MADAGASCAR. 5 L.A.S. "Léon" [Segret], Mahatinsjo and Tamatave, 1896-1897, to his sister Marie and his brother-in-law Caldéol; 29 pages in-8. Interesting account of the life of a non-commissioned officer during the Madagascar campaign: a picturesque account of a Malagasy funeral, the difficult life in the middle of a very harsh climate, the lack of enthusiasm of the natives in the Malagasy companies, mentioning Gallieni "who had his head cut off by a few big Hovas," his illness which led him to the hospital where he almost died because of "Madagascar fever: "you wouldn't believe how many sick people there were in the hospital, so many officers, NCOs, soldiers and civilians, it was due to those big rains that flooded everything and the sun came over the top and flanked everyone there. In my company, we were 5 NCOs in the hospital, the captain, the lieutenant were not there, but they were not worth much more. I would never have believed that Madagascar was so unhealthy [...] We are not aware of any news of what is going on in the interior, we do not hear about anything [...] We live in the middle of pigs, oxen, cows, dogs that we use to go hunting and this band of Malagasy soldiers and women who are absolutely savages and animated by no courage, nor good will; besides, to tell the truth, we do everything except military service. Two days ago, there was talk of forming a column that would go to a post that was burned down; we still have no precise news. I would not be upset to be part of it and believe me, I will do everything I can to go [...] I have set up a small shelf next to my bed. I have put up a small shelf next to my bed. I have put up all your photographs; morning and evening and even during the day, I come to visit you and look at you all with pleasure" .... In a last letter, moving, written from the hospital, he says how sick he is, the fever does not leave him any more... Ten letters to the same ones, by Émile Segret, during the campaign of Algeria 1885-1886; plus ten other letters of the same origin and a handwritten sheet listing the journeys from Marseilles to Diego-Suarez (outward and return journeys), for the sending of mail.