HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
53 
considerable numbers in the treacherous and sanguinary 
wars of the natives; and on one occasion, two ships 
took in a cargo of six hundred slaves, as the reward of 
their assistance in an expedition against some towns which 
the chief of the district desired to subdue. The same party 
having promised their assistance a second time to the 
chief, returned the next season, and received another cargo 
of slaves on similar conditions, having succeeded in ren¬ 
dering him master of the whole of that part of the country 
of Methelege, and having established such a reputation 
amongst the people, that those who were accompanied by 
white men to battle, were certain of victory, and causing those 
who saw a white man among the forces of their opponents 
to prepare for flight before the engagement commenced. 
Of the pirates who entered into the plundering and 
murderous excursions of the Malagasy, a Captain North and 
his followers appear to have been amongst the most noto¬ 
rious and successful, especially in the subjugation of a for¬ 
tified town previously considered impregnable from the 
nature of its situation, and the peculiar structure of its 
fortifications. North, who is said to have avoided all 
piratical attempts upon European ships, and who, there¬ 
fore, confined his attacks to Moorish vessels only, lived five 
years in the island of Madagascar, during which time his 
intercourse seems to have been chiefly of a pacific nature; 
but on removing to the south of the island, he was induced 
to lend his assistance to the inhabitants of Mongoro, who 
were then at war with a neighbouring prince, and who pro¬ 
mised him a reward of one hundred slaves and five hundred 
head of cattle, with all the prisoners they should take. It 
was here that he attacked the fortified town above noticed, 
and such was the skill and perseverance, as well as courage 
and generosity with which his exploits were conducted, that 
