HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
455 
extended to all other subjects of the queen; no native was 
permitted thus publicly to make profession of his faith in 
Christ, and even those who had been received to the commu¬ 
nion of the church were forbidden to unite with the Mis¬ 
sionaries in the celebration of the ordinance of the Lord’s 
supper. 
Under their peculiar circumstances, the little band of 
native Christian members of the churches under the care 
of Messrs. Griffiths, Johns, and Freeman, felt it their duty 
to comply with the orders of their heathen rulers; and on 
the sacramental occasions they endeavoured to commune in 
spirit with their European brethren and sisters in the 
hallowed service, which was conducted in the native 
language. 
In the educational department, the efforts of the Mis¬ 
sionaries were also greatly impeded, but liberty to preach 
and print was still afforded; and to these labours they 
were greatly encouraged by the increasing numbers who 
regularly attended their ministrations, and the decisive 
and salutary influence of the truth upon the minds of their 
hearers. The preaching of the Gospel appeared to be 
attended with a divine influence, which seemed to produce 
an entire change in the views and character of those by 
whom it was received, and constrained them to grateful and 
unremitting efforts for the spiritual good of their country¬ 
men. 
Instances frequently occurred, in which the example and 
efforts of Paul and his wife, and of some individuals of 
high rank among the people, were, in this respect, rendered 
eminently successful. The exertions of one of the latter 
became so obnoxious to the heathen party in the govern¬ 
ment, that he was charged with witchcraft, and obliged to 
submit to the ordeal of the tangena; but from the fatal 
