HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
401 
genius, and very inquisitive for information. He was ex¬ 
ceedingly proud, vain-glorious, pompous on public occasions, 
ostentatious, arbitrary, and so accessible to flattery, that his 
people at length saluted him as God, which he allowed 
without displeasure. He was of a lively but angry temper, 
and easily offended. He was a famous hunter, a good 
marksman, and a noble, majestic horseman, especially on 
any grand and pompous occasion. Brave, intrepid, and 
impetuous—these very qualities made him sometimes com¬ 
mit acts of horrible cruelty and injustice, because he could 
not bear the least opposition to his will and opinion by any 
person whatever, either in word or deed. He was so jea¬ 
lous of his absolute authority, as to render him suspicious 
of his first and favourite generals, towards whom he was 
lavish of his kindness and his condescension, except when 
the strictness of his military laws required him to inflict 
punishment for crimes. He would never allow of any 
advice, or any remarks made upon what he had said or 
done, unless he asked for it; and if any one had dared to 
counsel him, or made any observation unrequested, he 
would have driven him away with violence. He would 
never submit to a superior, nor argue with a rival: rather 
than this, he would have preferred fighting to death, sword 
in hand. He encouraged spies and informers, of whom he 
employed many, and often went in disguise himself about 
the town, to listen to what his people were talking of in 
their own houses in the evening; and, although a strict 
observer of his own word and signature, he would not unfre- 
quently sacrifice justice to political interest. Towards the 
latter years of his life, he was addicted to feasting and 
drinking to excess; and he indulged himself in nocturnal 
amusements, by having a great number of men and women 
dancing and singing before him. Indeed, so regardless was 
2 D 
ii. 
