78 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. in. 



queen of Madagascar, stating the object of their visit, and 

 that they had brought the sum of money required as a pre- 

 liminary to the restoration of the trade. From the secretary 

 an official letter was received, and on the terms therein speci- 

 fied, the money was paid, and the Hasina, or customary 

 offering to the sovereign, given and received, in token of the 

 amity existing between the respective parties. 

 The following is the secretary's letter : — 



" Antannarivo, 23 Asoratany, 1854, 23rd October, 1853. 



"To Messrs. J. Cameeon and A. Mangeot, and the 

 people who sent them with this payment for the 

 offence committed by William Kelly, and Romain 

 Desfosses, and their companions in three ships. 



" I have to inform you that I have told our superior offi- 

 cers, and that our superior officers have told our queen 

 respecting the 15,000 dollars proposed to be paid by you for 

 (or on account of) the offence of Eomain Desfosses, and 

 William Kelly, and their companions in three ships, you 

 having declared that this payment gives you no claim either 

 on the land nor on the kingdom. 



"Now in regard to the 15,000 dollars, our superior officers 

 have directed that the money be received, so we will receive 

 it, and the trade will be opened. 



"And thus will the trade be opened. As the custom 

 duties do not belong to others (or to subjects), but to the 

 Queen of Madagascar, so we will take the custom duties 

 both on imports and exports as formerly — for we change not. 



" And in regard to the exportation of slaves beyond the sea, 

 Eadama disliked that practice, and our queen has made no 

 alteration ; therefore we cannot export slaves beyond the sea. 



*'And this also has to be told to you. A certain European, 

 a Frenchman, has taken possession of a place at Ibaly, as a 

 port for ships, where he is residing, and erecting a house and 

 a magazine. Our superior officers have therefore sent to 



