HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
285 
marriage was celebrated, to perpetuate its memory, Radama 
set out with his consort, accompanied by his three hundred 
attendants, and entered his capital in January ] 822. 
On their arrival at Ambani-ala, a few miles from Tanan¬ 
arive, the people from all parts of the country came to 
salute their sovereigns, bringing presents of their produce. 
He told them, he was delighted with their diligence in the 
cultivation of the soil, and that they had been favoured with 
such abundant produce. 64 See,” said he, “ the difference 
between this year and the last. Then the people all went 
to the war, none were left at home to cultivate the ground, 
and after all we were not victorious; but this year with 
one army we have subdued our enemies, and now on re¬ 
turning home we find plenty of provisions.” 
From this spot Radama wrote to the Missionaries, to 
thank them for their remembrance of him; and to the 
British agent, to tell him that he and his new consort would 
come and dine with him at Besakana, on the afternoon of 
his arrival at the capital. To this Mr. Hastie replied, that 
he should with the greatest pleasure receive the royal party, 
if Radama would consent to regard Rasalimo as his only wife, 
for since he, Mr. Hastie, could acknowledge but one king of 
Madagascar, so he could acknowledge no more than one 
queen. To this there was no objection made on the part 
of the king; and accordingly, on their arrival at the capital, 
the party repaired to the house of the British agent, where 
the nuptials were again celebrated. 
Radama was welcomed with every demonstration of affec¬ 
tionate loyalty. He alighted on the holy stone, and mounted 
the temporary stage as usual, where he received the con¬ 
gratulations of the people and their hasina. He then 
proceeded to his palace in a carriage which had been sent 
him from Mauritius, accompanied by his queen; the way 
