HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
491 
and writing, the prevailing neglect of the idols, and other 
objects formerly regarded with religious veneration. 
In this state of affairs, a chief of rank and influence pre¬ 
sented himself at the palace, requesting to see the queen; 
and on her majesty’s appearing, he is reported to have 
addressed her to the following effect, “ I am come to ask 
your majesty for a spear, a bright and sharp spear—grant 
my request.” On its being inquired why he wanted a spear, 
he answered, that he had seen the dishonour done by the 
influence of the foreigners to the idols, the sacred guardians 
of the land, to the memory of her majesty’s illustrious 
ancestors, whereby the nation would be deprived of their 
protection, to which alone they owed their safety; that the 
hearts of the people were already turned from the customs 
of their ancestors, and from her majesty, their successor, 
that by their instructions, their brotherhood,* and their 
books, the foreigners had already secured to their interest 
many of rank and wealth in the army, and the offices of 
government, many among the farmers and peasantry, and 
vast numbers of the slaves. That all this was only prepa¬ 
ratory to the arrival of forces from their country, which, 
as soon as the Missionaries should send word that all was 
ready, would come over, and take possession of the king¬ 
dom. This, it was added, would be easy, as the people 
would be already alienated from their own government, 
and prepossessed in favour of the foreigners. The chief is 
said to have added, “ Such will be the issue of the teaching 
by the foreigners; and I do not wish to live to see that 
calamity come upon our country, to see our own slaves 
employed against us; therefore I ask a spear, to pierce my 
* Alluding to the Christian fellowship, which the natives considered as 
similar in some respects to the custom of forming brotherhoods described 
in a former part of this work. 
