VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, 327 



cntrccirieR that he delivered them into the 

 liands of the French. This chief complained 

 bitterly of Benyowlki's tyranny. He faid 

 he had reigned over that fertile part of the 

 country where he was eftabliihed with a 

 rod of iron ; that he plundered the inhabi- 

 tants without mercy J and deftroyed, through 

 fear, the fruits of their induftry. He was 

 continually adding new taxes to the bur- 

 thens which he thought proper to impofe •* 

 on them ; and he violated, in an outrageous V 

 manner, the moft refpeQed ufages and cuf- 

 toms. Their vain remonft ranees were re- 

 je£ted with har&nefs. In treating them 

 as flaves, and fubjeding them to the moft 

 galling yoke, he wifhed to make them lofe 

 even the hopes of recovering their liberty, 

 Thefe people were fubmiffive to his ca- 

 prices : his con fummate audacity, his cunning, 

 and ftill more the impctuofity of his cha- 

 jacfter, had rendered him abfolute raafter of 

 Y 4 Mada- 



