HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
511 
Among others, a distinguished Christian female, Rafa- 
ravavy, was in great danger of losing her life. An accusation 
was laid against her before the government by some of her 
slaves, of her having observed the Sabbath, retained and 
read a copy of the Scriptures, and conversed with some 
of her companions on religious subjects. These were the 
crimes laid to her charge. She denied not, but confessed 
the truth of the accusation; and neither the grey hairs of 
a parent, a zealous idolater, could persuade, nor the 
frowning threats of the sovereign could terrify her into an 
abandonment of her profession. In daily prospect of death, 
she then remarked to a beloved friend, to whom she was 
accustomed, amidst mutual tears, to pour out the feelings 
of her heart, that as to her life, she felt indifferent; that, if 
her blood were to be shed on the land, she trusted it might 
be the means of kindling such a feeling of interest in 
Madagascar as should never be extinguished. “ Did not the 
Saviour forewarn us,” said she, “ that we should incur the 
hatred of all men for his sake ? The Son of God has died 
in our stead, and that will shortly redeem us from all our 
sufferings. I know in whom I have believed ; and though 
my blood be shed,* the word of God must prosper in this 
country.” She added, with great feeling, “ Pray for me, 
that if it be the Lord’s will I should suffer now, that he 
would take my soul to himself; but that, if I am spared, 
1 may live more than ever to his glory.” Nothing grieved 
her, she remarked, so much as the spiritual state of those 
around her; and the immediate prospect of martyrdom itself 
appeared less painful to her than seeing all her connexions 
living in wickedness. 
* In speaking of her death, she employed a term which also contained 
allusion to the fact of her body being left at the place of execution, accord¬ 
ing to the barbarous usage of the country, to be devoured by the dogs that 
swarm in the neighbourhood. 
