174 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
feet from a fire large enough to roast a bullock. The 
monarch sat on the ground beside it for a whole hour, and, 
forgetful of his regal dignity, danced when it struck. 
Radama, who possessed an excellent memory, and sel¬ 
dom lost sight of any fact that had been communicated 
to him, was quite capable of appreciating the value of a 
pocket compass, and was much pleased with a map of the 
world, upon which he amused himself with tracing out the 
situation of Madagascar. 
The great festival of his birth-day was attended with 
the usual ceremony of receiving presents, slaughtering 
cattle, bathing, sprinking w r ater, and scattering rice upon 
the heads, in all which ceremonies Mr. Hastie was dis¬ 
tinguished by the particular attention of the king. 
In consequence of the great care and kindness the 
people bestowed upon the horses, their endeavours to keep 
them had nearly been frustrated by the animals being fed 
too liberally on rice. It required all Mr. Hastie’s skill 
to restore them to health; and when they were again in 
a condition to be used, the king requested permission to 
mount one: as soon as he got upon the saddle, one of his 
people presented him with a string of trinkets, and he 
took the precaution to put into his mouth a little charm or 
talisman, to preserve him from the dangers of his novel 
situation. This fear, however, soon abated, and nothing 
could exceed the joy he evinced, after riding round the 
court-yard. He laughed loudly, screamed and danced, 
declaring that he never had received so much pleasure 
before, and asking frequently if Mr. Hastie thought his 
father, Governor Farquhar, would give him another horse 
to replace the one which had died. As he grew more 
accustomed to the exercise, his enjoyment of it every time 
increased; and like most learners who have attained a 
