142 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
assemblies, Jean Rene was distinguished by extraordinary 
oratorical powers; and such was the general opinion of his 
judgment and skill in arranging difficult affairs, that ap¬ 
peals were frequently made to him from the neighbouring 
chiefs, with whom his decision was considered as satis¬ 
factory and final. 
With all his superior attainments, however, the character 
of Jean Rene was not untainted by his intercourse with 
those traders, whose chief object in life has ever been found 
to be the most vitiating and degrading in its effects upon 
the human mind. His brother Fisatra, though an illiterate 
man, was of much higher grade as to moral qualities. Older 
than Rene, he was for some time associated with him as his 
superior in the chieftainship of Betsimisaraka and Betani- 
mena. He was a brave warrior, just in judgment, and 
highly beloved and respected by his people, as well as by 
European traders generally. 
It is worthy of grateful remembrance, that, in the year 
1818, he received the Missionaries with the greatest kind¬ 
ness and hospitality, after his brother and the slave-dealers 
at Tamatave had discouraged, opposed, and shut their 
doors against them. He not only promised, if they would 
remain, to send his only son to be instructed by them, but 
urged all his people to follow his example; and prince 
Berora Louis Rene, the only son and heir of Fisatra, 
accordingly entered the school of Messrs. Bevan and Jones 
on the 26th of August, and made rapid progress in acquir¬ 
ing the first elements of an English education. On the 
following December, however, he was taken by Monsieur 
Sylvan Roux, French governor of St. Mary, to be educated 
in France, where he died in 1832. He was the first heir 
of the two chieftains, and prince Coroller was next after 
him. 
