GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND. 33 
repeating when employed in any kind of labour 
which brings a number of them together. The 
ruling tribe, the Hova, which occupies the central 
table-land, and holds the coast tribes in a kind of 
feudal subjection, originally landed on the south¬ 
east corner of the island, gradually made its way, 
conquering as it went, up through the interior, 
and at length became a power under Radama I. 
(1808), a man of great spirit and intelligence, who 
consolidated the Government of the Hova, united 
the twelve subdivisions of the family into one 
clan, and established the sovereignty at the pres¬ 
ent capital, Antananarivo, “ the city of a thousand 
towns/’ This monarch was as ambitious as he was 
enterprising. He had many good qualities, and 
seemed a hundred years in advance of his people 
in shrewdness and mental capacity. He was the 
founder of the present reigning dynasty. Radama 
had a peculiar aversion to the French, who, in his 
day, had designs upon his territory; and his reply 
to a hint that his enemies were about to invade 
the island may be quoted as probably explaining 
that policy of “ masterly inactivity ” which the 
Hovas invariably adopt when a foreign foe effects 
a landing upon their shores, and which hitherto 
has proved a more sure defence to them than 
armies or fleets. The king’s reply to the intima¬ 
tion of the French invasion of his day was, “ Very 
well, let them try. I have two officers in my 
