HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
475 
the close of 1832, the officer who had first embraced the 
gospel, was accused to the queen of having practised 
witchcraft, and was in consequence required to submit to 
the usual test, the trial by poison-water, or tangena. 
When the time was fixed for his taking the ordeal, some of 
his relatives wished to have recourse to the sikidy, or divina¬ 
tion, in order to secure a favourable issue; for much as his 
parents and more immediate relatives grieved on account of 
the erroneous views, as they considered them, which he had 
imbibed, they were not willing that he should be sacrificed 
to his enemies. But he resolutely refused to allow of 
any application to the diviners, declaring that it would be 
sin in him to let it be supposed he believed them entitled 
to the slightest confidence. He declared his innocence, 
and said, that, since he was compelled to pass the ordeal, 
he committed himself unto God. This determination, in 
the opinion of his relatives, sealed his doom beyond hope 
of reversal, as they supposed that, since he had despised 
the idols and the sikidy, it was scarcely possible for him to 
escape. 
Under these circumstances the poison-water was admi¬ 
nistered, and the signs of innocence appearing very soon 
afterwards, he was pronounced free from the crime laid to 
his charge, and restored to his family and friends, who were 
so deeply affected by his deliverance, that, from that time, 
strong doubts of the validity of the claim of the idols and 
divination took possession of their minds. This feeling 
increased till they renounced these objects of superstitious 
worship, became pupils of the Christian members of the 
family, and expressed their desires to unite in Christian 
worship. 
Soon after his recovery from the effects of the poison- 
water, the officer paid a visit to his parents, who welcomed 
