92 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
and strength of mind. His enemies, on the contrary, declare 
him to have been ambitious, haughty, tyrannical, cruel, 
ignorant, unjust, and extravagant. 
His ambition none would think of calling in question; but 
it was not the means of prompting him to any unwarrantable 
measures, until he found himself deserted by the French 
government; and even then it was not acted upon to any 
unlawful extent, until it was evident they had determined to 
oppose him, and even to aim at his life. 
Whatever may have been his failings, the crime of cruelty 
is one that cannot be laid to his charge. The anxiety he 
uniformly expressed at the sufferings of his troops, and the 
exertions he used to supply their wants, the satisfaction he 
evinced at having prevailed on some of the chiefs to abolish 
the practice of infanticide, the moderation he exercised to¬ 
wards those who had formed combinations against the estab¬ 
lishment, and the readiness with which he listened to the first 
overtures of peace, must effectually exculpate his character 
from such an imputation. 
