430 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
attack from Ramanetaka was to be apprehended, before they 
were threatened with difficulties from another quarter. 
Reports of an expedition being sent from France against 
Madagascar, reached the capital in the month of August, 
1829, and produced strong and general excitement and 
uneasiness. The spirits of the Hovas were, however, some¬ 
what raised by the return of the army from the south, where, 
although fifty of the Hovas had been killed, success had 
attended their unjust and barbarous campaign. 
They arrived at the capital in the month of October this 
year, having butchered all the men they had taken, amount¬ 
ing, with those killed in battle, to about 1000; the greatest 
number having found safety in concealment among the 
extensive caverns abounding in the country. The victors 
had ravaged their country, and driven to the capital about 
20,000 head of cattle, which were purchased by the queen at 
the rate of half-a-dollar per head. Besides these, they 
brought a large quantity of other plunder, and 800 prisoners, 
women and children. These were detained near the bridge 
at Ambanala, until the arrival of what was called a good 
or lucky day for entering the capital. 
The unhappy captives presented a spectacle truly 
affecting, when, amidst the roar of cannon, the caresses and 
greetings of relatives welcoming the victors, and the shouts 
of the natives driving the cattle in their rear, they ascended 
the hill on which the capital is built. Ropes were fastened 
round the neck of those who led the way, and who were 
the wives, sisters, or daughters of the most distinguished 
among the vanquished; these ropes bound them to those 
by whom they were immediately followed; these again 
were tied to the next; and the line of ropes continuing, 
bound the captives together, each one being thus tied to 
those immediately before and behind. 
