386 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
that three new schools had been established during the 
year, and five others revived which had been declining. 
One of the latter was divided into three, for the convenience 
of the scholars; and three youths were attending at the 
central school, who had been sent for education from the 
eastern coast, and from persons belonging to the Betani- 
mena country. The total number of schools amounted to 
thirty-two, and that of scholars to four thousand. 
A copy of the report was transmitted to the British and 
Foreign School Society, and another was sent to Radama, 
from whom the following answer, (literally translated,) was 
received:— 
u And, saith Radama, 
“I have seen the document telling the things all good and 
excellent. 
“ And, saith your friend,—This country is ignorant indeed ; not 
able to write, not acquainted with the customs of the people who 
have become wise: nevertheless, before you came, they were able 
to pray to God. And after God, next to him, the king himself is 
considered, first of all as a visible god, because he gives the law, 
so as not to lose wives and children, so as not to lose things that are 
sown, and all kinds of property, but to pray always. If there be 
not a king to protect wives and children, it will not be right; still 
it is God only who can establish the king, for the king is a general 
of God ; and if there be not a general, it will not be right: never¬ 
theless, unless the general also knows God, it will not be right. 
t{ And the people of this country are ignorant as to the knowing 
what is just; but I am exceedingly glad that you have come here 
as teachers, to advance wisdom and good dispositions. 
“ Saith Radama, your friend, this country is given by God to 
Lahidama.*—Lahidama is the lord of the law.” 
In the absence of the king from the capital, the officer 
who had been entrusted with the management of affairs, 
* Radama and Lahidama are synonymous. “ Labi” and “ Ra” are 
merely affixes to proper names. 
