VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. ^07 



they detefted* The leaft violence^ in 

 this rcrpe<^l, would have occafioned their 

 deftrud:ion ; and with ftill more certainty 

 that of their wives and children* The fureft 

 way of accompHihing their end, therefore, 

 was to kindle up amongft thefe people the 

 flames of difcord i and, taking advantage 

 of their ioteftine wars, to prevail on them 

 to difpofe of their prifoners, who, on account 

 of their number, could not fail of being a 

 burthen to them. But it was of the utmoft 

 importance to the fucceftJ of their views in 

 the mid ft of thefe diforders, to be on a good 

 footing with both parties, and to aflume in 

 appearance the ofllice of mediators. It was 

 requifite, alfo, that they iliould *vait for a 

 favourable opportunity, or at leafl: a plaufible 

 pretext for putting their odious plot in exe- 

 cution, and this was not long wanting. 



The Bethaliraencs, a people in the inte- 

 rior part of the country, had quitted their 



villages, 



