420 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
to the British agent. Mr. Lyall and his eldest son, who 
accompanied him, could scarcely expect any thing less than 
a fatal termination of proceedings commenced with such 
fanatical and superstitious violence, commanded and con¬ 
tinued under the pretended influence of supernatural power, 
and the distress of Mrs. Lyall, who was but in a feeble 
state of health, was exceedingly severe. 
Mr. Freeman, one of the Missionaries, hearing of what was 
going forward, hastened to the place, and found that orders 
had been received that Mrs. Lyall and the rest of the family 
should follow with all their effects without delay. Having 
obtained from the officers and judges at the capital, permis¬ 
sion to employ bearers, and delay for a time their departure, 
Mr. Freeman proceeded to the village whither Mr. Lyall 
had been driven ; but after a few minutes’ conversation with 
him, was ordered away. In a few days Mrs. Lyall and 
family followed to Ambohipeno, and on the 22d of April 
they set out on their journey to Tamatave. 
The reason assigned for the outrage upon the person and 
family of the British agent was, that he had proceeded 
himself, and had allowed his horse to approach one of the 
villages regarded as sacred to the idol, and which no horse 
or pig was allowed to enter; and that he had further trans¬ 
gressed, by sending his servants to catch butterflies and 
serpents, which he was collecting for scientific purposes. 
Radama had encouraged naturalists from Mauritius, and 
elsewhere, and no prohibition of these pursuits had been 
made public. The government pretended that the whole 
had been done at the bidding of the idol, and thus 
endeavoured to avert any unpleasant consequences that 
might result. While it is supposed to have adopted this 
mode of relieving itself of the presence of one who was by 
no means a welcome observer of its policy and measures, 
