HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
37 
bound and brought before him, when they were ail 
butchered in the most barbarous manner; Drury alone 
being permitted to live, for the purpose of attending upon 
the grandson of the chief in the capacity of a slave. 
It was not long, however, before the natural buoyancy 
of youth overcame the melancholy feelings of the captive, 
so far as to enable him to derive amusement from the 
peculiar habits and superstitions of the people around him, 
and, in many instances, to turn them to better account. 
It is stated by Drury, and confirmed by another writer,* 
that in certain parts of the island the office of slaughtering 
the cattle is deemed so honourable as to be appropriated 
by the nobility; Drury had very willingly assented to the 
supposition that he was the captain’s son, and therefore a 
person of rank; hence he was treated with more consi¬ 
deration than slaves of humbler origin, and at length was 
appointed to the honour of slaughtering cattle, from which 
he derived considerable benefit. His own supply of provi¬ 
sions was thus augmented, and more regularly obtained 
than was practicable in the state of insecurity and predatory 
warfare in which his several masters lived. 
Like other domestic slaves, his office, in times of peace, 
was chiefly that of tending his master’s cattle, and driv¬ 
ing them to water, for which they were frequently sent a 
distance of six or seven miles: digging wild yams was 
another of his occupations, besides which, he rendered 
himself very skilful in the management of bees and honey. 
Whether from these qualifications, or from the prevalent 
ideas, not only that he was a person of rank, but that 
white people ought never to be held in bondage, Drury 
enjoyed many advantages as a slave, and was so highly 
* Author of the “ Loss of the Winterton.” 
