248 
In general, my remarks on the customs of the people may 
be considered as bearing prospectively on the future; for ever 
since the treaty between His Excellency Sir R. T. Farquhar 
and King Radama, followed by the abolition of the slave 
trade, and the frequent visits of Mr. Hastie, a great change 
has taken place in the court and country. The European 
manner of dressing, eating, &c. has been partially introduced ; 
three missionaries have been sent, by the London Missionary 
Society, to instruct the young natives in religion, and reading 
and writing; artizans have come over to show them our 
trades and our modes of labour: in short, Government has 
expended, and still is laying out, large sums of money, in 
order to civilize this country, especialy the province of 
Emerina, and of which the natives always showed themselves 
most willing and able to receive and appreciate our customs. 
The end will surely crown all the efforts of our British 
Government, and contribute to the glory of a nation, one of 
the principal objects of which has ever been the civilization 
of people who are plunged in profound ignorance; and 
thereby to lead them, by the gentlest means, to the know- 
ledge of Christianity, of its peaceful and beneficent precepts, 
without which no society can enjoy real felicity. 
We beg the indulgence of the reader if we have not been 
so diffuse as the importance of the subject might demand; 
but it is very difficult to acquire an entire insight into the 
customs of a people whose language is imperfectly known to 
us, without even looking to the length of time which such a 
description would require, and which, with us, was very much. 
circumscribed. : 
uisi THEODORE HILSENBERG. 
* WENcESLAUS BoJER. 
Tannanarivou, EMERINA, 
May 15, 1823. 
Tue Province of Emerina, which may be secos as ihe 
centre of Madagascar, but whose geographical situation is 
not correctly known, is divided into several sub-provinces or 
