356 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
In the course of a few days, Radama sent officially to 
Mr. Jones to say, that the Missionaries were too active 
and zealous; and that if they continued to instruct the 
people with the same speed, they would turn the world 
upside-down; that his people were tenacious of their old 
customs, and could not bear to hear of any god as superior 
to their own idols, nor of any religion except that of their 
forefathers. He requested that the schools might advance 
but slowly, otherwise he should not deem his kingdom 
safe; and he desired that in future the children might be 
visited only in their own villages. 
On this subject he expressed his sentiments more fully 
when dining with Mr. Hastie some time afterwards, on the 
occasion of a public examination of the schools. The con¬ 
versation turned upon the benefits of education to the 
country, and the importance of the religious instruction of 
the adults. Various illustrations were employed, the 
bearing of which was immediately understood by his 
majesty, tie remarked, that he knew his people well. 
He knew their manners and customs, their trades and 
manufactures, the produce and merchandise of all the dis¬ 
tricts and provinces in the island; but that he never knew 
nor heard of any person in Madagascar inquiring how he 
might improve himself in useful knowledge. All were 
admiring what was novel, or imported by the whites, 
without any persevering desire to acquire similar arts, or to 
be able to imitate such productions. 
“It affords me pleasure,” said the king, “to have a 
British agent to consult with, and British missionaries to 
teach my people. I am desirous—I am anxious that my 
people should improve in knowledge. Let me not go too 
slowly, lest I miss my aim; nor too fast, lest I stumble: 
for while a man is endeavouring to run with all the speed 
