HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
187 
In the choice of his prime minister, Radama appears to 
have acted with great judgment Mr. Hastie describes 
him as a sensible, bold, and intrepid young man, generally 
esteemed by the people. In cultivating his friendship, 
Mr. Hastie won him over so completely to the views of the 
governor, that his influence proved very serviceable in 
establishing the determination of the king. 
On the 9th of October, a kabary of about five thousand 
people was called at the instigation of this minister, for the 
purpose of ascertaining the general opinion of the people, 
and setting before them more correct views on the subject 
of slavery. The result, however, was anything but satis¬ 
factory ; and Radama repaired immediately to the house 
of his friend, complaining, with every appearance of wrath 
and indignation, that his people had had the audacity to 
ask if he was the slave of the English ? protesting, that they 
would rather fight with sticks and stones, than that he 
should be in any way subservient to them. On Mr. Has- 
tie’s endeavouring to impress upon him the importance of 
firm and decided measures, he vociferated still more loudly, 
that he was English, and would be English, and would 
make his people obey him. 
Mr. Hastie perceived the affair was now at such a crisis, 
that the decision of the counsellors could be of little avail. 
Indeed, his expression in his diary is this u Radama 
will be a king before to-morrow P And so it was. On 
the following morning the business was finally settled. His 
counsellors had agreed to his wish, and it only remained 
now for his demand to be written out, the ministers de¬ 
puted with it to be fully instructed in their embassy, and, 
what was very important to them, the lucky day for their 
setting out methodically ascertained. 
In making his demand, Radama was exceedingly solicit- 
