HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
77 
should in future be sent to the establishment, to be brought 
up at the charge of the colony, without its being in the 
power of the parents to release them. 
This oath was succeeded by a festival, in testimony of 
the general satisfaction. In the memoirs of Benyowsky, 
he calls the day on which this benevolent purpose was 
accomplished “ the happiest of his lifeand the transaction 
is highly creditable to his humanity. 
Before the end of the year, the colony had commenced 
a trade with the Sakalavas and other nations, although 
the detachment which was ordered to find a road across 
the country of Bombatoc had succeeded only in part, 
having been stopped by the inhabitants of the first village 
of the Sakalavas, who were still suspicious of their designs. 
The people whose country lay nearest to Louisbourg were 
continually endeavouring to excite an insurrection, but the 
friendly chiefs of St. Mary’s, Foule Point, and other dis¬ 
tricts, by their timely warnings, enabled the governor to 
counteract their designs, so that in the end, when they 
refused to desist, he was powerful enough to compel them 
to leave the province, which was given to another people. 
The colony still remained destitute of any supplies from 
Europe; but by a vessel from the Isle of France, a super¬ 
cargo, a storekeeper, and several clerks, were added to the 
establishment. These, however, appear to have been men 
chosen for no good purpose; for, a very few days after 
their arrival, the supercargo, Des Assisses, was detected in 
secretly distributing brandy amongst the chiefs, and at the 
same time endeavouring to prejudice them against the 
establishment; and upon the governor’s being taken ill, this 
man informed the officers of the garrison, that he had par¬ 
ticular orders from the intendant at the Isle of France to 
take possession of his effects and papers in the event of his 
