HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
107 
all plants, shrubs, flowers, &c. introduced by foreigners to 
the country; and a considerable, though still extremely 
imperfect collection, of those found in the island. It was 
the intention of the king to have rendered the collection 
of the plants of Madagascar as complete as he possibly 
could. When his leisure from public business permitted 
it, he spent much of his time in this retreat, and sought 
amusement sometimes in a bull-fight, and occasionally 
in the more quiet, but equally useful occupation, of 
superintending the care of the garden. Close within the 
gates of the front entrance, the king had formed with grass 
turfs two letters, “R. R. Radama, Rex.” one on each side 
the great path to the cottage. Who, twenty years before, 
would have thought of a Madagascar chieftain carving out, 
in the turfs of his garden, the initials of his name and sove¬ 
reignty in the learned language of Europe ? 
To the south of the cottage is a small lake, in which 
Radama kept a stock of fish and turtles. He had planted 
also in the vicinity of the lake, several rofia trees. 
Soa-ierana lies to the south of Tananarivo, distant 
about one mile. The name was given to the site by 
Radama, as signifying, “ a place well suited for inquiry 
meaning, perhaps, where his subjects might bring their 
grievances, make their requests, and assemble for the dis¬ 
cussion of public affairs. An immense hill was cut down 
in 1824 , to form the site of the palace; an adjoining hill 
was intended to be cut down, so as to improve its 
prospect, and form a good road of approach to it. The 
building was in a state of great forwardness, and would most 
probably have been completed in the course of a few 
months, had Radama lived. The prospect commanded 
from the palace is extensive and panoramic. The front 
affords a bold view of the south-west of the capital. A 
