The first edition of this book is dated 1887. The edition used is dated 1895. The publisher was James Nisbet & Co., 21 Berners Street, London. The number of pages is 431.

---

General information

A group of people from a British ship have gone ashore to stretch their legs, when enemies approach, the ship’s boat retreats to the ship and they are left stranded ashore. The book deals with their efforts to find what they hope will be civilisation in the capital of the Island of Madagascar, which is something like the size of France. Unfortunately the reigning Queen has a hatred of Christianity which had been brought to the Island by missionaries some forty years before. Our heroes find themselves assisted by a Christian net-work, but when they get to the capital they are appalled by the carnage and torture they find when the Queen has one of her rages against Christianity.

Based on fact, the story told here of the repression of Chritianity in an emerging nation was all too true. The Queen died in 1867, and was succeeded by her son, an altogether different person, at which point our heroes take ship for England, and the story ends.

The story is full of action, the only quibble being the long and rather similar names the Malagasy people who appear in the story have. This makes it sometimes rather hard to make out what is happening.

---

Contents

Chapter I.
Introduces the Chief Actors and a Few Mysteries.

Chapter II.
Harks back a little.

Chapter III.
Describes the Deed of an Amateur Matador and the Work of a Rough-and-Ready Shoemaker.

Chapter IV.
The Doctor finds Unexpected Work in the Wilderness, and a Mysterious Stranger is Introduced.

Chapter V.
The Outlaw’s Friends. Threatened Danger curiously Averted.

Chapter VI.
The Guide becomes Communicative, and tells of Terrible Doings.

Chapter VII.
Describes a Meek Mother and Crocodile-Son. Journey Resumed and Strange Treatment of the King of the Waters.

Chapter VIII.
A Friend appears unexpectedly, and our Travellers spend a Disturbed Night.

Chapter IX.
A Jovial Chief, and New Experiences of Various Kinds.

Chapter X.
Tells of a Grand Hunt and Other Things.

Chapter XI.
An Uninvited Guest appears with News that demands Instant Action.

Chapter XII.
A Narrow Escape and Threatening Clouds.

Chapter XIII.
Arrival at the Capital—Queen Ranavalona’s Troubles and Perplexities.

Chapter XIV.
The Prime Minister lays Deep Plans—So does his Nephew—The Great Market-Place—A Friend in Deadly Peril, and our Three Heroes come to Grief.

Chapter XV.
The Spies and the Secret Meeting—The Prime Minister foiled by the Prince.

Chapter XVI.
In Prison—Effects of a First Sight of Torture.

Chapter XVII.
Mamba is Succoured by one of the “Ancient Soot,” and fulfils his Mysterious Mission.

Chapter XVIII.
Unexpected Deliverance and Several Surprises.

Chapter XIX.
A Malagasy Garden Party—The Cloud grows Blacker.

Chapter XX.
A Great Kabàry is held, followed by Dreadful Martyrdoms.

Chapter XXI.
Mamba, Subjected to the Ordeal of the “Tangena,” escapes, but afterwards accuses himself and is Condemned.

Chapter XXII.
The Court Physician prescribes for the Queen—A Blow-up, and Mysterious Preparations for Tremendous Surprises.

Chapter XXIII.
In which Mark carries out his Plans successfully, and powerfully astonishes himself as well as every one else.

Chapter XXIV.
Flight and Pursuit of Ravonino and Rafaravavy.

Chapter XXV.
The Forest Refuge—Voalavo is War-like, Ravonino Peaceful, and False Friends Dangerous.

Chapter XXVI.
Doctor Breezy prescribes for the Queen, and attains to Temporary and “Perfik F’licity”.

Chapter XXVII.
In which a Happy Change for the Better is Disastrously Interrupted.

Chapter XXVIII.
In which Terrible but True Martyrdoms are Described.

Chapter XXIX.
Threatened Death Averted—Buried Alive—End of the Tyrant Queen—Revolt Crushed and Radama the Second Crowned.

Chapter XXX.
The Last.

---