HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR, 
113 
CHAP. V. 
Notice of the principal chiefs of Imerina—The ancestry of Radama— 
Murder of his eldest brother—Notice of Andrianonelo—Rabiby, the king 
in whose reign oxen were first killed for food—Supposed origin of the 
Jaka festival—Successful attack upon Antananarivo by Andrianjaka— 
The province of Imerina united under one chieftain or ruler—Character 
of Andriamasinavalona—Attempt on the life of Iamboasaluma, the father 
of Radama—His retaliation and extended conquests—His attack upon 
the capital, and final success—Estimate of the character of Radama’s 
father by the late Prince Coroller—Incident relating to Prince Rataffe— 
Birth and early history of Radama—Instance of filial tenderness—Tem¬ 
perance and morals of his early years—Opinions, circumstances, and 
habits of Radama—His court when first visited by the English—Visit of 
Captain Le Sage to Madagascar—Difficulties and perils of the journey to 
the capital—His friendly reception by Radama—Ceremonies attending 
his entrance to Antananarivo—Fearful ravages of disease among his 
people—Generous hospitality and kindness of the king—Brief notice of 
Jean Rend, prince of Tamatave—Notice of Fisatra his brother—His 
friendly conduct towards the first Protestant Missionaries. 
Having briefly noticed the leading events in the history of 
Madagascar, resulting from the intercourse of Europeans 
with the natives, from the discovery of the island by the 
Portuguese to the establishment of those relations with the 
British government which are still in force, it may not be 
unsuitable to refer to the state of the people at the time when 
their present intercourse with the English was commenced, 
as well as to the ancestry, early history, and character 
of Radama, and his contemporaries, with whom we have 
been chiefly engaged in all transactions of importance 
relating to the island. 
In a certain stage of their existence, all countries have 
been divided into districts, each district having its inde¬ 
pendent chieftain, all these contending for supremacy, 
ii. 
I 
