326 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
tering protection and friendship to them and their children. 
He said that their country was still poor, but that by the 
wise regulations of Radama, (with the aid and assistance of 
the British government,) for preventing their people being 
exported into slavery, for the security of their property, 
and for the encouragement of their agriculture, they had 
the prospect of brighter days before them; they wished they 
could, even now, offer me presents, such as the gold and 
silver mines of Mexico and Peru offered; but in the mean 
time, they trusted that I would accept the produce of their 
lands, of which each had brought a basket full, as an 
humble, though not less sincere tribute of their respect and 
attachment. He concluded the harangue with many kind 
expressions of regret at my approaching departure, and 
begged me not to forget them. This speech, which lasted 
nearly half an hour, was delivered without any hesitation, 
and was marked by all the emphasis, action, feeling, and 
propriety, for which the people of Madagascar have been 
distinguished on all such occasions. 
“ In my reply, I endeavoured to impress upon them how 
much more valuable to me, the presents they offered were, 
than any which the countries they mentioned could pro¬ 
duce ; that gold and silver could not fail to flow into Mada¬ 
gascar, in proportion to the advancement of agriculture in 
so fruitful a soil; and to the industry of the people, in 
exercising the numerous native commodities and manu¬ 
factures for exportation with which their vast island every 
where abounded; the improvements of which, together with 
the introduction of others, through the means of their 
friends, the English, would rapidly tend to promote an 
honourable and flourishing trade with foreigners, in lieu of 
the slave-trade, which had for centuries covered their beau¬ 
tiful country with carnage and desolation; but which had 
