HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
323 
it had been taken frotn the animal. In 1822, the London 
Missionary Society sent out a number of artisans to pro¬ 
mote the industry and civilization of the people, and among 
them Mr. Canham went to instruct them in the art of 
tanning and currying. His proposal was very cordially 
acceded to by the king; but lime not having been at that 
time discovered in the interior, his operations were delayed 
until the year 1825. In 1828, the vats, and other parts of 
the required apparatus, being complete, the king issued 
orders that every ox slaughtered at the great festival should 
be skinned, and the skin, and two feet from each ox, from 
which oil might be extracted, taken to the tanyards, which 
were situated at Ambohimandroso. The rump of every 
ox killed by the people has, from the time they began to 
feed upon the cattle, been considered as belonging to the 
ruler or sovereign; one half of the rump the king ordered 
the people to retain as a compensation for the skins which he 
now required them to give up; instead of bringing the feet, 
the people were afterwards directed to boil them, and bring 
only the oil they contained. Upwards of 16,500 hides were 
brought on this occasion, and on about half that number 
the process of tanning was commenced in the month of 
April, 1829. Bark, suitable for tanning, was found in the 
forest: great difficulty, however, was experienced in ob¬ 
taining the required supply; and on the death of Radama, 
his successor seemed but little disposed to encourage the 
undertaking. A small quantity of excellent leather was 
made. The natives are able to tan, not only the hides 
of the ox, but also the calf, sheep, and dog skins; and 
should a change in the government take place favourable 
to industry and civilization, the manufacture of leather 
would, undoubtedly, form a valuable addition to the pro¬ 
ductive labour of the people. 
v 2 
