34 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
CHAR II. 
Shipwreck of Robert Drury on the island in the year 1702—His descrip¬ 
tion of the first appearance and behaviour of the natives—Massacre of 
his shipmates—His own reduction to slavery—Habits of the people at 
that time in the province of Androy—His journey to St. Augustine’s 
Bay—Receives tidings from his father in London—Conduct of the chiefs 
at his departure—His early return to Madagascar as a slave-dealer— 
Resort of the pirates to Madagascar—Their settlements on the coast— 
Captain Kid—Settlement of Libertatia—Capture of pilgrims going to 
Mecca—Conflicts with Portuguese ships of war on the coast of Mada¬ 
gascar—Destruction of the pirate settlement—Treatment of the natives 
by the pirates—Destruction of the ships of the latter by the Euro¬ 
pean powers in 1721—The pirates employed in promoting war among 
the natives for the purpose of obtaining their captives as slaves—Foreign 
assistance given to the natives in these wars—Notice of Captain North— 
Tamsimalo—John Harre—French settlement in the Isle of St. Mary’s 
about 1745—Destruction of the colony by the natives—Retaliation of 
the French—Restoration of peace— Ratification of the treaty between 
the natives and the French—Trade of the French at Foule Point—Ag¬ 
gression of John Harre—Conduct and recall of Bigorne—Death of John 
Harre—Return of Bigorne. 
A strong contrast to the highly coloured picture of Mada¬ 
gascar given by Mr. Boothby, is found in the history of 
Robert Drury, who from the year 1702 until 1717 was de¬ 
tained in that country as a slave ; and whose plain statement 
of the facts which fell under his notice, though partaking 
of the superstitious notions and erroneous opinions of the 
natives, throws considerable light upon the history of the 
island during the period now under review. 
Many scenes passed under the observation of Drury, con¬ 
nected with the interior of the country, and the civil and 
