HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
369 
Radama’s disciplined troops had impressed upon many of 
the provinces, the country was still in a state very far from 
tranquil; and about this time, Ralahifotsy was sent with 
a number of troops, to check symptoms of rebellion which 
had appeared in the Betanimena and Anteva provinces. 
Prince Corroller was deputed to go and suppress the 
daring and increasing brigands at Beforona and its vicinity; 
and another officer was despatched to the Antsianaka pro¬ 
vince, to quell some petty disturbances which had taken 
place there. 
On the return of Ralahifotsy, he was charged with having 
defrauded the king, in the quantity of the spoil taken in 
the wars. The investigation of the case lasted for a con¬ 
siderable time, and terminated in his being found guilty. 
The king had placed great confidence in this officer, and 
was extremely mortified at the proof of his want of integ¬ 
rity. His determination to punish such as should be found 
guilty of a similar offence, had been published by a recent 
proclamation, and he therefore decided upon treating this 
case with the utmost severity of the law, as an example to 
deter others from the same practices. 
On the day when this awful sentence was announced, 
cannons were heard firing in loud and rapid succession. 
The drums beat the signal of alarm and death. The criers 
summoned the people to an immediate kabary; and while 
crowds rushed to the place of meeting, consternation seized 
and appalled many of the people. When the multitude 
were assembled, the silence of death soon followed. The 
judges proclaimed the result of the investigation. Guilt 
had fixed its indelible stain upon the defenders of their 
sovereign; and at the first crowing of the cock on the fol¬ 
lowing morning, Ralahifotsy and a brother officer were 
conducted to the place of execution, where they were shot 
2 b 
ii. 
