CHAP. I. GOOD EFFECTS OF ALLIANCE WITH THE ENGLISH. 3 



tians. Within the same period, amongst the 1000 or 1500 

 youths who had been placed as apprentices under tlie mis- 

 sionary artisans, some had been taught to work in iron, 

 which abounds in the country ; others had been trained to 

 be carpenters, builders, tanners, curriers, shoemakers &c. 

 These were some of the most satisfactory results of the king's 

 alliance with the English, and the settlement of English mis- 

 sionaries in his country ; and although the advantage of so 

 sudden and large an increase of firearms amongst a people 

 very partially civilised may have been questionable, the sub- 

 stituting of legitimate and honourable commerce for the de- 

 grading traffic in slaves, the opening of a way for frequent 

 and friendly intercourse with foreigners, the teaching of use- 

 ful arts, the introduction of letters, with the knowledge of 

 Christianity by which this was followed, mil ever cause the 

 treaty between Sir Eobert Farquhar and the King Eadama 

 to be regarded as one of the most important events in the 

 modern history of JNladagascar. 



To his own people, Radama's reign was one of unprece- 

 dented prosperity, though of comparatively short duration. 

 He was a ruler greatly in advance of his time and his people; 

 but he died in the year 1828, at the early age of thirty-six, 

 and the enlightening and humanising influences which were 

 so full of promise for the nation appear in a great measure 

 to have terminated with his life. The amiable and intelli- 

 gent Prince Rakatobe, eldest son of Radama's eldest sister, 

 was nominated by the king successor to the throne, but on 

 the death of Radama he was assassinated, and the present 

 ruler was raised to the supreme authority. For a time the 

 schools and the religious teaching of the missionaries were 

 allowed, but it soon became evident that the policy of the 

 government was changed. The influence of the idol-keepers, 

 and of the supporters of divination and other superstitions 

 of the country, was soon r^tored to its former supremacy. 



B 2 



