CHAP. 111. LETTER FROM THE QUEEN'S SECRETARY. 79 



drive him away beyond sea. We shall not kill him, but his 

 property shall be taken as our spoil, for he has taken posses- 

 sion of a port. But though we have said we shall not kill 

 him, yet, if he kills any of the soldiers, the soldiers will kill 

 him. And this is told to you lest you should say, — Why, 

 after trade is opened, do you again destroy the property of 

 Europeans ? 



" And this also has to be told to you. If any European 

 shall land at any place within the boundary of JMadagascar, 

 where there are not soldiers stationed, and take possession of 

 that place as a port, such conduct will be an offence, and his 

 property will be taken as our spoil, and he himself will be 

 driven away beyond the sea. 



" And this also has to be told to you, that, as each sove- 

 reign has established the law of the land, whether it be our 

 sovereign or your sovereign, so in our land the things we do 

 not sell are not to be shipped upon the sea ; and in regard to 

 the things you do not sell, you of course need not bring them 

 for sale. 



" Farewell, health, &c. to you, 

 " Saith 



" Eainikietaka, 



" 13 Honour, Officer of the Palace." 



The event so earnestly desired by many of the people of 

 Madagascar was announced by the firing of cannons from the 

 fort. A public dinner was given to Messrs. Cameron and 

 Mangeot, and other Europeans in the island, and general 

 rejoicing was manifested by the inhabitants. The " Nimble " 

 had brought back to Mauritius a cai'go of ninety-three oxen, 

 in proof that the trade was really open ; and three French 

 vessels from Bourbon, which had been waiting for the con- 

 clusion of the negotiations between the merchants of Mauri- 

 tius and the native government, immediately took on board 

 carc^oes of cattle for that island. 



