316 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
saluted the magnificent object in their usual manner—Soa, 
soa, Rabe, maivana. “ Beautiful, beautiful! Lightly 
floating ! Large but light! Gone is she, large, and lightly 
floating!” 
During Radama’s stay at Foule Point, a French vessel 
had touched there with communications for him. He, 
however, refused to see the embassy, or to hold any cor¬ 
respondence with its members, beyond telling them that 
he was the sovereign of the island, and that they were 
strangers, and had no right to a single foot of the soil. 
The vessel left the port threatening vengeance on Radama 
and his country. 
Ramanetaka having been sent forward with a detach¬ 
ment towards Maroa, it was found that their behaviour had 
irritated rather than conciliated the minds of the natives, 
by committing depredations even upon the property of men 
who peaceably submitted to the claims of Radama. On 
the arrival of the king, captives who had been taken were 
liberated; relations who had been cruelly separated and 
sent into the interior for sale, were immediately sought for 
by order of the king, and restored to their homes and con¬ 
nexions. Some unfortunate instances, however, escaped 
detection, the individuals having been sent away imme¬ 
diately, and to a great distance. 
It is stated on the unquestionable authority of Captain 
Moorsom, that Radama’s chief object in visiting Foule 
Point was to put a final conclusion to an idea long enter¬ 
tained by the French, that they had an equal claim with 
Radama to the whole of the eastern coast of Madagascar. 
Monsieur Roux, at that time stationed at St. Mary’s, had 
been active in bringing forward this claim; and in reply to 
his last communication, the king had sent word to him, that 
he “ would talk about it.” “ And he now,” says Captain 
