486 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
Ihe schools established by the government. This was the 
heaviest stroke that had yet fallen upon the Mission; the 
brethren desired to recognize in the affliction, the supremacy 
of the Most High—believing that no event, especially none 
affecting the advancement of truth and righteousness in the 
earth, could take place without the Divine knowledge and 
permission; and, in the hope that the prohibition might not 
be rigidly enforced, they devoted themselves more zealously 
than ever to the only remaining means of usefulness—the 
preaching of the gospel, the labours of the press, and the 
superintendence of the schools still tolerated in the island. 
The year 1835 opened upon the Mission without any 
sign of a more favourable regard from the government; and 
a number of the natives, who, actuated by inferior motives, 
had attached themselves to the Missionaries, perceiving the 
unpopularity of the Christians, withdrew from them, and 
associated with the heathen portions of the community. 
The hopes of favour from the parties in power, indulged 
by the heathen, were at this time greatly increased by the 
jealousy with which the former watched every movement 
of the Christians. The queen does not appear to have 
cherished any unfriendly feeling towards the Missionaries 
personally, and often seemed disposed to tolerate their 
exertions; but she was the zealous votary of the idols, on 
whose favour she was taught to believe her continuance in 
power depended. Among her ministers were three brothers, 
the eldest was commander-in-chief of the forces, the second 
first officer of the palace, and the third a judge; two of them 
were the queen’s paramours, and all were pledged to raise 
the idols, and former superstitions of the country, to their 
original importance. These brothers exercised in the name 
of the queen supreme power in Madagascar; they appear, 
from the time of Radama’s death, to have seized every occa- 
