400 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
peculiar circumstances of the nation, to his having scarcely- 
attained the age which is ordinarily regarded as the meri¬ 
dian of life, or the irregularities by which there is reason 
to fear it was accelerated, was regarded with the deepest 
regret by natives and foreigners. 
The following description of the person, and brief sketch 
of Radama, was written by one of the native chiefs, Prince 
Corroller, (since deceased,) and is considered by many as in 
general correct: 
“ In person, Radama was about five feet, French, in height, 
slender and small in his limbs and body, his figure in 
general being well-proportioned. His colour was olive, 
his head round, his face oval, the features not strongly 
marked, and the expression generally agreeable or smiling. 
Radama’s hair was of jet black, strong and curling, his 
forehead not very prominent, nor remarkable except for a 
whitish scar across it caused by a fall from his horse ; his 
eyes were small and sparkling, with remarkably fine eye¬ 
brows and eye-lashes ; his nose, though flatter than that of 
Europeans, was much less so than is common in his country. 
His forehead and mouth were not remarkable, except that 
his under-lip was large, thick, and drooping. He was in 
the habit of laughing very loudly when excited by mirth, 
and his cheeks were then deeply indented, giving him an 
appearance of great merriment. His ears were small, and 
had been pierced for the purpose of occasionally inserting 
ear-rings. He was broad and square across the shoulders, 
but very small in the waist. He had a pretty hand, small 
feet, and fair skin. 
“ Radama was extremely affable, his conversation sweet 
and agreeable,—indeed, so attractive as to deceive a stranger 
on his first interview. His mind was subtle and cunning, 
but very cheerful. He was a man of very extensive natural 
