HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
261 
troops in one unanimous voice loudly supported them, 
assuring the king of their devotedness and attachment. 
44 With regard,’’ said they, 44 to the negligent in the dis¬ 
charge of duty—to those who act a cowardly part—those 
who run away in an engagement, let the king do as he 
pleases with them—give them the tangena—shoot them— 
spear them—behead them—starve them, and give their 
bodies to be devoured by dogs; or let there be a pile of 
fagots prepared, and let them be burned, and then let the 
winds scatter their ashes to the ends of the earth.” 
He thanked the people for their loyalty, their oaths, and 
their promises. 44 But with regard to cowards and de¬ 
serters,” said he, 44 let there be no defined punishment. 
Those who are brave and faithful shall be distinguished by 
my commendation, and raised to honour.” 
The whole body of officers and men, however, with a 
determined voice, fixed upon burning as the military 
punishment for desertion and cowardice; this circumstance 
being at the same time agreed upon, that the crime of an 
individual should neither affect his family nor property. 
The army then presented their hasina to the king, on the 
formation of the new law. The old chieftains also came 
forward and presented theirs, pronouncing benedictions on 
the sovereign, and expressing a hope that their children 
might become braver than they had ever been. 
The king then left the stage, and retired to a tent pre¬ 
pared for him on the plain, where he invited his friends to 
dine with him, on which occasion he appeared to enjoy an 
extraordinary flow of cheerfulness and good spirits. Nor 
was his cheerfulness of that description, which might not, 
in some measure, be shared by those whose views were in 
many respects essentially different from his own, but who 
could still regard the circumstances of the day as affording 
