29^^ VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 



** M, dc Belcombe having aiTembled 

 " Yavi, the foverelgn of Poulepointe, and 

 *' the other chiefs of the neighbourhood, 

 •* afked them if they had any reafon to 

 ** coraplahi of the French^ and above all 

 •* of the fifteen foldiera of Benyowlki*s 

 ** legion, who guarded the harbour of 

 ** Foulepointe* Their anfwer to this quef- 

 tion was notexpUck : .they were^ doubt- 

 ** lefs, afraid that their complaints would 

 ** ferve as a pretence for new perfecutions ; 

 ** and confined themfelves merely to the re- 

 " quefting of a free-trade. M. de Belcombe 

 ** affured Yavi and the reft of the chiefs, 

 ** that the French foldiers were kept at Ma- 

 *' dagafcar only to proted and fecure the 

 " liberty of the Malegaches ; and he ex- 

 " horted them to cultivate their lands, and 

 to li^e in peace with their neighbours, 

 M. Chevreau took an inventory of the 

 flores belonging to the king ; and M. de 



Bel- 



