188 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR, 
ous not to exceed the bounds of actual necessity; and 
often remarked how agreeable it would have been to him 
not to have been compelled to make any. He also ex¬ 
pressed his deep regret that he could not be himself the 
transactor of his own business. Upon which Mr. Hastie 
urged him to go as far as Tamatave. He replied, that if 
he decided upon going, his people would not permit him 
to move without twenty thousand followers; and if he 
should be guilty of such folly while the low country re¬ 
mained in the state it was in at that time, one-third of that 
number would not live to return. Mr. Hastie was about 
to reply, but the king desired him not, saying, he should 
have a very poor opinion of him if he pressed him on the 
subject. 
Before leaving the capital, Mr. Hastie had an oppor¬ 
tunity of witnessing the reception of a captive king, whose 
dominions, about two hundred and thirty miles to the south¬ 
west of Tananarivo, Radama had conquered about fourteen 
months before, though on that occasion thirteen thousand 
men in arms were against him. Lanvoone, the king, had 
found safety in flight; but hearing that Radama intended 
visiting him again, he came to submit himself in the follow¬ 
ing public manner:— 
At about five o’clock in the afternoon he arrived at the 
capital, preceded by thirty women, who each held in her 
hand a sort of red flag. His personal guard was about 
five hundred men with arms, and about one thousand five 
hundred with assagais. He was followed by one hundred 
women singing, and one thousand people carrying burdens. 
He was a fine stout man, about thirty-five years old, and 
his people altogether presented a much better appearance 
than the Hovas. The house of Radama’s mother was 
appointed for the use of the king, who appeared to be 
