294 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 



fubdue. His proje£ts, however, were i^ei- 

 ther founded on juflice, nor directed by a 

 local knowledge of the country. He made 

 war upon the Malegaches ; exercifed every 

 kind of cruelty again ft them j and was 

 foon execrated as the tyrant of the coun- 

 try. The natives frightened fled into the 

 interior parts of the ifland ; all commerce 

 was fufp ended ; and Benyowflci deferted 

 was known throughout all Madagafcar by 

 the name of the *wkhd white man. 



It was, doubtlcfs, very ealy to forefee 

 that Benyowiki's eftablilhment would not 

 be attended with fuccefs ; but fuch a begin- 

 ning would, certainly, appear furprifingp 

 were not the immorality and mifcondu£t of 

 this adventurer well known. The recep- 

 tion Benyowfki met with in France, and 

 his being veiled with unlimited power, muft 

 indeed aftoniJli every perfon of fenfe. We 

 Jive in an enlightened age, and, on that ac- 

 5 count, 



