HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
181 
the state of discipline and subordination which your people have 
attained under the direction of your powerful mind. Captain 
Stanfell having witnessed every thing on the spot with his own 
eyes, was able to gratify my curiosity, and those loftier feelings 
of interest with which I naturally view the conduct of a great chief 
and his people, whom I equally regard with the affection of a 
father. 
u It is this feeling, and an ardent desire to render your power 
permanent on the firmest foundation, by your progressive improve¬ 
ment in the arts and knowledge which distinguish the white man, 
that induce me most anxiously to impress upon you my desire 
that you should, before all other things, imitate the actions and 
measures of all the great white men, in preventing now and for 
ever the exportation of any black man from Madagascar as a slave. 
“ I must tell you that the great cause why white men excel the 
black in arts and arms, arises from the resolution on the part of the 
kings many hundred years ago. 
te Before that time the countries of the whites were exposed to 
all manner of misfortunes; no family was sure of remaining in its 
place from one generation to another, but kings and their subjects 
were equally liable to be carried away into slavery. 
“ So long as you live, and conduct your affairs with wisdom, you 
have nothing to fear for yourself or your people ; but you must 
look forward to posterity, and to leaving your family on the throne 
of Madagascar for ages to come, so that no event may reduce your 
family or your descendants into the power of another, who might 
transport them from their country. 
u The first step is to abolish for ever, and by the strongest 
penalties, the transportation of any black man from Madagascar. 
Imitate in this the conduct of all the wise kings of the whites. 
“ You see I advise you for your own good, without any view to 
the interests of the white people, who desire to bring black people 
into the country to make them work for them. 
a I know that one great source of riches to the princes of Mada¬ 
gascar is the sale of the black men taken in war, and that by 
means of these prisoners you procure arms to defend yourselves, 
and the different kinds of merchandise from Europe and India 
that are required in your country. 
