HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
395 
and freedom from anxiety were essential to his con¬ 
valescence. 
As the spring of 1828 advanced, Radama evidently be¬ 
came more feeble, and the progress of disease was more 
obvious. During the months of May and June, many fears 
were entertained as to the fatal termination of his disorder; 
and these fears were confirmed, rather than alleviated, by 
the studied concealment observed in those who were known 
to be acquainted with the facts of the case. It was publicly 
known that the king was unwell, but the only specific 
report was, that he suffered from a severe catarrh, attended 
with sore throat. 
He had always manifested great concern for the advance¬ 
ment of education, but was unable to attend the examina¬ 
tion of the schools. His majesty had frequently expressed 
a lively interest in the arrival of Messrs. Tyerman and 
Bennet, on a visit to himself and the Mission at his capital; 
but when they reached Tananarivo, he was too ill to be 
able to receive them. Mr. Jones had one interview with 
him after that time, but could scarcely recognize his fea¬ 
tures, or comprehend the few expressions which with great 
difficulty he uttered. In the course of two days from the 
time of this interview, Radama breathed his last. This 
melancholy event took place on the afternoon of July 27th, 
1828. 
The circumstance, however, was studiously concealed 
from public notice, intimations being given that the king 
was improving, and the royal band continuing to play every 
afternoon in the court-yard, for the purpose of quieting all 
suspicions. 
On Tuesday the 29th, a public kabary was held for ad¬ 
ministering the oath of fidelity “ to whomsoever the king 
might he pleased to appoint as his successor in the govern - 
