CONQUEST BY THE HOVAS. 
55 
the land by a judicious system of national edu¬ 
cation. The fabulous reports of the existence of 
rich deposits of mineral wealth, especially in the 
north-east, have always been a great attraction 
to the French and others; and there is a roman¬ 
tic tradition extant in the island of a Count 
Benyowsky, a Polish nobleman, who went, by 
permission of the authorities at Paris, to form a 
settlement in north Madagascar in 1773. His 
history is a remarkable one, and not without 
pathetic incidents, which reveal something of the 
true spirit and generosity of Malagasy character. 
He soon gained the confidence and affection of 
the natives by his gentleness, and truth, and 
evident sincerity. They became most attached 
to the stranger, whose distinguished presence and 
noble figure fascinated and charmed them, and 
they gradually laid hold of the idea that he was 
the son of one of their most famous but long- 
buried chiefs. We have no proof of any kind that 
Benyowsky encouraged this romantic idea, but 
the superstition grew and gained such hold of 
the people, that at length they went so far as to 
determine to offer him the crown of the island in 
a formal assembly of the people. They there¬ 
fore invited him to a kabdry , or great gathering 
of the several tribes. When he arrived he found 
50,000 people in solemn assembly, who immedi¬ 
ately and silently ranged themselves round his 
