138 
MADAGASCAR. 
missionaries in their cabins, are generally well 
freighted and ballasted with casks of rum in their 
holds. We may remark that the prime minister 
was dressed in handsome European clothing, and 
is very neat and agreeable in his general appear¬ 
ance. He is a capital horseman, and looks re¬ 
markably well when riding at the head of his 
staff in his capacity of commander-in-chief of the 
native army. 
After this brief personal intercourse with the 
Malagasy prime minister, it is not difficult to 
read the secret of his elevation to his present 
high and responsible, and at the same time pre¬ 
carious dignity. There is in him that innate 
depth of thought and width of grasp of any sub¬ 
ject that makes in every age and country a 
successful statesman. That he is far ahead of 
his day and generation in thought and aspiration 
there is no doubt, and in this fact lies the one 
element of danger to himself and the steady 
development of the country. There is a large 
and influential old national party who have 
tacitly resisted the advanced policy of Kainilaia- 
rivony, especially in regard to the abolition of 
the old customs and the liberality extended to 
foreigners. Should this party ever gain tem¬ 
porary popularity, the fall of Rainilaiarivony is 
certain, and for a time anarchy and retrocession 
would ensue. That there could be any per- 
