HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
59 
The speaker, whose name was Rabesin, repeated these 
imprecations three times, with a vehemence of gesture and 
utterance which produced great effect upon the vast multi¬ 
tude assembled. 
It is said, that, in this state of terror and excitement, 
John Harre, and the rest of the chiefs, taking a small quan¬ 
tity of the unpalatable liquor, swallowed it with many dis¬ 
tortions of face and body; and their example was followed 
by most of the chiefs who were present. The French¬ 
men, however, did but make a pretence of tasting it, 
notwithstanding the entreaties of Bigorne, who was per¬ 
suaded that this was necessary, if not to the success, at 
least to the validity of the treaty. 
Rabesin then slaughtered the rest of the victims; and 
this famous kabary was concluded with a great feast, fol¬ 
lowed by dances, music, and games. The speaker is 
described by Rochon as having been “ master of the art of 
changing, at pleasure, the features of his face; his language, 
always consonant with his gestures, bore the appearance of 
conviction; nor was he a stranger to the art of moving 
minds the least susceptible of enthusiasm, and of firing 
with anger the least irascible.” These talents he could 
exercise at will in any cause, or for any party likely to 
reward his unprincipled exertions; and Bigorne, who was 
well acquainted both with his vices, and his ascendancy 
over the people of Foule Pointe, made it serve his own 
interest, not only to shew him marks of esteem and defer¬ 
ence in public, but even to bribe him in secret with consi¬ 
derable presents. Even on the occasion of this remarkable 
and apparently patriotic address, while Rabesin was ad¬ 
vocating the cause of his countrymen, he had actually sold 
himself, and the advantages that might accrue from his 
eloquence, to the French before the kabary assembled; and 
