450 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
an exception was made in favour of Europeans, and it was 
by no means generally observed by the natives—advantage 
was now taken of it by the heathen party, to embarrass the 
Christians. With this view, after the first administration 
of the ordinance of the Lord’s supper, a message was sent 
from the queen, declaring that it was contrary to the laws 
of the country for any native to drink wine, and that in 
future water alone must be used. Unable to obtain any 
relaxation of the law in favour of the communicants, the 
Christians had no alternative but to use water instead of 
wine, or dispense entirely with the observance: they pre¬ 
ferred the former, and in this manner it was celebrated 
among them. 
There will, undoubtedly, be great difference of opinion 
among the readers of this account, as to the propriety of 
the course pursued by the Missionaries on this trying oc¬ 
casion. They might, perhaps, be too much influenced by 
the peculiar and local circumstances at the time, which ren¬ 
dered it exceedingly undesirable to act in violation of the 
orders of the government; to give up an ordinance so 
recently introduced; or by indulging the hope of better 
days. They are, however, entitled to, and will receive from 
all, credit for acting according to the best dictates of their 
judgment, after much deliberation and prayer, and in a 
manner which appeared to them best suited to promote 
the cause of Christ among the people. 
The party opposed to the gospel were not satisfied with 
this; and on its being perceived that several belonging to 
the army, and others in the schools established by govern¬ 
ment, were already numbered with the Christians, messages 
were sent to the scholars, who attended the schools by 
order of the government, and to all the soldiers, interdicting 
their receiving the rite of baptism, or joining the fellowship 
