290 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
proved fatal to several children by the strange and cruelly 
mistaken measures employed to conceal them, and thus 
prevent them being placed in the schools. Many parents 
residing in the neighbourhood of the capital actually hid 
their children in their rice-holes, where several of them 
died, suffocated by the heated and confined air of those 
subterraneous granaries. 
To arrest the progress of these suspicions, which threat¬ 
ened to destroy the infant Mission by exciting the strongest 
prejudices against its agents and its objects, the most prompt 
and decisive measures were required. Radama was at that 
time prosecuting the war in the Sakalava country; but his 
mother, a woman of considerable energy and independence 
of mind, and who maintained some degree of authority in 
the absence of her son, sent a kabary to the people, to be 
published in all the markets, announcing that any person 
who should be convicted of raising false reports respecting 
the white people or the king, should be reduced to slavery; 
and that whoever should be found guilty of concealing 
children in the rice-holes, and thereby causing their death, 
should be put to death for the offence. 6C Cease therefore 
at once,” said Rambolamasoandro, “ from all such practices, 
for it is the instruction of your children here, and not 
sending them into another country, that is the wish and 
intention of Radama your king.” 
This spirited and well-timed message had its desired effect. 
Confidence appeared to be restored, and the concealment 
of children was not afterwards heard of. 
In the course of July, 1822, the people of the whole 
district of Avaradrano came with timber from the forest 
for erecting the house and school for Mr. Griffiths, as 
already mentioned, and five similar journeys were per¬ 
formed before the building was completed. The frame was 
