HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
329 
districts of Madagascar. We were very much gratified by 
the general appearance of the people at Foule Point, 
relating to their neatness, cleanliness, and comfort; and the 
excellence of their roads; nor can too much be said in 
favour of the hospitality and kindness of the chief and the 
people.” 
It is not possible to contemplate the apparently auspicious 
introduction of education, and the useful mechanic arts, at 
the capital—the encouragement afforded to the Missionaries, 
and the progress of agriculture, and other means of general 
improvement—without experiencing the feelings of deepest 
regret on account of the shortness of their duration, and 
the disastrous result which an opposite course of proce¬ 
dure has since produced. 
In the spring of 1824, Radama, still bent on reducing 
every chief in the island to a state of vassalage, determined 
upon undertaking another expedition into the north Saka- 
lava country, and attended with great care to the usual pre¬ 
parations. Having supplicated supernatural aid at the 
tomb of his ancestors, the king left the capital, in company 
with Mr. Hastie, on the 28th of May. 
On reaching the neighbourhood of Fihiasinana, (or the 
open country) Mr. Hastie observed that the custom of pub¬ 
lic feasting on the cattle of the rich, after their demise, had 
been extensively observed here. Poles were set up, on which 
were sometimes seen the skulls of as many as forty cattle, 
which had been consumed on such an occasion; and a single 
tomb was sometimes seen exposing the marks of 4,000 fire¬ 
places where the flesh of the cattle had been cooked. 
On the 12th of June, the army encamped at Anaslavoor, 
where Radama had directed that the people of Iboina 
should meet him with the flag which Andriansolo had 
received from Commodore Nourse. Here the party waited 
