250 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. ix. 



Next to the benefits of religious instruction, the friends of 

 the coloured people appear to be especially required, in the 

 present state of society, to aid and guide them in seeking 

 for themselves progressive improvement ; to make them dis- 

 satisfied with a low position in the social scale, and to awaken 

 yearnings and stimulate efforts after something better; to 

 impress upon them the absolute necessity of education at any 

 cost, with more of self-reliance, and the conviction that their 

 future depends not upon others but upon themselves. 



But while causes of anxiety like these were not wanting, 

 there were other subjects of consideration peculiarly cheering. 

 Many of the coloured people, formerly slaves, have won their 

 way to competency, if not to wealth, to social comfort, and to 

 positions of influence in society, being held in just and 

 general esteem by all classes of the community. Religion 

 had taught them frugality and temperance, ^^^len they 

 became their own masters, industry and skill brought their 

 appropriate reward, while their strength of character and 

 consistency of conduct secured them respect and entitled 

 them to be numbered, not only amongst the best friends of 

 their race, but the most valuable members of the community, 

 — examples of what, it is to be hoped, will one day form a 

 numerous portion of the people, viz., a hardy, active, in- 

 telligent, and upright middle class. This, with Grod's blessing, 

 may be their future, if they are wisely counselled, and are 

 true to themselves. 



Nor must I omit to mention that I found there existed 

 amongst the colonists more consideration and kindness towards 

 the coloured people altogether, with a more natural and 

 healthy state of feeling, than had at all times existed. The 

 present laws, the recent Constitution which had given so 

 many of the coloured people the elective franchise, the 

 enlightened views expressed by some of the leading men 

 in the colony, the good conduct of many of the native 



