CHAP. XV. THE DEATH OF THE MARTYRS. 429 



heavens at the time, close to the place of burning. Then 

 they sang in the hymn 158: — 



' There is a blessed land 

 Making most happy. 

 Never shall the rest depart, 

 Nor cause of trouble come.' 



" That was the hymn they sang after they were in the fire. 

 Then they prayed, saying, ' Lord, receive our spirits ; for 

 Thy love to us has caused this to come to us. And lay not 

 this sin to their charge.' 



" Thus they prayed, as long as they had any life. Then 

 they died ; but softly — gently. Indeed, gently was the going 

 forth of their life. And astonished were all the people around 

 that beheld the burning of them there." 



For the same reason, viz. to enable my readers to form 

 their own estimate of his character, I have recited, also in 

 detail, fragments of conversation with the young prince of 

 Madagascar, who is, if not at the present time, yet certainly 

 in relation to the future, the most important individual, 

 amongst his own people. I have already described his person, 

 and in reference to his character and habits, the late M. de 

 Lastelle, speaking to me of him in 1853, observed, "He is 

 not like a Malagasy at all, but much more like an English 

 gentleman." 



Without pretending to determine how far this comparison 

 was just, I soon became convinced, from much that I saw and 

 more that I heard, that the prince was a remarkable young 

 man, in whose future career it was impossible not to feel 

 deeply interested. His youthful appearance, unembarrassed 

 address, and gentle and easy manners, impressed me favour- 

 ably during our earliest intercourse. His prepossessions in 

 favour of the English I did not expect," as he could have been 

 but a child when, twenty years before, the last English resi- 



