172 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
was much pleased with the readily-granted permission to 
enter it whenever he chose. Indeed, he scarcely allowed 
himself time for his usual meals, so anxious was he to 
return to the society of his guest. The horses, also, claimed 
much of his attention, and he never failed to regret the 
loss of that which had been intended for his especial use, 
and which had died on the journey from the coast to the 
capital. 
On one occasion, shortly after Mr. Hastie’s arrival, the king, 
noticing among the attendants of his guest a Mozambique, 
who was one of four slaves he had given to Capt. Le Sage, 
Mr. Hastie availed himself of the opportunity offered, for 
acquainting the king that these people could not remain in 
the Isle of France as slaves; that the British government, 
actuated by principles of humanity and justice, could not 
permit their servants even to accept slaves as presents; 
and that his excellency, Governor Farquhar, always regret¬ 
ted seeing the natives of so fine and fruitful a country as 
Madagascar, reduced to a state of miserable slavery in 
another country, when their labour would insure an increase 
of riches in their own, and ultimately make him one of the 
greatest kings in the world. 
The king said he had given Captain Le Sage ten slaves ; 
and asked, with his accustomed shrewdness, whether this 
law existed then. He was told that only four had arrived at 
the Isle of France, and that the British government did not 
by any means intend to interfere with the internal regula¬ 
tions of Madagascar; that the advantages alluded to would 
be certain while the people remained in the island, if pro¬ 
perly employed; and that his own power must increase 
with the population of his country ; the desirableness of 
discontinuing the exportation of his people to other coun¬ 
tries, was also suggested. 
