thers, F.R.S., and Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., said, it was "the most valuable and important paper that had ever appeared on the Flora of Madagascar, and that it would in all the future afford the basis of our knowledge of the flora of the island." We shall probably give the substance of this treatise in our next number.

WORKS IN MALAGASY.-The following have been issued at the L.M.S. Press, Antananarivo :-Ny Diksionary amy ny Baiboly: natao ho Fanazavana ny Zavatra maro voalaza ao amy ny Soratra Masina (Dictionary of the Bible, for explaining many things in the Holy Scriptures); edited by Rev. James Sibree, Jun.; 8vo, pp. viii. and 910, with two coloured maps and 100 woodcuts.

This is (with the sole exception of the Bible in the time of the first mission) the largest book that has ever been issued from the mission presses in Madagascar, and the editor is to be congratulated on its completion. The care and time and labour expended on it by the editor must have been very great. The volume contains 1911 separate articles, of which more than half have been written by Mr. Sibree himself, and the remainder have been supplied by various members of the L.M.S. and F.F.M.A. missions. Several maps and engravings have been introduced, which are likely to be helpful to readers in understanding the letterpress. Altogether the work is one of permanent value, and is calculated to be of great service to intelligent natives, especially to pastors, preachers and teachers.-T.L.

Hevi-teny amy ny Asan' ny Apositoly, misy Fampianarana sy Anatra mahasoa (Homiletical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles); by Rev. J. Peill; 8vo, pp. xii. and 328, with two maps. -Ny Fahagagana nataony Jesosy Kraisty Tompontsika (The Miracles of our Lord Je sus Christ); by Rev. J. Wills; 8vo, pp. xvi. and 119.-Ny Tantaran-dRazaka, ilay Mpitandrina ny Fiangonana tao Fihaonana any Vonizongo (Autobiography of Razaka, Pastor of Fihaonana in Vònizòngo); edited by

Rev. T. T. Matthews; 16mo, pp. 71--Lakolosy sy Ondana (Transla tion of Miss F. R. Havergal's 'Morning Bells' and 'Evening Pillows'); by Miss Amy E. Brockway; 12mo, pp. 65.

A new (or rather, revived) quarterly periodical has been issued by the L.M.S. Press, commencing the 15th of last July, entitled Ny Mpanolotsaina (The Counsellor'), 8vo, pp. 48. This magazine was first issued eleven years ago and appeared from May 1877 to Dec. 1880, but was then discontinued. It contains articles of a more advanced and fuller character than any other mission periodical, and is intended to meet the needs of the educated and intelligent class of Malagasy.

The following have been issued from the Press of the F.F.M.A.:—

Ny Ady Masina. Nataony John Bunyan (Bunyan's 'Holy War'); translated into Malagasy by F. Rasòamanàna, Rev. R. Baron, and Rainandríamampandry, 15 Hon. : 16m0, pp. 268.-Ny Tantaran' ny Mpamonjy (The Story of the Saviour); by F. Rasoamanana; 12mo, pp.xii.and 266.-Hatrany no mahavaky teny (Reading at Sight); by Mr. Herbert F. Standing. A new system of teaching to read by syllables, with illustrative diagrams; in lithography, 20 pp.

For the S. P. G. Mission :-Ny Filazantsarany Jesosy Kraisty Tompontsika nosoratany S. Jaona, etc. (Commentary on the Gospel of St. John, with Introduction and Explanation on the Doctrine of the Logos); by Rev. F. A. Gregory, M.A.; 8vo, pp. xxix. and 204.

For the Medical Mission Board:Pathology sy Anatomy Morbida (Pathology and Morbid Anatomy); translated from Dr. T. H. Green's work by Rabàrijaona, Student of Medicine; 8vo, pp. xiv. and 182, with 14 lith. illustrations and 14 pp. expla natory of same.

For the Native Government :-Ny Telegrafy Elektrika (Handbook on the Working of the Telegraph); flscp. 4to, 32 pp., with 26 lith. illustrations.

The following translations of standard English theological works have

been issued from the S.P.G. Press.

Ny Filazan-hevitry ny Symbolum, atao hoe koa Ny Credo (Bishop Pearson on the Creed); translated by Rev. F. A. Gregory, M.A; cr. 8vo, pp. viii. and 590.-Hora Pao line, na Fampisehoana ny Fahamarinan' ny Soratra Masina milaza any S. Paolo (Archdeacon Paley's 'Hora Paulinæ'); translated by Rev. E. O. Mc. Mahon; 8vo, pp. 116 with map.

The following have been issued from the Norwegian Mission Press :

Homiletika; by Rev. S. E. Jorgen sen. -Hevi-teny amy ny Evangeli (Commentary on the Gospels for th Church Year); by Rev. L. Dahle.Appendix to the Hymn-book.

The following is from the Press the Madagascar Times: - Ny Fon. grafy Malagasy na Fomba Fam ratana (Malagasy Phonography] by A. Tacchi; 16m0, pp. 20.

OLITICAL AND SOCIAL.—

POLITI

The chief political event of the year 1888 has been the despatch in the month of July of an expedition, under the command of Rainimiádana, 15 Hon., to the neighbourhood of St. Augustine's Bay, in order to establish Hova authority over the turbulent Vèzo and other south-western tribes. New governors have also been appointed to several important posts.

During the months of August, September, and October, the Queen with her Court made a visit of nine weeks' duration to Tsinjoarivo, a place about 50 miles south of the Capital.

For a considerable part of the year great misery has been caused to the people of large tracts of country in the northern and north-western parts of Imèrina by large armed bands of robbers, who have almost depopulated certain districts in Vònizòngo, Anàtivòlo, and other places. These marauders, it is said, have formed fortified camps, from which they sally forth to attack the people, numbers of whom have been killed, many more carried away into slavery,

while hundreds of cattle have bee swept off. Other parts of the countr to the south of Imerina have als suffered in the same way, although t a less extent.

Large concessions of forest landi the north-eastern part of Madagasca have been made to European com panies. One of these is a district 40 miles square at the head of A tongil Bay and ceded to an Englis company; and another, in the penin sula of Maróa (inclosing that bay t the east), to a company directed b M. Maigrot, the Italian Consu Gold-mining concessions have als been made to certain French an English subjects; and gold has bee discovered during the year in severa new localities.

During the month of October th people of the Capital were much exci ted by the visit of Mrs. Mary C. Leavit Hon. Sec. of the American Women' Christian Temperance Union. Thi lady has been travelling in variou countries for more then five year lecturing and speaking on temperance purity, and other social reform Mrs. Leavitt, during a visit of abou three weeks, addressed no less tha

twenty-four meetings, her speeches being mostly translated into Malagasy; and concluded with an address in the Palace Church, and a private interview with Her Majesty the Queen, who took a very kindly interest in her work. Mrs. Leavitt's visit was well timed, for drinking habits have certainly greatly increased of late in all parts of the country; and she had opportunities of addressing very large meetings, both of men and women, at the half-yearly assembly of the Imèrina Congregational Union.

LITERARY. - During the year 1888 the printing in England of the finally revised version of the Malagasy Bible has been carried on under the care of the Chief Reviser, the Rev. W. E. Cousins. This new version is printed in larger type and on a larger page than the last two editions of the Malagasy Scriptures, and will form a rather bulky volume of from 1500 to 1600 pages. A small separate edition of the New Testament has also been completed, and a first instalment of it was received here at the end of October.

OBITUARY. - MRS. HOGG. Many Malagasy, as well as Europeans who have been in Madagascar, would hear with regret of the death of Mrs. H. Hogg, late of the Medical Mission in this country. For several years this excellent and kindly-hearted Christian woman was matron at the L.M.S. Hospital in Antananarivo, and laboured hard for the spiritual as well as the bodily welfare of those who were admitted as patients into the institution. Mrs. Hogg passed away, after much suffering time from cancer, in the early part of this year.

MR. F. A. CHESSON. It seems only fitting that a word or two should be said in this ANNUAL to record the death of Mr. Chesson, for he was a sincere friend to the Malagasy, and laboured hard during the Franco-Malagasy war to awaken the interest of English people in Madagascar, and sympathy for its people in their struggle against France. To Mr. Chesson was due the formation of the "Madagascar Committee," which did so much to spread infor

mation about this island, and to bring the facts of the dispute before the British public. All oppressed nationalities struggling for their rights and liberties have lost a valuable helper and advocate by Mr. Chesson's early removal; aud his loss is one that will not soon, if ever, be fully supplied.

RAINISOA RATSIMANDISA, 12 Hon., Officer of the Palace. The death of this venerable Malagasy officer in June broke the last link uniting the present time with that of the first L.M.S. missionaries. Rainisòa was a remarkable old man, having reached upwards of ninety years of age. For several years past he was the only surviving pupil of Mr. Griffiths; he was one of the first Malagasy who received baptism at his hands; and he and his wife were the very first natives who were united together by the rites of Christian marriage. He was one of those who assisted the first missionaries in their literary work, and he always claimed to have been the translator of the Pilgrim's Progress into Malagasy; and during the last few years of his life he was engaged in making for the Queen a translation into Malagasy of Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Four Gospels. One of Rainisoa's most marked peculiarities was the intense veneration and affection in which he held the memory of his early teachers. He had a good knowledge of English, and used often to read and pray in that language with his family; while all of them, children and grandchildren, he had taught to sing English hymns and sacred pieces to the old-fashioned tunes sung in England seventy years ago. His mind and memory were vigorous to the last, for he died (at 93) not of old age, but from burns occasioned by a lamp having been overturned, and part of his dress in consequence catching fire. He was

remarkable also for having had but one wife during his long life; and this, by all those who know anything of Malagasy social life, will be admitted to be a very noteworthy, almost a unique, fact. His wife died about three years ago.