388 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
capital. In travelling up the country, the party were sub¬ 
jected to much inconvenience and delay, from not being 
able to obtain a sufficient number of bearers, in conse¬ 
quence of which, part of their goods were left at Ambohi- 
bohazo ; and the people subsequently employed to carry 
them to the capital, being attacked and plundered, most of 
their goods were eventually lost. Though the bearers of 
the supplies required by the Missionaries were but seldom 
plundered, the necessity of having every article sent from 
England or Mauritius, carried on men’s shoulders for a dis¬ 
tance of three hundred miles, added greatly to the expenses 
of the Mission, and often occasioned very serious delays, 
and other inconveniences, especially in reference to articles 
connected with their labours in the department of printing. 
It has been stated, that a printing-press had been sent 
out from England; but in consequence of the death of Mr. 
Hovenden, no attempt was made to bring it into use, until 
the autumn of this year, when, although no practical know¬ 
ledge of the art of printing existed among the Missionaries, 
it was hoped that they might succeed in a trial upon a 
small scale, by the help of books, which they were furnished 
with, as guides. The success of their first attempt was 
such, that they were encouraged to proceed in the printing 
of many useful books. 
A considerable portion of the Scriptures being translated 
by Messrs. Jones and Griffiths, and part of them revised, 
it was agreed to commence the final revision of the whole, 
preparatory to their being printed in the Malagasy 
language. 
Early in this year, Prince Corroller was commissioned by 
his majesty to visit the Betsileo country, as well as the 
Imamo and Vonizonga districts; and at the instance of 
Radama, he requested Mr. Jones to accompany him. 
