416 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
proceeding of government naturally increased the appre¬ 
hensions of the people, as to the ultimate designs with 
which the schools had been established, and made them less 
willing than ever to send their children for instruction. 
The prohibition of the schools in the villages where the 
national idols were kept, indicated also the influence of the 
idolatrous parties in the government, and operated unfa¬ 
vourably for the cause of education among an ignorant and 
servile people, ruled by superstitious fear and military 
despotism. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising, 
that from the time of Radama’s death the cause of educa¬ 
tion had been rapidly declining; and although the queen 
had ordered that the scholars should resume their studies, 
and the school-houses be thoroughly repaired, there were 
not, at the close of 1829, half the number under instruction, 
that there had been eighteen months before. 
Ranavalona, on ascending the throne, sent a message to the 
Missionaries, and the foreigners residing at the capital, 
assuring them of her intention to govern the kingdom 
upon the principles adopted by Radama, to carry forward 
the great plans of education and public improvement which 
he had commenced, and to continue all the encouragement 
he had shown them; the queen had also solemnly repeated 
this on receiving the oath of allegiance from the people; 
yet it soon became evident that these professions were not 
to be depended upon—that the queen was either insincere 
when she made them, or, which is equally probable, that 
the counsellors of another line of policy had gained the 
ascendency in the government. This was very clearly 
shown by one of the earliest public acts of the government, 
which at once exhibited the entireness of the change con¬ 
templated, and the determination with which it was made. 
The usage of the country during the period of national 
