340 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
unanimously shouted their assent, and a roar of appro¬ 
bation reverberated through the ranks. 
With his usual politeness, Radama had ordered the Moor 
Abdalla to have some meat cooked in the manner of the 
Mohammedans, that Andriansolo might not refuse to eat 
at the king’s table; but when the dinner-hour arrived, 
he complained of want of appetite, and, soon left, on the 
plea of retiring to pray. 
Radama having occasion to pass with a small escort 
from Majanga to Ambatolampy, he gladly availed himself 
of the kindness of Commodore Nourse in lending his barge, 
with Captain Chapman, to convey him to that place. The 
commodore had himself waited upon the king with this 
proposal, and during their conversation had earnestly recom¬ 
mended him to continue the system he had begun, and 
which had already led to such happy results. He parti¬ 
cularly advised Radama to give his attention to every 
thing connected with commerce, as he had already estab¬ 
lished his power so firmly by his conquests, and the due 
administration of the laws, as well as by the decided supe¬ 
riority of his army, that he was well entitled to consider 
and report himself sole master of the island, in which 
character he would be authorized to invite people of every 
nation to visit his country on lawful commercial pursuits. 
Radama replied, that in the early part of his life he was 
in a state of darkness. His forefathers, to whom it was 
his duty to look to with respect, were entirely unacquainted 
with the proceedings of the world, and consequently were 
incapable of giving such instructions as could improve 
him; he had, however, by application and perseverance, 
entered a path by which he was enabled to advance; and 
the success attending his endeavours was such, as satisfied 
him that he was correct in attributing all he knew, to the 
