Expédition de Madagascar. LETTRE DU CAPITAINE ROUPRAT, Corps expéditionnaire de Madagascar, AU CAPITAINE PAULIN du 5ème. 1er février 1896. 18899-1

Madagascar Expedition. LETTER FROM CAPTAIN ROUPRAT, Expeditionary Corps of Madagascar, TO CAPTAIN PAULIN of the 5th. February 1, 1896. 18899-1

Handwritten letter on the letterhead of the General Residence of Madagascar - French Republic.
"Tananarive, February 1, 1896.
My dear Captain,
The first mail from France has just arrived bringing us newspapers from December 25, and I am quite surprised to find only letters of job applications. No letters from my family or friends. I don't understand it at all. It's another fifteen days to wait without any interesting news. How are you doing with the good 5th? Have you achieved any results with the Company and are you rewarded for the intelligent efforts you are making there?
I have not had a second to myself since my arrival here, occupied with all the complexities of an installation following the conquest of the Hovas and the even more disastrous occupation of General Duchêne's staff, our installation is not without difficulties and in the evening I am truly grateful for my bed [...]
And what a life it is to navigate through this band of "dressed monkeys" who revolve around us. Occasionally, a little visit to the Queen, who is the most kind and distinguished of sovereigns, provides us with some amusement in observing the "monkeyish" attendants and the officers' oranges of the Palace [...]
Excuse me, my brave friend, and although I am not to be pitied here, think of me a little.
Signed: Rouprat".

Fair condition, fold marks, torn corners without loss of text, foxing.
2 pages H 26.8 cm x 20.7 cm.

Included are period photographs of Queen Ranavalona II and Captain Rouprat with two Palace guards during his campaign.

Queen RANAVALONA III: 1862-Alger 1917. Queen of Madagascar 1883-1897, cousin of the previous queen. Widow of Prince Ratrima (1883), she married Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, who was already widowed by two previous queens. After the blockade by the French fleet, she signed the Treaty of Tamatave, ceding to France the harbor of Diego-Suarez and control of diplomacy (December 17, 1885). After the transformation of the protectorate into a colony (August 1896), the queen was implicated in an insurrection and Gallieni deposed her (February 1897). She was deported to Réunion, then to Algiers.