438 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
the sikidy, or divination, and the use of tangena, or trial 
by poison, was restored with most destructive consequences. 
In obedience to the orders of the sikidy, the queen removed 
to the village of Ambohimanga, about twenty miles from the 
capital, where she remained for some months during the 
early part of 1830. A number of the civil and military 
officers were required to drink the poison at the capital; 
and a general purification of the country, by the same 
ordeal, was enjoined. Under the latter, many hundreds, 
if not thousands, of the Malagasy, are supposed to have 
been sacrificed. 
While the determination of the government to promote 
the power of superstition over the minds of the people were 
thus painfully manifested, a more friendly disposition was 
shown towards the Missionaries, but without the slightest 
indication that the chief objects of the Mission were in any 
respect more favourably regarded, though the rulers of the 
country became increasingly sensible of the value of the 
labours of the Missionary artisans. The attention they re¬ 
ceived is, in all probability, to be ascribed to the hostility of 
the French, and the consequent desirableness of endeavour¬ 
ing to secure the friendship of the English. It was, however, 
grateful to the Missionaries, that by means of some mem¬ 
bers of the government favourable to their objects, they 
were allowed to pursue without interruption their im¬ 
portant labours. A small addition was made to the number 
of scholars, and the Missionary had full liberty to teach, 
preach, and carry forward the great work of translating the 
Scriptures, and preparing other Christian books. 
Feeling the extremely fr ail tenure by which they held 
their means of doing good, and uncertain how long they 
might be permitted even to continue in the country, the 
Missionaries directed much of their attention to the print- 
