190 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
that Mr. Hastie, the assistant agent, had visited the coast; but 
hearing there were despatches on the road, with other communica¬ 
tions of consequence, and seeing the duplicates at Tamatave, he 
gave himself barely twelve hours’ rest, when he retraced his steps 
to the court of Radama; and, by the best calculation that could 
be made, in ten days at farthest he would return with the 
ministers appointed by Radama, and every document to give faci¬ 
lity to our negociation. 
“ Mr. Hastie arrived before the time expected, after out- 
travelling the ministers, his companions on the road, thereby 
shewing a zeal for his majesty’s service, which I am satisfied your 
excellency will fully appreciate, as you are well aware of the 
journey and the difficulty of travelling in Madagascar. 
“ On the day following, the ministers arrived; and, giving them a 
fair time to rest, at a meeting of the government agent, after 
exchanging our full powers, the subject of the negociation was 
fully entered upon; and, I trust, your excellency will be much 
satisfied, that in acting up most rigidly to the spirit of our instruc¬ 
tions, the treaty has been concluded upon a more economical plan 
than your excellency thought. 
u When the treaty was completed, a kabary, of the European 
inhabitants, under the protection of the British government, with 
Jean Rene, Fisatra, Similarga, chiefs of Ivondron and Foule 
Point, together with the ministers of Radama, the treaty was read, 
the proclamation issued, signed by the chief minister in the name 
of Radama, and to the respective parties present most fully ex¬ 
plained. His majesty’s ship Phaeton fired a salute at the moment; 
and I have much felicity in congratulating your excellency on this 
most important point gained. 
“ I cannot close this statement without calling your excellency’s 
attention to the merits of my colleagues on this difficult and intri¬ 
cate arrangement. With respect to Mr. Pye, my unqualified 
approbation of his zeal and unwearied exertions on a former occa¬ 
sion, your excellency is fully in possession of; and if any thing 
could have been wanting to increase that approbation, it is on the 
late important event, where there was much difficulty of explana¬ 
tion, a patient attention to every intricate part, and a mildness of 
character that perhaps tended to greater benefits with a suspicious 
