HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
85 
natives, of whom nearly eleven thousand were present. 
The colonists shared in the festival, having mounted blue 
ribbons over their white cockades. 
In the month of September, intelligence was received 
that Messrs. Belcombe and Chevereaux, having touched at 
the Isle of France, were proceeding without delay to Mada¬ 
gascar, in their office of commissioners, to investigate the 
affairs of the settlement; and a private letter from a friend 
to the governor, assured him that these inspectors had 
orders to carry him to Europe, provided such a step would 
not endanger the colony. This information was verified on 
the 21st of the same month, when the vessel with the com¬ 
missioners made its appearance, and cast anchor off the 
island of Aiguillon. 
The following day these gentlemen landed, and entered 
upon their duty as inspectors, presenting the governor with 
a paper containing twenty-five questions relative to the 
settlement. They then examined the fort, public buildings, 
and the servants, as well as the several officers of the estab¬ 
lishment; after which they proceeded to the two other 
forts, St. John and Augustus, on the Tingballe. On the 
26th of September they held a kabary with the chiefs, at 
which Benyowsky declined being present, in order that the 
natives might speak their sentiments more freely, and with 
less suspicion of his influence. Lastly, they gave the Count 
a discharge respecting his past conduct, and the accounts, 
and a certificate for the sum of four hundred and fifty livres, 
which he had advanced to the treasury. On the 29th they 
retired on board their vessel, from whence they sent him an 
order to confine his operations to the preservation of the 
chief settlement until he had received farther instructions, to 
put a stop to all public works, and to continue the prohibi¬ 
tion of trading with the blacks. These orders were accom- 
