his own dwelling. What 's-his-name would
have been glad to subjugate the whole of
Madagascar; but there were some tribes to
which he himself was tributary, and many
altogether independent, when, in the year
1810, Adri-etcetera died. His son, Radama,
ruled in his stead. Radama was then about
twenty years of age. Now the slave trade
had been at all times active in the Mozambique
Channel; and a constant commerce in
captive prisoners had been driven for the
pleasure of Europeans by the Malagasy chiefs.
The governor of Mauritius, Sir Robert Farquhar,
was actuated by that benovelent desire
for the extinction of slavery which we may
now claim as natural to Englishmen. Sir
Robert looked about him on his own beat,
and he saw young Radama. There, he
reasoned, is Radama, son of a powerful chief,
ambitious, vain. There's Radama, squabbling
among the rest in their affrays of naked men,
who have no proper notion of a battle. What
if I make this chief the instrument for good;
flatter him with an ambassador, make him an
ally, establish influence over his mind? It
will be easy, by teaching him to turn his wild
men into soldiers, and supplying a few
army stores, to make him strong enough to
master the whole island; then we shall act
through him, abolish slavery, let in the
missionaries, and civilise Madagascar. So Sir
Robert thought, and so he acted. He sent an
emissary to Tananariva, who plied Radama
with promises of liberal supplies, presents for
himself, fire-arms and equipment for his
soldiers, and so forth, until, by promising and
flattering, he brought the young king's mind
to the right point; that is to say, to the point
of the treaty of 1817, at which our European
history broke off just now.

Radama, by this treaty, agreed to suppress
the slave trade throughout all his dominions;
and it was the business of the English politicians
thereafter to contrive that his dominions
should include all Madagascar. Furthermore,
Radama agreed to admit missionaries
into his dominions; and Sir Robert undertook
to send to England a certain number of the
subjects of King Radama, appointed by that
monarch for the purpose, who should there
learn trades and useful matters. This was
done; and on the return of these native
workmen, accompanied them to develope the
resources of the island. Of course the English
Government could not compromise itself by
being seen to move in such a matter; but
arms and army stores were furnished to our
new ally; and Serjeant Brady was sent off
to drill the natives. Serjeant Brady's services
were so highly appreciated, that his
most gracious Majesty King Radama lost no
time in making him a general. Of course,
the staff put into the hand of this barbarian
chief enabled him to scale the heights of his
ambition, and become really king of Madagascar.
The English agent, Mr. Hastie, who
had previously resided at the port of Tamatave,
was ordered to reside in the capital,
propitiate the king, and guide him with
humane and fitting counsel.

During the temporary absence of the
Governor in England, his substitute at the
Mauritius, who perhaps had a corrupt taste
for plain sailing, put his finger in the web
that had been woven, and left a hole which
caused Sir Robert trouble upon his return.
Radama felt sore, but soft soap healed his
wounds, and all again went smoothly. Exportation
of slaves was forbidden, to please the
English; they had not succeeded in persuading
Radama that it was wrong. The missionaries
came, and the king, acting under the influence
of his well-meaning advisers, commanded that
not less than five thousand children should be
furnished to attend their schools. Radama
died a heathen; he never saw the wrong of
slavery; but in supporting the missionaries
firmly, and issuing edicts against slavery, he
paid honestly the price demanded by the
English for the power they had put into
his hands. Alas, that Radama was not
immortal!

Radama died in 1828, and one of his wives,
Ranavalona, an unscrupulous and energetic
woman, starting at once, was first in at the
race for power. " The idols named Ranavalona
as successor to Radama." That lady had
formed her party with much cleverness, and
when a public " kabary " was called to declare
the new queen to the nation, four persons,
who protested their knowledge that Radama
had himself named a different successor, were
immediately speared. Adopting a practice
common in European history during the dark
part of the middle ages, the queen proceeded
to sweep out of her way all inconvenient
members of her late husband's family. This
done, she ascertained what chiefs objected to
a female government, or otherwise were
unsound in their faith; these she caused to be
speared. The British agent still remained at
Tananariva; but eighteen months after her
accession, her Majesty bade him be off at an
hour's notice. The missionaries were not yet
dismissed. It was not until after twelve
years of labour that they were enabled to
erect two churches, and to baptize the first
converts; but their secular instruction had
been in request. All the fruit of European
knowledge, all the produce of skilled labour,
had been claimed by Radama in feudal
fashion, as his right. Charlemagne commanded
his judges to provide for each of his
castles " workmen in iron, gold, and silver;
stone-cutters, turners, carpenters, armourers,
engravers, washers; brewers skilled in making
mead, cider, and perry, and all other liquors fit
to be drunk; bakers, who likewise have the
art of preparing millet for our use; net-makers,
able to make everything appertaining
to the chase; and all other tradesmen, whom
it would be too long to enumerate. The
Malagasy Charlemagne required no less, and
the poor natives learned their trades to gratify