HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
463 
copies of which were printed for separate distribution. 
Large editions of spelling and other elementary books; 
also an edition of a collection of hymns was provided, 
not only in order to meet existing wants, but to provide 
against any views or measures that might prohibit the 
operations of the press altogether. The printing of the 
remainder of the Old Testament was now deferred by the 
Missionaries; and circumstances rendering it desirable 
for Mr. Baker to visit his native country, he left Mada¬ 
gascar in the end of June, and reached England on the 
26th of December, 1832. 
Uncertain and discouraging as the prospects of the 
Christians in Madagascar had been ever since the death of 
Radama, and precariously as they had repeatedly found 
the tenure by which they held their privileges to be, the 
security of the heathen party, who had assumed the su¬ 
preme power in the island, was far from being undisturbed; 
and the causes for just apprehension of their continuance 
in the position, of which, through blood and crime, they had 
possessed themselves, were neither unfrequent nor trifling. 
In this respect, the attack of the French was to them rather 
advantageous than otherwise; it diverted the minds of the 
people from the grounds of dissatisfaction against the 
authorities at home, and called forth their united energies 
to resist a common foe. On this account, it is probable, 
they were not unfavourable to the circulation of reports, 
and the consequent prolonged apprehensions of the people, 
that the French would renew their hostilities on the coast. 
About the time that the first report of the expected arrival 
of the French expedition reached the capital, intelligence 
was received that a large body of Sakalavas had approached 
the district of Vonizongo, a short distance to the west of 
the capital, with the intention of invading the province of 
