HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
57 
language of the natives, won their affection by his frank and 
open behaviour, and induced them to make arrangements 
with the French, by which the trade with the Isle of France 
was successfully renewed. 
“Among all the attestations unanimously given of his 
services, we shall distinguish,” says Rochon, “ that of 
Mons. Poivre, who, in the year 1758, became an eye-witness 
to the excellent conduct of that brave soldier. That cele¬ 
brated governor, whose approbation cannot be suspected of 
prepossession or partiality, has frequently made before me 
the eulogium of that man, whose memory is still dear to 
the islanders. 
“ The speeches which he made before the natives in 
their public assemblies, called kabarys, could not be com¬ 
pared with those of their own orators. Mons. Poivre, 
who was present at several of these assemblies, often told 
me that the natural eloquence of the Malagasy had really 
astonished him. He took delight in relating the most 
minute particulars of a great kabary, at which all the 
neighbouring chiefs were present, surrounded by number¬ 
less crowds of their respective subjects, to conclude a treaty 
of commence with the commissioners of the French East 
India Company.” 
This speech is quoted at length by Rochon; and while it 
bears strong evidence of having derived some of its merits 
from a French translation, it is still sufficiently authentic to 
confirm the often-repeated statements that the Malagasy, like 
many others of the same grade of civilization, possess the 
faculty of speaking in public with great readiness and pro¬ 
priety, using highly impressive and figurative language, and 
producing very powerful effects upon the audiences they 
address. 
The appeal, on the part of the speaker, was to the inte- 
