HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
487 
sion for impeding the progress of Christianity, and to have 
aimed at the ultimate expulsion of the Missionaries, and 
the extinction of the Christian faith. Towards this object 
they advanced more directly, or otherwise, as they could 
influence the mind of the queen, or others whose co-opera¬ 
tion or connivance was necessary, or as circumstances occur¬ 
ring among the people favoured their views. Hitherto 
they had connived at the disregard of the idols shown by 
the Christians, but now deemed it inexpedient any longer 
to forbear the expression of their displeasure against them. 
These officers were probably led openly to oppose the spread 
of religious knowledge, by finding that the adherents to the 
new faith were extending themselves among all ranks in 
society, and that their principles encouraged regard to 
their own rule of action, obedience to the known will of 
God, independent of all human control, and irrespective of 
all consequences. 
Among the near relatives of these brothers were some 
sincere and consistent Christians ; besides others, one young 
man, a nephew, whom they appointed to be keeper of one 
of the idols which they placed in his house. Early in 
January this year, this young man was told by one of the 
chiefs, who had adopted him as his son, that at the annual 
festival, then approaching, the queen would present a bul¬ 
lock to the idol, which he must kill in sacrifice, and eat 
part of it in honour of the idol, — burning some of the 
fat as incense before it. His declining to do this, greatly 
enraged the chiefs against himself, and those principles 
which emboldened him thus to refuse the requirements of 
the gods of the country. About the same time a native 
Christian remarked, in conversation with his relatives, that 
their confidence in the idols was misplaced, as of themselves 
they could do neither good nor harm. This native Christian 
