394 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
valuable life. He had from a youth possessed a constitu¬ 
tion, which, if not robust, was yet vigorous, and capable of 
enduring great exertion and fatigue. It is probable that 
his strength had been, in some degree, undermined by 
exposure to disease in the fever districts of Madagascar* 
as he had frequently visited, not only the eastern coast in 
the unhealthy season, but travelled in the north, and in the 
Sakalava countries, where natives from the interior are not 
less liable to disease than Europeans. 
It is much to be lamented, that during the last few years 
of his life, Radama had formed habits of irregularity and 
self-indulgence, which, more than any other circumstance, 
tended to accelerate disease; and to this, combined with 
the want of medical aid, or rather the adoption of the 
Malagasy mode of treatment in the early stage of his 
disorder, may be attributed the early termination of his 
promising and eventful career. 
At the time when he last visited Tamatave, disease had 
made inroads in his constitution, which it was impossible 
for his friends to observe without concern, although no 
alarming apprehensions were then entertained as to any 
immediate result. It is more than probable that the irre¬ 
gularities and amusements pursued at Tamatave, more than 
counterbalanced any benefit arising from the change of 
air, and the slight degree of medical advice he obtained 
from Europeans there. On his return to Tananarivo in the 
month of November, he was less capable of attending ta 
official duties than had been usual with him, and also less 
disposed to appear in public. 
Various events which occurred in the country about this 
time, of a nature far from gratifying to the king, had also 
an unfavourable effect upon his health, by their tendency to 
irritate and distract his mind, when the utmost composure 
