HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
309 
nation, except the Malagasy and the Mozambiques, who 
could not read and write; and this observation, so little flat¬ 
tering to the high-spirited Hovas, led to a strong deter¬ 
mination no longer to be placed on a level with those who 
were considered by them as lowest of all, and treated as the 
slaves or servants of all. The king’s reply on the occasion 
was truly characteristic and worthy of himself, ££ Then I 
would rather not be king at all, than be king of such 
barbarians.” 
In the month of September, Messrs. Jones, Griffiths, and 
Canham, accompanied by some of their scholars, made 
the tour of four provinces, with a view of ascertaining 
the most eligible situations for schools, and with the 
hope of being able to preach the gospel to the natives. 
After an absence of about a month, they returned home, 
having obtained a sufficient knowledge of the disposition 
and circumstances of the people, to feel the importance and 
eligibility of endeavouring to extend the benefits of education 
in the country around the capital. 
In the month of December 1823, Mr. Griffiths house was 
in a sufficient state of forwardness to permit him to enter it; 
and on the last Sunday in the year, divine service was held 
for the first time in the chapel, morning and evening. 
In June, 1823, Mr. Hastie had returned from Port Louis 
with the band of musicians who had been instructed there; 
and Radama, who was about to set out on a tour of obser¬ 
vation along the coast, met his friend and the company of 
young men at Ambohibohazo. The governor of Mauritius 
had recently touched at Tamatave on his way to England, 
with the hope of seeing Radama, who was equally anxious 
to meet the benefactor of his country. This meeting would 
most probably have been effected, had not Radama been 
detained at Tananarivo by the approaching annual festival, 
