HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
207 
them a most disheartening and repelling view of Mada¬ 
gascar, and produced a variety of documents illustrating 
and confirming his statements. 
The unfavourable descriptions of the country, conveyed 
to them from so many quarters, could not be without some 
effect upon their minds, in producing certain fears and 
anxieties, not unaccompanied by occasional hesitation. 
Convinced, however, that they might visit the coast with at 
least as much safety as the traders, and captains of vessels, 
they resolved on pursuing their route, and on the 18th of 
August landed at Tamatave. Here, the captain of the 
vessel in which they sailed introduced them to Jean Rene, 
chieftain of Tamatave, and to Mr. Bragg, an English 
trader residing in the vicinity of the town. Jean Rene 
entertained the same views respecting the proposed mission 
in Madagascar, as had already been expressed by the 
governor of Bourbon, but thought it not altogether impro¬ 
bable that something might be effected among the Hovahs, 
and recommended them to write to Radama, and solicit his 
permission to commence their labours among his people in 
Ankova. He added, however, that since the violation of 
the treaty, Radama’s mind was so exasperated against 
the English, that they might be in some danger in his 
province. 
Mr. Bragg, whose conduct towards the Missionaries was 
marked either with great treachery, or with a fickleness 
which is difficult to account for, having invited Messrs. 
Jones and Bevan to his spacious residence, in a retired 
situation, about a mile to the west of Tamatave, they 
accepted his invitation, although, from the information they 
had received of his character in the Mauritius, they would 
gladly have found suitable accommodations elsewhere. 
Having heard in the course of a few days additional 
