HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
473 
the crocodile’s tooth, small pieces of a dark, close-grained 
wood cut nearly square, or oblong, and about half-an-inch 
long, were strung like beads on a cord, and attached to the 
idol, or worn on the person of those who carried the silver 
ornaments. The chief of the district, who had the custody 
of the idol, had two sons, officers in the army. To one of 
these, with another individual, he delegated the authority 
to sell these small pieces of consecrated wood, which were 
supposed to be pervaded with the power of the idol, and to 
preserve its possessors from peril or death, in seasons of 
war, or regions of pestilence. This was a source of great 
emolument, for, such was the reputed virtue or potency 
of the charm, that a couple of bullocks, the same number of 
sheep, of goats, fowls, and dollars, besides articles of smaller 
value, were frequently given for one or two of the small 
pieces of wood attached to the idol. 
In 1832, Mr. Johns visited the district, to inspect the 
schools and instruct the people. He stopped at the village 
where the idol was deposited, and spent much time with 
the family of the chief by whom it was kept, having met 
with one of his sons who usually resided at the capital, and 
whose wife was nearly related to some of highest rank in 
the kingdom. On parting, the Missionary requested this 
young officer to call on him; which he did, on returning to 
Tananarivo. Mr. Johns resumed his conversation with him 
on the subject of Christianity, and gave him a copy of the 
New Testament. The reading of this book, and the 
instructions of his friend the Missionary, convinced him 
of the sin and folly of idol-worship, and led him humbly 
to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and gratefully to 
rejoice in the announcements of mercy contained in the 
gospel. He afterwards gave the most satisfactory evidence 
of having experienced a change of heart, and was among 
