414 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
out in charge with the printing-press, deeply affected the 
Missionaries, and destroyed the hopes they had cherished 
of promoting the more rapid diffusion of knowledge among 
the people, they endeavoured, with the assistance of natives, 
to print, though under many disadvantages, a number of 
first lessons for the schools, and other small elementary 
books. In the mean time, an intelligent, active, and well- 
qualified individual, Mr. Edward Baker, having been en¬ 
gaged by the Missionary Society to succeed Mr. Hovenden, 
left England in May, 1828, three months before the last of 
the natives embarked for their native land, and reached the 
shores of Madagascar on the 3d of the following September, 
two days before Mr. Bennet arrived at Tamatave on his 
way to Mauritius. Though deeply afflicted by the account 
of recent events at the capital, and the unfavourable state 
of the country, Mr. Baker was desirous of proceeding to 
his appointed station, and felt grateful for the aid and 
society of Mr. Griffiths, in company with whom he pro¬ 
ceeded to the capital. 
The customs of Madagascar requiring a total cessation 
from all ordinary labours and amusements during the period 
of general mourning for Radama, the people were not 
allowed to engage in any occupation. An exception was, 
by a special edict, made in favour of the culture of rice, in 
order to avert a famine; but as attendance at the schools had 
been classed among the amusements, they also were discon¬ 
tinued. Radama had allowed a number of youths to assist 
in the printing, and also in the transcribing for the use of 
schools; application was made that these might work during 
the season of mourning; and as the government decided 
that transcribing was neither learning nor teaching, the 
youths were permitted to aid both in transcribing and 
printing. 
