122 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
valuable and beneficial work of raising the water-banks, by 
which the rivers are prevented from overflowing the rice- 
grounds. He is represented as having been a man of 
considerable talent in the art of government, and of a 
disposition naturally amiable. His memory, laws, and 
customs, are still held in the greatest respect, and his name 
is always mentioned in the public kabarys with a degree of 
reverence. 
Andriambelomasina was succeeded by Andrianjafy. The 
latter intended to confer the kingdom on his son Ralahi- 
tokana, but his father had preferred and appointed an 
adopted son, Iamboasalama, afterwards called Andrianam- 
poinimerina, father of Radama. Andrianjafy, mortified that 
an adopted child was preferred to a lawful descendant, con¬ 
templated the destruction of his son’s rival, and the object 
of his own jealousy. He laid a plan to effect his ruin, 
which, however, did not succeed. He invited him to the 
top of the hill at Am’bohimanga, where he hoped to find a 
favourable moment to throw him over the precipice. This 
murderous intention was, however, hinted to Iamboasalama 
at the very moment of danger; and though the attempt was 
made to push him slyly down the rock, he guarded himself 
with so much presence of mind as not to betray his know¬ 
ledge of the snare laid for him, and afterwards embraced 
the first favourable opportunity to escape from a situation 
where he knew his life to be in constant danger. In the 
hope of securing his safety, some of his friends procured an 
order to send him away as if into banishment; but while 
conducting him on his way, they discovered the secret of 
their intentions, and he and his party quickly returned to 
Ambohimanga, which they seized, putting to death a few 
only of those who were known to be his most determined 
opponents. His party having made their entry into the 
