242 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
clamation, and that the traffic in slaves for exportation 
should instantly cease, if Mr. Hastie would agree to take 
twenty of his subjects to be instructed—ten to proceed to 
England, and the other ten to remain at the Mauritius. 
In describing the 11th of October 1820, when the treaty 
was publicly renewed, the indefatigable Hastie observes, 
66 The moment arrived when the welfare of millions was to 
be decided: I agreed !—and I trust that Divine Power 
which guides all hearts, will induce the government to 
sanction the act. The kabary was convened, the proclama¬ 
tion published, and received with transport by thousands. 
The British flag was unfurled; and freedom—freedom from 
the bloody stain of slave-dealing—hailed as the gift of the 
British nation. “ I declare,” adds this generous-hearted man, 
the first peal of Radama’s cannon announcing the amity 
sealed, rejoiced my heart more than the gift of thousands 
would have done.” 
“ Radama had now shewn himself worthy of being a 
civilized king. Words cannot describe the joy that pre¬ 
vailed in the capital, or the willing and gladsome activity 
and diligence with which the despatches to the districts 
were instantly forwarded. The king desired me to write 
without delay to Tamatave, to secure a passage to the 
Mauritius, and he sent off a courier with my letter. By 
the same messenger he sent orders for the immediate re¬ 
turn of all slaves sent down to the coast , and not then sold . 
He published an edict, that if any of his subjects were 
indebted to the slave-traders, they must without delay pay 
them in money , as on no pretext whatever could a deviation 
from his orders for the entire suppression of the slave-traffic 
meet a milder punishment than death. 
The king also desired that I would draw up an article to 
the purport of what I agreed to; and he wished at the same 
