128 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
own customs and privileges. They were at that time at 
war with some neighbouring chief, and Impoina, consenting 
to their terms, went to their aid. As a mark of respect, 
the people of the village came out, and met him at the 
gate; when, to express their confidence and friendship, 
they presented him with their young prince, and that young 
prince was afterwards known by the name of Rataffe, to 
whom Impoina gave in marriage his eldest daughter, Rabodo, 
the sister of Radama. 
The family of Impoina was numerous. His eldest son 
would, perhaps, have succeeded to the government of the 
kingdom, but for the fatal consequences of his own ambition. 
He was general of his father’s forces, and had subjugated 
Vakinankaratra, but at length formed a conspiracy against 
him ; and the offence being proved against him, he was by 
his father’s orders, put to death. 
Radama, the second son, born 1792, was about this time 
sent by Impoina to make an attack on the Bezanozano, and 
while engaged in that war was summoned home to assume 
the reins of government, on the intelligence that his father 
was at the point of death, if not already deceased. This 
event occurred in 1808. 
The early life of Radama afforded indications of consi¬ 
derable shrewdness and good feeling. An anecdote is 
related of him in confirmation of this remark. When quite 
a child, having observed that his father and mother had 
some dispute, and that the latter had been sent from home 
divorced, he contrived one day during his father’s absence 
to get a chicken, which he tied to the leg of a chair in the 
house. His father on his return inquired who had done 
this, and was told Radama. The child was called, and 
asked why he had so treated the little animal. He replied 
