HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
281 
Selves for more arduous undertakings. The king also 
added, that these proceedings should not retard him in 
the formation of establishments on the coast, and that such 
a number of persons as the British agent deemed necessary, 
should be immediately placed under the orders of one of 
his powerful officers, if Mr. Hastie would consent to accom¬ 
pany the party. In conclusion, he expressed a determi¬ 
nation to make a good road to any place that might be 
fixed upon for a commercial establishment. 
Mr. Hastie replied, that any establishment formed must 
be entirely under the king’s orders, and governed by his 
own officers; but that he had not any objection to accom¬ 
pany the party, and afford ail the assistance he was capable 
of to the officer charged with the command. It was then 
strongly recommended by the British agent that volunteer 
settlers should be encouraged, that no monopoly should be 
sanctioned, and that every person who proceeded on the 
enterprise, should leave Imerina laden with seeds and 
plants, and agricultural implements, and that a small mili¬ 
tary guard should accompany the party for its security. 
A situation eligible for forming the first establishment, 
then became the subject of discussion, and it was decided 
that Foule Point, a place well adapted for shipping, and to 
which an easy communication might be effected through 
the Antsianaka district should be occupied. 
On the following day, the 17th of June, the examination 
of the schools took place; and about three o’clock, agree* 
ably to Mr. Hastie’s proposal, the king in his state dress 
accompanied by his brother-in-law Prince Rataffe and the 
British agent, came to the school for that purpose. The 
school belonging to Mr. Jones was first examined in reading, 
spelling, writing, and in the first rules of arithmetic. The 
needle-work of the girls was also exhibited. The company 
