212 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 



principles on this point; and yet thefe people 

 confider us as cannibals. The efforts which 

 the Europeans had inceflantly made to pro- 

 cure fiaves, either by force or ftratagem^ 

 contributed not a little to confirm them in 

 this unfavourable opinion. The enemies 

 of the whites, whofe number was very con- 

 fiderablc, took a plealurc in giving ftrength 

 to this odious calumny ; and I may ven- 

 ture to aflert, that it has been perpetuated 

 in fuch a manner, from generation to gene- 

 ration, that it ftill fubfifts. If any method 

 can be devifed of deftroying fo degrading an 

 accufation, it certainly muft be by carefully 

 educating amongft us fome young Mede- 

 caffesj and afterwards fending them back to 

 their own country. When they have be- 

 come acquainted with our manners, our 

 arts, and our induftry, we may eafdy in- 

 fplre them with quite contrary fentiments. 

 However little we refled on the falutary 



con- 



