HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
517 
conduct of the government brought upon the Malagasy, 
The practice of infanticide was revived. Their efforts to 
extinguish the light of Christian truth were accompanied by 
great activity and zeal in reviving and promoting idolatry. 
Fresh idols were continually brought to the capital, new 
altars were erected in several places; altars, tombs, and other 
objects of superstitious veneration, that had been lying in 
ruins, were repaired; new ceremonies were appointed, and 
offerings more frequently presented. In all these attempts 
to restore the influence of idolatry, the queen seemed to 
take the lead, being at times occupied for several days 
together in the observance of idolatrous ceremonies, and 
inaccessible to any excepting those who were engaged in 
the service of the idols. Of this, few would, perhaps, have 
felt much disposition to complain, had it not been accom¬ 
panied by increasing oppression from the government, and 
misery among the people. 
The large increase made to the army, had robbed numer¬ 
ous families of their most valuable members, and increased 
the unjust exactions of the government, which required the 
people to furnish support for the army without any remu¬ 
neration. The numbers who had been taught to work at the 
different trades introduced in to the country by Europeans, 
were all obliged to give their labour unrequited by the 
government; while the general taxation was augmented to 
such an extent as to reduce numbers to a state of extreme 
wretchedness, or force them to desperation. 
Unable to meet the demands of the government upon their 
personal services and their property, and to provide the 
means of support, multitudes fled from the towns and vil¬ 
lages to the forests, formed themselves into banditti, and 
sought a precarious subsistence by seizing the cattle that 
might graze in the adjacent country, or plundering the 
