translated into that language at Antananarivo by the English missionaries, and printed by the missionary press there. The King appeared deeply impressed with the gift, as were the beholders of the scene. The defender of the faith receiving the Book of Life, printed in a barbarian tongue, reduced to order by the humble missionary, who had been sent out by voluntary aid from his own country, and thus bearing back the good fruits of his faith and industry, was indeed a subject worthy of the monarch's attention and the painter's art. During the interview the King presented the Embassy to the Queen, and while passing through the apartments of the Castle, which were thrown open for their inspection, they had the honour of again seeing her Majesty, who, in conversation, elicited that, in consequence of an edict from the Queen of Madagascar, no native could profess Christianity. It was on this occasion that Queen Adelaide, addressing herself to the members of the Embassy, said: "Tell the Queen of Madagascar, from me, that she can do nothing so beneficial for her country as to receive the Christian religion." A queenly message that will always associate the name of the good Queen Adelaide with missionary progress in Madagascar.

On the 19th March, 1837, the Embassy had a final interview with the British Government, receiving a written communication for their sovereign. After leaving England, they concluded

their negotiations with the French Government, and reached Tamatavé in the month of September following.

A.D. 1837.

The Embassy were by no means successful with the British Government, who could not but highly disapprove of the wanton sacrifice of life and the unparalleled cruelties inflicted by the Queen's troops in the southern portion of Madagascar. The residence of a British Agent, in compliance with the treaty between England and Radama, being required by the British Government, as a preliminary to any engagement on the part of England with the existing Government of Madagascar.

A.D. 1840.

In the month of July, 1840, Isormonmeka, Queen of the Sackalaves, who had fled from Madagascar, and virtually resigned her sovereign rights to Ranavolona-Manjaka, Queen of all Madagascar, ceded to the King of France the islands of Nossi-bé and Nossi Cumba, and with them her claims upon the sovereignty of the West Coast of Madagascar, from the Bay of Passandava to Cape St. Vincent. In a similar manner Andrian Souli was induced to cede to France the Island of Mayotte, on which he was an alien and usurper. M. Passot, the Agent of the Governor of Bourbon, having succeeded in these negotiations, repaired to Mourounsang in the brig-of-war Le Colibre, and informed the Hova general at that place that the refugees on the above islands had in

voked the protection of the French nation. Thus the French claims on the Island of Madagascar have been advanced on the West Coast, and remain in abeyance "until such time as it shall be convenient for the Government of France to assert them."*

* Document sur la Partie Occidentale de Madagascar, par M. le Capitaine de Corvette Guillain, p. 141. Imprimerie Royale, 1846.

95

CHAPTER VII.

Difficulties in the way of Commerce- Memorial of Jacob Heppick-H.M.S. Conway arrives at Tamatavé-Captain Kelly, R.N., and Judge Philibert H.M.S. Conway returns to Mauritius-Further restrictions to Trade-H.M.S. Conway and French Ships of War Berceau and Zélée in Tamatavé Roadstead Failure of Negotiations - Hova Forts-Joint Protest-Attack on the Fort-Account of the Action-Revolting Spectacle.

THE retirement of the English missionaries from the capital of the island, and the cupidity of the Queen, caused increasing difficulties to be thrown in the way of trade with Europeans at Tamatavé, the principal seaport on the East Coast.

A.D. 1844.

In consequence of the growing impediments to legitimate commerce felt by the natives. and European exporters of cattle, their price was enhanced from eight to fifteen or sixteen dollars per head. The Islands of Mauritius and Réunion being entirely dependent on Madagascar for supplies of beef and draught cattle, this restrictive policy, adopted by the Queen and her advisers, naturally caused much irritation in the neighbouring French and English colonies, and loud and repeated were the complaints addressed by the inhabitants to the Governors of those islands. But so long as the

liberty of the European residents at Madagascar was not interfered with, the Governors of Mauritius and Réunion wisely abstained from remonstrating with the Hova Government, which had in its power the means of greatly injuring those islands, by cutting off the supplies of labour, cattle, and rice.

At length an outrage on a British subject caused the Governors of Mauritius and Réunion to co-operate for the combined protection of Europeans trading in the ports of Madagascar, which resulted in that island being virtually closed to the trade of England and France for some years.

Mauritius and Réunion, being sugar-producing islands, are dependent for their prosperity upon an extraneous supply of labour which has been in a great measure kept up by the adjoining Continent of Africa; but at the date we are writing of—viz., in 1844—the labour market was principally supplied from Madagascar.

On the pretext of carrying out the Slave-trade Treaty with England made by the late King Radama, the Queen and her advisers ordered this supply of labour to cease, and natives of Madagascar were forbidden to leave the island for Mauritius or Réunion.

Soon after this enactment it appears that Mr. Heppick, chief officer of the Marie Laurie, who was a British-American-born subject, was seized on a pretended accusation of harbouring, or rather detain