228 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
Governor Farquhar’s orders, had, some years ago, visited 
him, expressing the wish of the English government to be on 
terms of amity with him; and from the favourable repre¬ 
sentations made by that gentleman, he was induced to send 
two sons of his mother to the Isle of France; that he was 
subsequently informed it was the wish of the English 
government to suppress the slave-traffic; that his father 
had obtained an unlimited ascendency over his people, and 
had effected many things for the good of his country; and 
that he himself, finding the English a nation that could 
confer benefits on his subjects, and give them instructions, 
was, at the desire of Governor Farquhar, induced to enter 
into a treaty for the suppression of that traffic. <e I signed 
that treaty,” he added, cc contrary to the advice and coun¬ 
sel of my nobles and counsellors, even those who had 
instructed me from childhood; I then waited, with confi¬ 
dence, in the expectation of the arrival of the equivalent 
proposed, and engaged to be paid to me by that treaty; 
I fulfilled my part with the most scrupulous exactness, 
and with heartfelt regret was obliged finally to abandon it.” 
Radama further added, that he had not done so until 
authenticated accounts, declaring that the English govern¬ 
ment would not fulfil its contract, obliged him to permit 
his people to renew the traffic in slaves; that he could not 
act otherwise, as he could not offer any thing in excuse to 
those who with him were interested in carrying the treaty 
into effect; that at the period of his proclamation prohibit¬ 
ing the exportation of slaves under pain of death, he had 
promised a distribution of the articles mentioned in the 
treaty amongst his people ; that he had been made the 
instrument of deceiving them; “ and what am I to do 
now ?” said he. 6t I am not independent. The support of 
a king, is his subjects; and you have told me that unlimited 
