HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
190 
to be entertained with the best that can be provided, when¬ 
ever they travel among the people. Of this custom the 
government has not been backward to avail itself; while 
it has encouraged, and to some extent enjoined, the observ¬ 
ance of the rites of hospitality. In the latter part of his 
reign, the late king issued a proclamation, declaring that, 
while all the provision and other kinds of property belonged 
to the subject, all the houses in the country belonged to 
the sovereign; and calling on the inhabitants to furnish 
lodgings to his servants or soldiers whenever they might 
require them. In order to satisfy himself as to the degree 
of attention paid to his proclamation, he went shortly after¬ 
wards in disguise to a village at some distance from the 
capital, and towards evening entered one of the houses, 
and solicited shelter and accommodation for the night. 
This was not refused by the heads of the family, but 
rendered in a way that prevented the guest from conclud¬ 
ing, by any possible mistake, that he was welcome. He 
soon left, and travelled to the next house that appeared 
likely to yield the shelter he required. Here he was 
cordially welcomed, and hospitably entertained with the 
best that the host could provide. On the following morning, 
when taking his leave, Radama, not less to the surprise 
than consternation of the whole of the family, made himself 
known, and left them with assurances that they should not 
be forgotten. He remembered his word; and soon after 
his return to the capital, sent his officers to the village, 
with a severe reprimand to the man under whose roof he 
had found himself an unwelcome guest, and a handsome 
present for the peasant family by whom he had been gene¬ 
rously entertained. 
