21 
. was quite extinct! In some instances, the guilty are left to 
perish amidst their excruciating agonies—deserted by every 
one,—family, friends, and all! Slaves, on conviction, are 
more generally sent to a distance, and sold where no suspi- 
cion of their guilty character is supposed to exist. But slaves 
belonging to any member of the royal family are put to 
death. P 
To every humane mind it was highly gratifying to witness 
the decline of such a barbarous custom during the latter years 
of the reign of Radama, the late enlightened and enterprising 
monarch of the country. His successor has, however, en- 
couraged or permitted its revival to a most lamentable extent, 
—all her principal people—officers, diviners, cursers, and 
others, to the amount of some hundreds, have been compelled 
to drink the Tanghena, within the last few months, and scores 
have perished, cut off in the midst of health and vigour—their 
property confiscated, and their families reduced to ruin and 
misery! Of one instance I have just heard the melancholy 
details, from an eye-witness of the tragical scene. An aged 
widow, upwards of. seventy, attended the administration of the 
ordeal to five of her children in one day, all grown up, and 
having families. The first was proved innocent, the mother 
rejoiced almost to extasy,—but ere the day had closed she 
had to mourn in anguish over three cut off out of the five, 
and their orphan children committed to her feeble care. 
I could add more; excuse me for having trespassed thus 
much on your time, and forgive me in saying, that as I 
know yon have long been the friend of Madagascar (and I 
know how Madagascar needs the efforts of the friends of hu- 
manity), I trust you will continue to countenance every eli- 
gible means for rescuing the five millions of inhabitants of 
the island from such revolting cruelties, and for elevating 
them to the enjoyment of the benefits of civilization and 
I am, my dear Sir, di 
With the ntmost cordiality, &c. 
gs J. F. Freeman. 
