244 VOYAGE TO MADACASCAR. 



Harre, whofe propenfity to ticc and de- 

 bauchery increafed every day. 



The chiefs^ who were enemies to John 

 Harre, united together, in order to pre%'ail 

 on Blgorne to take the command of their 

 armies. This brave foldier did not, how- 

 ever, yield to their entreaties, but on con^ 

 ditions which muft have appeared vei:y 

 ftrange to the favages. He openly declared, 

 that if he affumed the command of their 

 troops, he would take the prudent precau- 

 tion not to expofe himfelf to the enemies 

 fire ; becaufe his death would infallibly 

 occafion the deftrudion of tHofe war- 

 riors who fought under his ftandards* A 

 general, who, following only the impulfe of 

 his courage, fuffers himfelf to be hurried 

 into the thickefl: of the battle, is no longer 

 able to difpofe his forces in the mofl advan- 

 tageous manner ; the army is then ablblutely 

 without a chief ; the combatants are confe- 



quently 



