HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
353 
dollars, to be paid by the inferior party to that which 
should excel. In this instance, the people made their 
bets on the subject of planting mulberries, and rearing 
silk-worms; and to this was added, by the people among 
themselves, betting on the most extensive formation of 
schools in their districts. 
Attendance at the schools was always considered by 
Radama as a branch of service rendered to himself as 
sovereign of the country. To serve in the army, to fetch 
timber from the forest, to learn a trade, to prepare and 
carry charcoal to the capital for the king’s smiths, were 
parts of the service paid to the king, and schools were now 
made another branch of public duty. 
The intentions of Radama were good in making the 
sending of the children to school a mark of loyalty and 
obedience on the part of the parents, but it ultimately 
proved injurious to the interests of education among the 
people generally; and it ought to be stated, that, although 
any objection made by parents to allowing their children 
to attend the schools, was liable to be construed into an 
act of disloyalty, the king invariably preferred the exercise 
of mild measures in promoting the education of his 
people. 
In establishing schools and appointing teachers in the 
villages around the capital, great competition was shown 
by the inhabitants. The number of scholars promised by 
the people was the ground upon which the Missionaries 
decided to open a school, and it was not without satisfaction 
that they found themselves invited to commence one at the 
village of Betsizaraina, the residence of the idol Rabehaza, 
to whose worship the Zanakambony were superstitiously 
devoted. It was, however, not on the safest ground that 
their operations were carried on in so sacred a neighbour- 
ji. 2 A 
