coin.

Consular and other Representatives

Of Great Britain in Madagascar. Consul at Anf,aiianarivo. — T. P. Porter. Vice-Consul at Tamatave. — C. Bang.

There is also a Vice-Consul at Majunga and a' Consular agent at Diego Suarez.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Madagascar.

1. Official Publications.

Guide de rimuiiKrant a Madagascar, 3 vols. Paris, 1S99. Guide-Annuaire de Madagascar et Dependances. Annual. Antananarivo. Jom-ual officiel de Madagascar. Weeldy siuce March 20, 1890. Autananarivo.

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