HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 405 
forces, it is also added, that the Christians were placed in 
the most exposed situations, where there was the greatest 
probability of their being among the first who should fall. 
In this campaign the two minor divisions of the army 
were unusually successful, scarcely losing any of their 
number, and securing a large amount of booty, chiefly cattle 
and slaves. The main body of forces, on the contrary, 
suffered a lamentable defeat. In the early part of their 
operations, when attacking a fortified town, (a species of 
warfare, in which the power of the idol is peculiarly 
celebrated,) the general was successfully resisted, and 
obliged to retire, having lost about 1100 men, between 
400 and 500 of which were regular troops. The division 
never recovered the effect of their loss, which was unparal¬ 
leled in all the wars which the Hovas had carried on with 
other tribes in the island; and they ultimately returned 
without booty, — considerably lowered in the estimation 
of the other sections of the army, and of the community in 
general. 
The conduct of the Christian soldiers, during this and 
other campaigns, was highly commendable. Though equally 
exposed with the others, and on some occasions more so, it 
is not known that one of them was killed ; they were also 
distinguished by their kindness and consideration towards 
those who were conquered, as well as by the honesty and 
the moral purity of their conduct. They also availed them¬ 
selves of every suitable occasion for holding meetings in 
each other’s tents, on the Sabbath, and at other times, for 
the purpose of reading the Scriptures, singing, and prayer. 
These had the happiness of finding many others desirous 
of joining them in these exercises,.who afterwards associ¬ 
ated themselves with the Christians, and professed their 
belief in the gospel. On more than one occasion, when the 
2 H 
if. 
