276 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
On reaching Mauritius, the members of the Mission were 
advised to await there the return of the good season for 
commencing their labours in Madagascar, but the prince 
set out immediately for his native land. The news of his 
arrival at Tamatave reached the capital in January, 1822; 
and such was the delight with which the intelligence was 
received by Radama, that he ordered the guns to be fired, 
and sent for the Missionaries to his palace, in order that they 
might share and witness his joy. When it was known that 
the prince had reached the foot of the hill on his approach 
to the capital, the king again wrote to Messrs. Jones and 
Griffiths, to meet him, and his brother-in-law, the prince. 
Two battalions were then drawn up in the court-yard, and 
a salute of cannon fired. Radama, waiving the usual forms 
of ceremony, and impatient to meet Rataffe, left the balcony 
at the door of his palace, and went forward to the front 
gate, saying, “ I cannot stay any longer here; I must have 
a sight of him.” Rataffe soon entered, dressed in English 
uniform; when the king shook hands with him, and expressed 
his joy on his return, the soldiers presenting arms, and 
the people their congratulations. Then taking him by 
the hand, the king led him into the palace, where he 
questioned him with great earnestness respecting England, 
his reception there, and the youths left behind for 
instruction. 
The companions of his voyage, whom the prince had left 
behind at Mauritius, were so fortunate as to be joined at 
that island by Mr. Hastie, who rendered the most valuable 
assistance to them on their journey to the capital, and in 
their future intercourse with the king. 
On the 6th of May, 1822, the party disembarked at 
Tamatave, where the British agent received from Jean 
Rene the most cheering accounts of his own prosperity, as 
