346 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
commit acts of cruelty and injustice, under the belief that 
her nostrums and incantations would secure them from 
detection. 
When the sentence pronounced by Radama was com¬ 
municated to the heroine, she stood up, and, taking her 
spear and shield, both which she handled with dexterity, 
she began to harangue her followers. In delivering her 
speech, she used much gesticulation. She said that those 
who believed her to be the spirit of Triemanosinamamv 
were right, for though her person might now again suffer, 
she would still be victorious; and, in conclusion, she shouted 
to her followers, <c Never despair ! Never despair !” 
The foundation of the confidence with which she endea¬ 
voured to inspire her people, arose out of a popular super¬ 
stition, of which she had artfully availed herself in assuming 
the dignity of their chief. It was related to Mr. Hastie, 
that four generations before this time, a chieftain, named 
Triemanosinamamy, governed the district of Valalafotsy 
in so equitable and successful a manner, as to render him¬ 
self respected and revered by all his subjects. His good 
actions were so extensive and powerful in their effects, that 
they transferred his influence and popularity to his descend¬ 
ants, and especially to one particular chieftain, from whom 
a slave-boy, the late Sahiloza, was sent for fire-wood, and 
returning, took a dry faggot, and placed it under a cave 
outside his master’s house, where it soon grew luxuriantly. 
In the mean time, the boy, who ran into a little building 
or cemetery, erected over the remains of Triemanosina¬ 
mamy, a place considered by the natives as so sacred that 
they believed any person, not of noble blood, would die 
immediately on entering it. The boy, however, soon began 
to give proof of his existence in this sacred place by singing 
and shouting; after which, he declared himself to be filled 
