140 
MADAGASCAR. 
urged him to more rapid changes and advances 
in his system of government. But he has had 
the marvellous and rare gift of being able to move 
only with the progress of his people. He is a 
man who can wait. Solid advance, however slow, 
is what he demands, before agitating the coun¬ 
try with new measures. He showed this in an 
unmistakable manner in his masterly dealing 
with the reorganisation of the army, and in his 
action in conjunction with our late able consul, 
Mr T. C. Pakenham, on the question of native 
slavery. In the impartial manner, too, with 
which the whole vexed question of the rival 
communions and Churches in the island has been 
approached by the Hova Government, much real 
sound wisdom and statesmanlike ability has been 
shown, that would have done credit to the chief 
minister and advisers of any European sovereign. 
Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties of Rainil- 
aiarivony has been to hold his hand when almost 
overwhelming pressure has been brought to bear 
upon him, through foreign consuls and others, to 
whom the country is deeply indebted for much 
good done, to force him on. But again and again 
during the past few years, even those who have 
been for the time annoyed at his seeming hesi¬ 
tancy have had to acknowledge, with admiration 
and enthusiastic respect for his abilities as a 
politician, that he was after all right in waiting, 
