HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
183 
convinced that you will not hesitate to adopt a line of conduct, 
which is equally prescribed by your interest well understood, 
the happiness of Madagascar, and the friendship of the British 
nation. 
“ I have never ceased to use every means in my power to pro¬ 
tect our faithful friend, the king of Johanna, from the predatory 
attacks to which he is annually exposed from some of the Mada¬ 
gascar tribes. Though I have succeeded in a great measure with 
the petty chieftains, I could not expect to obtain the entire 
renunciation of this piracy without the aid of the great king of 
Madagascar; and I now therefore do most earnestly entreat you, 
in concert with Jean Rene, agreeably to our treaties, to prevent 
the piratical excursions annually fitted out from Madagascar 
against the king of Johanna, and the other islands of the 
Mozambique channel, and that you will make this article an 
essential part of the treaty between you and my agents at 
Madagascar. 
[A list is here given of the people who were in the habit of 
furnishing boats for the expedition. The writer then adds]— 
“ Tell them to stay at home, to cultivate their fields, and tend 
their numerous flocks and herds, and to live in peace with their 
neighbours. 
“ It is my own intention, in four or five moons more, to proceed 
to my own king, who lives at the distance of one hundred days’ 
journey. He will have great pleasure in learning all the glorious 
things I shall tell him of Radama’s wisdom, and power, and attach¬ 
ment ; but that pleasure will be infinitely increased, if I can at the 
same time tell him that Radama, the great conqueror of Mada¬ 
gascar, has followed the example of the wise kings of the whites—■ 
has resolved to abolish for ever, through that vast and beautiful 
island, the sale of black men for transportation. 
(( I shall have great pleasure, should your majesty desire it, to 
take with me to England, and to present to my sovereign, any 
person high in rank whom your majesty may wish to send, and 
who can return to your majesty, carrying the words of friendship 
to my great king. He will be able to explain to your majesty that 
this happy, and powerful, and flourishing island of Mauritius, is 
as but one drop of rain compared with the great ocean, when con- 
