CONTENTS. 
Xlll 
of native manufacture—Introduction of the art of shoeing horses—Arrival 
of Mr. Chick from England—Astonishment of the natives at beholding 
the apparatus of an English forge, and the strength of Mr. Chick—Trials 
of strength between the natives and Europeans—Improvements in the 
art of working iron, manufacturing cutlery, and wire-drawing—Native 
gold and silver smiths. 290 
CHAP. XII. 
Felling of timber—Number of persons constantly employed as woodcutters 
—Amount of labour required to convey the timber to the capital—Native 
coolies, or bearers of burdens—Method of splitting trees for planks or 
boards—Introduction of the use of the saw—Native Carpenters—Charac¬ 
ter of their work—Masonry in Madagascar—Native potteries—Articles 
manufactured—Native kilns—Anecdote of Radama—Introduction of brick¬ 
making—Malagasy rope-making, twine-spinning, and basket-making— 
Introduction of the art of tanning—Immense quantity of hides provided 
by the government—Native methods of spinning and weaving—Simplicity 
of the Malagasy loom—Excellence of the native cloths—Preparation of 
indigo—Methods of Dyeing—Domestic occupations of a day in Madagas¬ 
car—Native hawkers or pedlars—Fondness of the Malagasy for traffic— 
Native markets—Number, designation, order, &c.—Prices of articles— 
Money-changers—Table of moneys—Value of labour—Foreign commerce 
—Chief exports and imports. 315 
CHAP. XIII. 
Government of Madagascar; monarchical and military—Extent to which 
the will of the sovereign is absolute—Instance of personal devotedness to 
the sovereign—Duties of the sovereign—Importance attached to heredi¬ 
tary rank—Gradations in rank—Members of the royal family—Civil and 
military officers—The king’s household—Native police—Number and 
dignity of honours connected with the public service—Nature of ancient 
military tactics and fortifications—Formation of the army after the 
European model—Military punishment of burning—Employment of 
singing women during a campaign—Revenue of Madagascar—Enumera¬ 
tion of the sources whence it is derived—Veneration of the natives for 
the popular traditions and usages supposed to be derived from the prac¬ 
tice of their ancestors —Combination of the regal and sacerdotal character 
in the person of the sovereign—National festivals—The feast of the new 
year—Description of the ceremonies observed—Benedictions pronounced 
—Number of the cattle slaughtered at the feast—Modes of administering 
the oath of allegiance—Animals slaughtered on the occasion—Formation 
of new laws—Proclamations and edicts—Different modes of punishment: 
spearing, beheading, crucifixion, burning alive, flogging to death, fines, 
banishment, or reduction to slavery—The sovereign’s decision final— 
Operation of native laws on foreigners—National councils—Office and 
duties of the judges—Public mode of conducting trials—Code of laws 
promulgated by the present queen in the year 1828 .341 
