HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
347 
with the spirit, and ultimately to be the identical person of 
the long-deceased chief, Triemanosinamamy, whose voice, 
it was imagined by those on the outside, he had assumed. 
Under this title he issued from the tomb, and was received 
by many as a true prophet, his credit being supported by 
the miracle of the dry faggot growing, and his good fortune 
in subsequently foretelling with exactness the defeat or 
success of some of their marauding expeditions. His 
career, however, was soon terminated by the jealousy of 
his former master, who, finding his own power sinking 
before that of the prophet, declared him to be an impostor, 
and finally had him put to death. 
At this period commenced the victorious career of 
Radama’s father, who, aiming at extending his conquests, 
attacked the district of Valalafotsy, and met little oppo¬ 
sition from the chief, who had been deserted by the greater 
part of his subjects, under the belief that in the young 
prophet they had lost the only means by which the invaders 
could be restrained. The chieftain, with a few followers, 
sought safety in the district of Iboina, where they were 
joined by the Manendry and other emigrants or runaways 
from Imerina. They all settled at Mivamahamay, where, 
after the death of their chieftain, the settlement was left 
without any leader of distinction ; and much confusion fol¬ 
lowed, until the individual above alluded to, a woman of 
unquestionable talent, raised herself to notice amongst 
them, and told the son of the chief, in confidence, that she 
was the identical person whom his father had caused to be 
put to death, in confirmation of which, she showed the 
wounds inflicted on her former person when in the cha¬ 
racter of a man, and this she asserted to be tbe cause of 
her now assuming that of a female. Rabevola, the son 
of the chieftain, gave full credit to her story, and several 
