454 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
1st of« September they left Tamatave, and reached the 
capital about the 20th, where their arrival was hailed with 
the liveliest feelings of delight by their friends and the 
native Christians. 
The change that had taken place in the state of religion 
among the people, equally pleased and astonished Mr. 
Freeman, who observes that, on beholding the new place 
of public worship which had been erected, the crowded and 
attentive audiences listening to the preaching of the gospel, 
the numbers who appeared to be sincere converts, the 
affection, harmony, love, and zeal prevailing among them; 
their social meetings for prayer and religious improvement; 
and the numbers desirous of joining themselves to the dis¬ 
ciples, he could scarcely believe his own senses. Under 
circumstances thus auspicious, and encouraged also by the 
friendly attention of the government, in aiding his return 
to the capital, Mr. Freeman resumed his important duties 
at Tananarivo, indulging the pleasing anticipations of en¬ 
joying still greater facilities for diffusing among the people 
the savour of the knowledge of Christ. 
Whatever ground for hope and more favourable regard 
the friendly attentions of the government to Mr. Freeman 
and his companions might afford, they soon found that it 
was not to be ascribed to any willingness to allow the spread 
of Christianity among the people. No encouragement was 
given to education, except so far as it might furnish a 
supply of better qualified officers for the army, or servants 
for other departments of the government; and even these, 
if, besides their knowledge of letters, they were favourable 
to Christianity, were regarded with suspicion, and placed 
only in subordinate offices. The order, prohibiting any of the 
soldiers or pupils in the government schools from receiving 
baptism or the Lord’s supper, was by the close of the year 
