18 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
embrace his religion, must prove unavailing; and as a 
private statement to this effect was not deemed suffi¬ 
cient, he summoned his family together, and openly assured 
the missionary, in their presence, of his firm and unalterable 
resolution to adhere to the customs of his ancestors. 
Father Stephen had especially represented to the chief 
the evil and sinfulness of polygamy, a point on which a 
Malagasy noble would be likely to be extremely jealous of 
interference, as involving, according to his ideas, among 
other considerations, his dignity and honour. 
The chief naturally refused to follow the advice of the 
priest, and informed him that he could not change the cus¬ 
toms of his country. The priest’s reply to the chief was 
simply a peremptory order to dismiss from his house all 
his wives but one ; with a threat, that unless he promptly 
complied, the French would seize all his wives, and compel 
him to obedience. 
Such was the surprise and indignation excited by this 
arrogant and unlooked-for denunciation, that a general 
attack was commenced upon the offending party, and, but 
for the timely interference of the chieftain, it is more than 
probable that Father Stephen would have been murdered 
on the spot. Suppressing his own indignation, the chief 
exerted all his authority to obtain a private interview with 
the monk for a few moments; when, after requesting the 
space of fifteen days to consider of the proposition respecting 
his conversion, he dismissed him with some presents, and 
assurances of respect. 
The object in gaining this delay, was, that he might 
have an opportunity of withdrawing from the province of 
Mandraney, in case the French should attempt to execute 
the threat of Father Stephen. He therefore set off as 
soon as the monk had left him, to seek an asylum for him- 
