HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
155 
embracing tbe interests of the native princes, I was the more dis¬ 
posed to accept the services of M. Chardeneaux on this occasion. 
“ Subjoined is the copy of a private instruction on this head, 
which I furnished to M. Chardeneaux, and his answer. 
“ Of the brothers of Radama, now arrived here, one is the 
presumptive heir of his authority; they are accompanied by two of 
the chief ministers of their prince, by a son of one of the nobles of 
the nation of Betaniminies, three ministers of the king of Tama- 
tave, two chieftains of the south, and a numerous suite. 
“We have reason to look on the persons now here, on the part 
of their respective sovereigns of Madagascar, as representing all 
that is powerful in the centre and on the coasts of that vast island. 
“ Of those sovereigns, the most warlike, most intelligent, and 
possessing the greatest means, is Radama. His people are the 
most industrious, and farther advanced in the arts of life, than any 
other nation of Madagascar 5 and he has incorporated into the 
mass of his subjects, and reduced to his authority, all the surround¬ 
ing petty states; his army consists of forty thousand men, armed 
with fire-arms. 
“ It therefore appears that the friendship of so powerful a chief¬ 
tain cannot fail of being eminently useful in assuring the safety, 
and facilitating the commerce which may be undertaken with a 
view of replacing that traffic in slaves abolished by the legislature. 
“ These friendly bonds will, no doubt, be strengthened, and the 
prospect of growing civilization opened, by the opportunity now 
given to the young princes to learn the arts and customs of Euro¬ 
pean life, and the principles of our religion. 
“The king Radama is himself eager for instruction; writes his 
language in the Arabic character, and is learning to write French 
in Roman letters. His brothers, who are arrived here, appear very 
intelligent for their age, which is about nine or ten years, and 
capable of acquiring every requisite principle of morals and 
religion. 
“ There is a British missionary here, of the name of Le Brun, 
who has been remarkably successful in the education of the nume¬ 
rous class of free coloured people with which this island abounds; 
and he has conducted himself with so much discretion, as not to 
have given the smallest offence to any of the inhabitants, although 
