270 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
cherish a grateful esteem for the zealous and enlightened 
friendship which Madagascar always found in the governor 
of Mauritius. By a letter from Sir Robert Farquhar to 
Mr. Jones, dated September 20th, 1821 ; after expressing 
his friendly wishes for the prosperity of the Mission, he 
authorized Mr. Jones to employ thirty dollars per month in 
support of the schools, which sum the government was to 
furnish yearly for the same purpose, leaving the specific 
approbation of the sum to the Missionaries. 
A custom has prevailed from time immemorial in Mada¬ 
gascar, of presenting to the sovereign the first-fruits of the 
ground, and the first specimens of new productions or 
new manufactures, in short, of whatever is new of every 
description. In accordance with this custom, Mrs. Griffiths 
presented to the king, in December 1821, a specimen of the 
first-fruits of needle-work in Madagascar, the work of her 
pupils. The king, who was highly pleased, sent to thank her 
for teaching the girls, and presented each of them with a small 
piece of money. On various occasions the king expressed 
the interest he felt in their object; and by frequently 
visiting the Missionaries, endeavoured to convince them of 
his earnest wish to aid and encourage them in their work. 
Christian baptism was administered by Protestants, for 
the first time in Madagascar, on New Year’s day 1822, 
when Mr. Griffiths’ infant, born in Mauritius, was dedicated 
to God in that ordinance by the Rev. D. Jones. A small 
congregation was formed on the occasion by the children of 
the two schools, a part of the royal family, Ralala the chief 
judge, and the French artisans from Mauritius. The king 
had been invited, but, being then at his country residence, 
forgot the precise time; for which, on the following day, 
he expressed his regret. The greatest order and regularity 
was manifested by all who attended, in whose minds a 
