Among those particularly worthy of praise, for ser- vices rendered in the missionary efforts in Madagascar, is the Rev. William Ellis (died in July. 1872). By years of missionary labors performed in the .South Sea Isl- ands he had become thoroughly acquainted with the missionary work ; and when, by the death of Ranavala Manjaka, Madagascar seemed again open to the Europe- ans, he was selected by the London M issionary Society to visit the country, in company with Mr. Cameron, in or- der to ascertain the actual condition of thincs, with a
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view to resuming missionary labor. The manner in which JMr. Ellis conducted the most delicate negotia- tions with the government of Madagascar, so as to se- cure an entrance for the Christian teachers to the coun- try, and the influence he exerted in high places, are well known to all persons acquainted with modern mission- ary enterprise. On three occasions he visited Mada- gascar, alwaj-B on important missions, and always with signal success. He went before, and prepared the way for those who have gone in and occupied the field. On each occasion of his return to England he had marvel- lous things to teU of Madagascar and the prospects that were opening for the Church of (iod there. His Mur- tyr Church of Madagascar, Madagascar Revisited (Lon- don, 18G7, 8vo), and Three Visits to Madagascar, give a history of that mission-field which leaves nothing to be desired (compare, however, Westminster Rev. April, 1867, p. 249). It was he, too, who completed and revised the translation of the Scriptures into the INIalagasy lan- guage.
The number of Christians in Madagascar is now es- timated at more than 300,000. In 1870, the Enghsh missionaries (Episcopalians, Methodists, and Friends), who have their head-quarters at the adjoining island of jMauritius (an English possession), had in operation 1-12 schools, attended by 5270 pupils. The Roman Cath- olics have, since 18G1, missionaries (Jesuits) in the isl- and, but they are mainly at the capital, Tamatave, and vicinity, and in the French possessions, the adjoining island of Reunion. See, besides the works of Ellis, al- ready mentioned, INI'Leod, Madagascar and its People (London, 18G5) ; Oliver, Madagascar and the Malagasi (London, 186G) ; J. Sibree, Madagascar and its People (London, 1870) ; Chambers's Cyclop, s.v. ; Newcomb, Cy- clop, of Missions, s. V. ; Edinb. Rev. 1867, p. 212 ; Grunde- mann, Missions-A this. No. 17 ; K Y. Methodist, 1867 ; N. Y. Christian Intelligencer, July 11, 1872.
Ma'dai (Heb. Maday', "in^, Sept. Ma^ot', Gen. x, 2, a Mede [q. v.], as elsewhere rendered), the third son of Japhet (Gen. x, 2), from whom the Bledes, etc., are sup- posed to have descended. B.C. post 2514. See Eth- nology.
Madan, Martin, an Anglican divine, was born near Hertford, England, in 172G. He first studied law, but finally entered the ministry, and was for a number of years chaplain to the Lock Hospital, London. He died iu 17'.)(). i\Ir. Madan gained great notoriety by a work which he published in 1780, entitled Thelypthora, a trea- tise on female ruin, in which he stoutly advocated the practice of polygamy. The pamphlets which his work elicited he replied to in a number of tracts. Madan's object in advocating polygamy was the removal of se- duction. He was quite a pulpit orator; several of his sermons have been published. — Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and A merican A uthors, vol. ii, s. v. ; Darling, Cyclojxedia Bibliog. ii, 1920.
Madan, Spencer (1), D.D., an Anglican prelate, was born about the middle of the 18th century; became bishop of Bristol in 1792, and of Peterborough in 1794. He died in 1813. Bishop Madan published several oc- casional Sermons (London, 1792, 8vo, and often), and a translation of Grotius's De Veritate Christiance Religionis (1781-83, 1813). See Gentleman's Magazine, 1837, i, 206.
Madan, Spencer (2), D.D., an English divine, son of the preceding, was born in 1759 ; was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge ; was rector first of Ibstock, Leicestershire, and later of Thorp, in Staffordshire. He was also chaplain for the king about thirty years, and prebend of Peterborough. He died in 183G." He published several sermons.
Madeira (a Portuguese word signifying wood, and given 1 lecause of the unusual abundance of timber) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the N.W. coast of Africa, in lat. 32= 43' N., long. 17° W., with an area of 345 sc). miles, and a population in 18G8 of 113.341, and belongs to Portugal. It constitutes a part of a group
of islands sometimes called "the Northern Canaries," which were discovered in 1419. The coasts of Madeira are steep and precipitous, rising from 200 to 2000 feet above sea-level, comprising few bays or landing-places, and deeply cut at intervals by narrow gorges, which give to the circumference tlie appearance of having been crimped. From the shore the land rises quickly to a height of 5000 feet; its highest point, the Pico Ruivo, is G050 feet high. It is of volcanic origin, and slight earthquakes occasionally occur. The lower portions of the island abound in tropical plants, as the date-palm, plantain, sweet potato, Indian corn, coffee, sugar-cane, pomegranate, and fig. The fruits and grains of Europe are somewhat cultivated, but the country has until late- ly been mainly devoted to the cultivation of the vine and sugar-cane. Funchal, with a population of 25,000, is both the capital and port of the island. The climate is remarkable for its constancy. There is only 10° dif- ference between the temperatures of summer and winter, the thermometer in Funchal showing an average of 74° in summer and of G4° in winter. At the coldest season the temperature is rarely less than 60°, while in summer it seldom rises above 78° ; but sometimes a waft of the leste, or east wind, raises it to 90°. The natives of Ma- deira are of a mixed race, principally of Portuguese, Moorish, and negro blood. " They are meagre, sallow, and short-lived, which is attributed to their want of wholesome food [the poorer classes chiefly subsist on the eddoc-root, sweet potatoes, and chestnuts], a life of drudgerj', and a total disregard of cleanliness."