VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. <J03 - 



men accuilomed to a wandering and di/il-? 

 pated life. The extreme profufion of thcfe 

 profligates is, therefore, no matter of fur^ 

 prife J but being more deceitful than pro- 

 digal, it is no wonder thattliey always care- 

 fully endeavoured to conceal from thefe 

 iflanders the impure fource from which ihey 

 deri%^ed their riches, Tliis, perhaps, is the 

 only point on which they were forced to be 

 prudent, under pain of incurring the hatred 

 of thefe people J whofe friendfhip it was their 

 iQtereft to prefcrre. 



A recital of their fliameful and deteftable 

 robberies would have carried terror and 

 alarm into thofe countrieSj where the leaft 

 of thefe crimes was punifhed with death. 

 It is not to be doubted that the IMalegaches 

 would have exterminated fuch dangerous 

 guefts had they been fully acquainted with 

 their vicious inclinations: but fmce their 

 memory is not execrated, and has not left 



in 



