HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
127 
Devotedly attached to the practices of divination, the nse 
of charms, and other national customs, he powerfully main¬ 
tained the superstitions of the people, and by this means 
also won and secured their affection and confidence. The 
use of all spirituous liquors, as well as that of tobacco, he 
strictly prohibited. Having gained possession of Tanan¬ 
arive, at a time of universal revelry and intoxication, in 
consequence of which the inhabitants were negligent and 
incapable of resistance, Impoina suspected that a similar 
result might again occur among his own subjects from 
similar causes, and therefore adopted the precautionary 
measure of forbidding fermented liquors of every kind, 
including them ail under the general name of “ Toaka.” 
During the reign of Impoina, Imerina and the interior of 
the country generally became an extensive mart for slaves. 
These consisted principally of the prisoners taken in war, 
who were exchanged to the slave-dealers for arms and 
ammunition, by which farther conquests might be made, 
and additional supplies for the slave-market procured. 
The exportations were principally to Bourbon and the Isle 
of France. Amongst the largest slave-dealers at that time 
visiting Tananarive were Jean Rene and Fisatra. 
In addition to the force of his arms, Impoina was occa¬ 
sionally indebted for the extension of his empire to the 
renown of his name. Many preferred voluntary submis¬ 
sion to a resistance from which they could entertain no 
hope of success, and thus judged it expedient rather to 
court an alliance with him, than risk an unequal contest, 
with the chance of expulsion into slavery in the countries 
of white men. On one occasion, while in Imamo, the 
people of Mananjary, near Itasy, came to him, and offered 
submission, on condition of being allowed to retain their 
