PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 39

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Madagascar. This and last week's telegrams tell us that France ia not behind in the land grab polioy, for she is to have this, the ninth largest island of the world, aa her share of African plunder. Four or 'five years ago the French insisted on assuming a protectorate over' the island, muoh against tbe will of the natives, it is said. In 1818 Obristianity was introduced, and in spite of the cruelty of heathen monarcha it made wonderful progress. If the Malagasys, as the natives are called, wished to be proteoted from the Frenob, it seems a pity that civilised nations should allow them to fall under Frenoh influence. Madagascar is almost entirely a mountain mass, with peaks rising at times to the height of 9000 ft. Around tha coastline there iB a narrow strip hot, damp, and fever-haunted, but the uplands are dry, cool, and healthy. The main port is TAMATAVB, on a bay in the north-eaat. It was marßhy and unhealthy, but it has been drained and planted with eucalyptus (gum) trees, and is now sufficiently healthy for Europeans to live in. Between Tamatave and Tananarivo, the capital, is A FOOTPATH- 200 MILES LONG, and up this path, climbing the mountain slopes, all goods are oarried on the backs of half -naked porters, who belong to a special tribe, the journey occupying 20 days. It is said that as a result of generations of this kind of work the ohildren are born with thick pads of skins on the shoulder blades, which prevent the loads they soon carry from hurting them. The name Tananarivo means "here tbe thousand villages," an apt name, for the capital is really a collection of villages, containing 100,000, spread out on the slope of a steep bill on the top of which the royal palace stands. All the howes are built faoing the west, the direction in which the Ikopa river flows, a mountain torrent 500 miles long. From tbe Sreoipitous face of this hill all sentenced to eath were formerly hurled, including all who were mangled in tbis way for becoming Christiana. The island is very rioh in minerals and tropical productions. Iron, silver, gold, copper, lead, and ooal are found in payable quantities ; and medioinal plants, pepper, cotton, indigo, indiarubber, sugar, vanilla, tobacoo, tea and coffee* rice, and so on, are all grown or produced. Cattle and hides, too, are exported in quantities, The forests are full of peouliar plants and animals. Of the latter the lemurs are the most curious, and tbe quaint "aye ayo," which resembles a monkey, a rabbit, and a squirrel all in one, iB often to be seen ÜBing its long shrivelled bony forefinger in picking out insects from the narrow cracks of deoayed trees, ' The chief raoe of people is tbe Hovas, a yellow race belonging to the Malay group. They live in the highlands, and look down upon the darker races inhabiting tbe lower ground. The London Postmen, Like many other bands of men, have been showing their teeth, and I dare Bay that the Londoners and others whose letters would be i delayed by a strike would think suob an event nothing short of a catastrophe. I wonder bow many Britons think of the time when it took between foar and five days to send a letter between London and Edinburgh, and when tbe postboys were hurried up by the envelopes having written on them, besides the address, Buoh sharp words as " Be thiß letter delivered with haßte— haste— haste 1 Post haste ! Ride, villain, ride— for thy life— for thy life— for thy life ! " And well they might ha^ebeen told to "hurry up" when four miles an hour was aocounted fair travelling. The poor fellows sometimes perished from exposure, sometimes were robbed, and sometimes, indeed, robbed the mails themselves, beoauße they were bo poorly paid. The gentry, however, seem to have treated the boys fairly well at times, for we re*d that " they doe give muoh money [to the riders, whereby they be very subject to get in liquor, which stops the males."

The roads than 100 years ago were exceedingly rough, and the coaches clumsy, and what with rough roads and robbers, passengers accompanying the mail had rather lively times efit.

At the end of last century it was the oustom on the eve of setting out on a journey to fiay to the traveller : " God bless you, my dear ; I hope you won't be robbed," and at the beginning of this it was changed to "God bless you, my dear ; I hope you won't get your neok broke, and that you will bring your legs safe home again," And no wonder that such farewells were said when the times and roads ware considered. One road was called the Soarthniojc — that is, Scare- Niok— -or "frighten the devil." Queer trioks, too, the highwaymen, or bushrangers, as we call them, used to play the waylaid travellers, One gentleman travelling with his wife, a beautiful dancer, and having £300 in gold in the boot of the ooacb, was stopped by an accomplished and noble highwayman, who requested the pleasure of a dance on the grasa with the lady. The lady complied, and waa thanked very much, and gallantly handed baok into her seat, but boforo allowing the ooach to start ho troubled tbe gentleman for £100, telling him he would not take the remaining £200, because he had enjoyed the dance bo much. He kuew hotv much the gentleman had, because, like other highwaymen, he had accomplices, who found out for him who had money and jewels, and what thoy were worth. About 50 years ago, however, when tha mail roads were improved, and when robbers were few and far between, a journey on the box seat of a foar-in-hand mail coach in fine weather must have been very enjoyable. Here is a description of a turnout on a gay occasion : •—♦' These ooachea, Bplendid in their freßh paint and varnish, gold lettering and royal arms, were the perfeotion of neatness, and were driven by ooaohmen who, as well aa tbe

guards behind, were arrayed in spick-and-span new Boarlet and gold. No delicate bouqmeta, but mighty nosegaya of the size of a cabbage, adorned tbe breasts of these portly mail coachmen and guards, while bunches of oabbage rotes decorated the heads of tbe proud steeds, In the oramped interior of the vehioles were closely packed buxom dames and blooming lasses, the wives, daughters, or sweethearts of the ooaohmen or guards, arrayed in coalscuttle bonnets and in canary oolonred or scarlet Bilks, But the main featurejwas perhaps the stirring, clearly blown, and well drawn out note ox tha guards, alternating with such airs aa 'Tbe daya when we went gipsying,' or, if the mail should be late, tbe *Ob dear t what can the matter be ? { from the key bugle of tbe guard who had been kept waiting or who whirled by. How jolly it must have been to get ' down at some of the old-fashioned, wholesome country inna in order to get a good hot dinner, though it wasn't always pleasant to be hurried over it 1 What trioks and jokes the wags used to play! No sooner would the hungry men "set to " than the guard would be heard calling them to their seats, with mouths full, but Btill hungry, A story is told of one who determined to have his tea and toast in peaoe, and in plenty too. He was leisurely sipping when boniface appealed to him to take hia plaoe or he would be left behind. " But," said he, " that I will not do till I have a spoon to sup my egg." A glance showed tbe landlord that every spoon was missing, Of course the coach waß delayed and the passengers searched. By the time that was done the passenger had satisfied his appetite, and after being searched too be took his seat, and as the ooaon started told the landlord to look in the teapot. The ready-witted man had put all the spoons there— a dozen of them— for two reason b: he wanted to delay the ooach and also to 000 l the tea that he might have a second cupt Another time a ooaoh full of olergyraen ooming from conference had with them a strange clergyman whom they could not make out. After travelling all night they were of course ready for a good breakfast, and what a fine spread there was at the end of the stage t The clergymen, however, forgot to say grace, and this tbe strange minister notioed. He immediately called bis dear brethren to order and said grace, but spun it out till the ooach was ready to start, and the poor fellows bad to go another stage without a bite more, tban they stole on tbe sly. The graceless fellow who said grace was no parson at all but a wag, who disliked ministers, and took the opportunity of having a joke at their expense. Bat what baa thia to do with the London poßtaaen? Well, I've run away from my subjeot. I intended to desoribe tbe growth of the post offioe and to point bow wonderfully well off we are now in the matter of quick transmission of books, papers, and letters; but bad roads, highwaymen, and flash uniforms led me astray. Perhaps I'll finish another time. I dare say, however, that many of yon are just as well pleased that I have written as I have. And I don't know that I am sorry either, for I sometimes think what I write ia a little dry. Essays.— l have only got one aa yet©on Trades Unions and Ooopsration. Is the subjeot too stiff for you?