160 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
his brothers, and partly to suppress some provincial dis¬ 
turbances, as well as to form some political arrangements on 
the coast, and to prove that he was not a “ beardless boy,” 
as he had been insultingly designated by Fisatra, chieftain 
of Hivondrona. 
As soon as the information of Radama’s approach 
reached Tamatave, the British agent, Mr. Pye, who, in 
consequence of Le Sage’s ill health, had since the time of 
his departure acted as British agent at that place, set 
off in company with Mr. Brady, and some other Europeans, 
to obtain an interview with the king, and to facilitate, if pos¬ 
sible, a good understanding between him and the two chief¬ 
tain brothers, Jean Rene and Fisatra. Radama encamped 
at Hivondrona on the southern bank of the river; and here, 
while Mr. Pye and his companions endeavoured to dis¬ 
suade him from crossing the river, the British frigate the 
Phaeton, commanded by Captain Stanfell, and having on 
board the two princes with Mr. Hastie, arrived in the roads 
of Tamatave. Jean Rene wisely took the precaution of 
escaping for protection to this vessel until the affair should 
be arranged, his brother having previously fled for refuge 
to the small island of Prunes, lying a little to the northward 
of Tamatave. 
Radama having, on explanation, fully met the views of 
Mr. Pye, he marched forward with his people to Tamatave, 
where final arrangements were entered into. Jean Rene 
then took the oath of blood with Radama, and was desig¬ 
nated the zoky, or elder brother of Radama, but still sub¬ 
ject to his authority. Fisatra remained at his place of 
retreat in the Isle of Prunes, until the king departed for 
Tananarivo, when he returned to Hivondrona. 
The letter of instructions from his excellency the British 
agent, Mr. Pye, conveyed by Captain Stanfell, of the ship 
