272 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
the benefits of education in so confined a space, and the 
erection of the house which had been commenced for Mr. 
Griffiths soon after his arrival, having long since been dis¬ 
continued, he was induced to write to the king, thanking 
him for the attention already shown, assuring him that the 
Missionaries came to his country not to walk about in 
idleness, but to teach his people to be good and happy; 
and that with the wish of doing more in the way of instruc¬ 
tion, he Mr. G. took the liberty of informing his majesty 
that nothing effective towards the erection of a school-house 
had yet been done, although he had been at the capital nearly 
three months. 
To this the king replied,— 
iC Saitli Rad am a, 
“ Live long, my friend ; be not troubled. . will build you such 
a house as you wish, if my people can build it; but if you wish to 
have a house built on the same plan or similar to those at Mauritius, 
who can build it ? If you can find a man to build it, I will furnish 
the wood. “ Saith your good friend, 
“Radama Manjaka.” 
A plan of building was accordingly submitted to his 
majesty for approval; and a suitable spot of ground having 
been pointed out, the king was requested to direct that the 
building might be commenced without delay. His majesty 
replied, that he would give the ground, send the wood, and 
provide twelve workmen. On the 7th of February the 
building was commenced; and as soon as timber was again 
wanted, the king sent to the forest for it, giving five bul¬ 
locks to the carpenters to divide amongst themselves, by 
way of encouragement. 
It was not to be expected, however, that, even with the 
royal sanction, all the proceedings of the Missionaries should 
