HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
65 
should perhaps be appended the redeeming consideration, 
so happily, so philanthropically suggested by the “ philo¬ 
sophic” Rochon:—“ The greatest care was taken, it is true, 
to send no persons thither to settle, except such as could 
occasion little hurt to society if they perished.” 
From the time that Vasco de Gama in 1498 opened a 
passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope, numerous 
pirates infested those seas. They became, at length, so 
formidable by the success of their nefarious transactions, as 
to render a general effort, by the European powers inte¬ 
rested in the Indian trade, indispensably necessary for their 
suppression. In the prospect of their being thus cut 
off from their usual resources, they formed an establish¬ 
ment in the Isle of St. Mary about the year 1724, and 
gained, by their assiduous attentions, and valuable impor¬ 
tations, the good-will and friendship of the natives, who 
were ignorant of the iniquitous means by which the trea¬ 
sures brought to their island were obtained. They were, 
however, so vigorously pursued, even to their places of 
most secure retreat, by vessels from Europe, that their 
system was annihilated, and their ships burnt. After this 
they appear to have settled in different parts of the northern 
coast of Madagascar, wherever an eligible opening was 
presented, and connected themselves, there is every 
reason to believe, with the traffic in slaves, the greatest 
scourge ever known to the islanders, equally degrading to 
the inhuman trader and his hapless victims. 
The next province, Mahavelona ,* is the fourth, which is 
separated from Ivongo by the Manangoro. The soil is 
fertile, and the country is woody, and, to some extent, 
brought under cultivation. It is, however, stated by the 
* Signifying “ causing to live,” or “ productive.” 
I. F 
