234 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
as betrayed a wish to induce them, if possible, to entertain a 
favourable opinion of the English nation. 
At the dinner-table the next day, Radama was expatiating 
with great warmth on the advantages of civilization, when 
Mr. Jones, who was present, introduced some remarks that 
were evidently pleasing to the king, and probably opened 
the way for the countenance he afterwards met with at the 
capital. On Mr. Hastie’s returning home with the king, 
he said he had been considering the object of his visit, and 
would be very glad to agree to the terms proposed, had not 
the failure of the first attempt placed an insurmountable 
obstacle to attempting it again. “ My trial,” said he, “ was 
attended with many difficulties, and I would not for all I 
can possibly gain, that the English should at any future 
period charge me with deception; there are many districts 
not yet under my influence, from which slaves are sold, and 
this may give occasion to charge me with deceit, when I am 
entirely innocent. Besides,” he added, “ I promised the 
English to suppress the traffic; but I did not receive the 
promised equivalent for doing so; and I then entered into 
an engagement, at least I have avowed to my subjects that 
I can no longer treat with a nation that did not keep faith 
with me, and that I would not again stop the sale of slaves. 
And how can I now deviate from this promise? There was 
good reason for my not keeping my engagement'with the 
English, but there is none for similar conduct towards my 
own subjects.” 
Mr. Hastie explained how the pledge entrusted to him 
was a security to the king; and gently hinted that the 
traffic must be abolished, that it was inhuman, and that his 
being the last to suppress it would be a stigma on his name, 
whereas the contrary would make it live for ever in the 
hearts of his people. 
