94 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 



of fifteen days to determine on the grand 

 affair of his converfion : but this delay, foil- 

 cited with fo much earneflnefs by the chief, 

 and with difficulty granted by the miflion- 

 ary^ was intended to anfwer a very dif* 

 ferent purpofe. Dian Manang;iie wifhed to 

 gain time, in order to quit the province of 

 Mandrarey, without dread of being purfued 

 by the French ; and, when he thougtc he 

 could do this in fafety, he departed with 

 his women and Haves, to feek fhelter in the 

 country of the Machicores, which is twenty- 

 five leagues diftant from Fort Dauphin. 



His departure^ however, was not fo pri- 

 vate as to efcape the knowledge of Father 

 Stephen » for he had fpies even in the ^/cmac 

 of the chief. In vain^ therefore, did Cha- 

 margou endeavour to retain him. The 

 milfionary, confulting only his zeal, formed 

 the rafh refolution of following Dian Ma- 

 nangue to the country of the Machicores. 

 7 A bro- 



