HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. I. 
Partial effects of the intercourse between early voyagers and the natives 
of Madagascar—Obscurity in which the early history of the people is 
involved—The Vazimba, Moors, Arabs, Persians, and Indians—Disco¬ 
very of the island by Europeans—Circumnavigation of Madagascar by the 
Portuguese—First settlements of the Portuguese in the island—Removal 
of the son of one of the chiefs to Goa, for the purpose of education in 
the Roman Catholic religion—His return to Madagascar, and resumption 
of the superstitions of his countrymen—Destruction of the Portuguese 
settlement by the natives—First settlement of the French at St. Lucia— 
Quarrels with the natives—Dreadful ravages of the Malagasy fever— 
Abandonment of the settlement, and removal to Taolanara—Erection of 
Fort Dauphin—Advantage of the locality for the settlement—Destruc¬ 
tion of the fort by fire—Character and violent proceedings of the gover¬ 
nor Chamargou—La Case—Arrival and services of Kencadio—Early 
efforts of Roman Catholic missionaries in Madagascar—Proceedings of 
Father Stephen—His violent death by the natives—Rashness of the 
governor and peril of the settlement—Conduct of La Case—His proposal 
to the French government—Reinforcement of the colony in 1666 and 
1670—Death of the governor Chamargou, and abandonment of the island 
by the French. 
Every thing connected with an island so extensive as 
Madagascar, and a population so numerous, and in many 
respects so remarkable, as that by which it is inhabited, 
is important to those who find pleasure in the study of 
nature, or in marking the progress of human society under 
all its diversified forms. Descriptions of the country, 
its climate and productions, of the varied races by which 
II. B 
