230 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
ground for confidence ; that, should he agree to a renewal 
of the treaty, and any of his subjects at a future period 
transgress his orders, they would have a fair plea for doing 
so, as they would, of course, offer in palliation, that they 
were not the first to err, and that those who had done so 
once were not to be depended upon. “And,” said he, “if the 
English were really desirous of abolishing the slave-traffic, 
and if you, Hastie, had done your duty in reporting the 
numbers sent annually from Ankova, the British nation 
must be aware that I am a serious loser by entering into 
the treaty; yet the friendship I feel induces me to shew 
that government that I am desirous of obtaining its 
esteem.” 
Mr. Hastie then entered at length into a detail of the 
evils arising from depopulating his country, and the advan¬ 
tages that would accrue from the labours of the multitude 
that were sold. He stated the good that must spring from 
a connexion with the English government, and expressed a 
hope that the numbers consigned to slavery were annually 
diminishing. 
Radama replied, that the period for which he suppressed 
the traffic was wasted in expectation, and that it was suc¬ 
ceeded by an unlimited sale. He desired Mr. Hastie to 
notice the advancement of his subjects, their clothing, con¬ 
duct, and manners; and said that all this was created by 
the intercourse kept up with them by the slave-traders, 
who were now become such favourites, and so necessary to 
his people, that he feared little short of a general insurrec¬ 
tion would be occasioned by his again trying to trust the 
English, that it had become a kind of proverb amongst his 
subjects,—“ False as the English.” 
Mr. Hastie again explained to him that the relationship 
could no longer be subject to failure on the part of the 
