HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
253 
the capital accompanied by the British agent, and a vast con¬ 
course of people. The national idols were taken with the 
army, and, as if they were not powerful enough to secure 
the victory, every clan and tribe took its own, and each 
individual his charm or ody. The sikidy was also fully 
employed, directing the course to be taken, the water to 
be drank, the situations for encampments, where to ford 
or cross rivers, the plans to be adopted by the soldiers, and 
the measure of success to be anticipated. Birds crossing 
the path, or flying over the heads of the troops, were also 
carefully observed, as auguring well or ill to the expedition. 
Of this vast multitude, the people kept their own re¬ 
spective clans, and every clan had its own leader. Each 
individual also furnished himself with his own weapons, 
whether gun, or spear and shield. The town and its vicinity 
appeared deserted by their departure, few being left behind 
except the women and children, the aged and infirm. 
Raholatra, brother to Ramitraha, chieftain of the Sakalavas, 
acted as guide to Radama on this occasion, though not 
filling a place of perfect trust. The two brothers had 
quarrelled, and hence the former attached himself to the 
Hovas in this campaign. Every precaution, however, was 
taken to prevent his proving a traitor, and betraying those 
who now submitted themselves to his guidance. For this 
purpose, one hundred men accompanied him, and watched 
all his movements. The king advanced by short stages for 
the first few days; an arrangement was afterwards made for 
the dispersion of the people under their respective leaders, 
and a place appointed for them to reassemble in one body. 
The 8th of July being the day on which it was expected 
that the king would enter the territory of the Sakalavas, all 
the females at or near the capital, of every rank and class, 
arose by daylight, and having formed themselves into small 
