HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
331 
On approaching the province of Iboina, Mr . 1 Hastie, 
determined to make one more attempt to bring about an 
amicable arrangement, requested permission to proceed 
with a small party to publish the king’s intentions. To 
this a reluctant consent was at last obtained, and he 
proceeded accordingly with fifty men. With this small 
company, he went forward, publishing in every place, and 
charging the people of every village, to inform their neigh¬ 
bours that Radama was advancing with his army, and 
that his protection would be extended to all who would 
render allegiance to him. He was soon satisfied that the 
people of the province were not contemplating anything 
like resistance, but would be glad to place themselves 
under the protection of the king; and, with a few persons 
prepared to confirm this statement, he returned to the 
camp. 
These men were treated by Radama in such a manner as 
to give them confidence in the lenity of his proceedings, 
and they returned to reassure their compatriots, who had 
been making the best use of their time to escape with their 
cattle and other property. When Mr. Hastie advanced 
again with his company of fifty men, he found the natives 
returning with their herds in such numbers as to throng the 
way; while, at the door of every cottage, poles were erected, 
with pieces of rofia thread, the badge of allegiance to the 
Hovas, attached to them. 
Before Mr. Hastie left the camp, messengers from 
Andriansolo had arrived with offers of allegiance, which 
obtained little credit from the king, and other circumstances 
of a very suspicious nature occurring, the British agent 
thought it necessary to proceed with caution to the capital 
of Iboina, where he arrived on the 27th of Jnne, 1824. 
He entered Douana bearing a flag of amity, and found there 
