HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
353 
which might pervade the bosom of many a liege subject of 
the realm. 
Until the year 1816, when Radama availed himself of the 
services of Mr. Brady in disciplining his troops, the armies 
led to the field by the princes or chieftains of Madagascar, 
appear to have been irregular bodies of men, fighting 
more for the sake of booty than with any union of purpose. 
Fire-arms were in Imerina during the time of Radama’s 
father; but how much earlier is not known with certainty, 
and they were too expensive to be in general use. The 
native weapons originally employed consisted of sticks 
and stones, shields and spears. With these they were able 
to defend themselves, and to make their attack on their 
opponents; and in the absence of the more effective instru¬ 
ments of war, brought to perfection by European civiliza¬ 
tion, the native weapons were found sufficiently annoying 
and destructive. The sticks were usually sharp-pointed 
at one end; their spears were made of native iron, with 
strong wood hafts or handles. Stones appear to have been 
principally used by way of defence. Towns being built on 
eminences, afforded an opportunity to the besieged inhabit¬ 
ants of hurling or rolling down ponderous stones upon the 
assailants while making their ascent. 
A general and valuable means of defence was found 
also in the hady, or deep ditch, formed around the villages. 
These exist at the present day; but scarcely any pains were 
taken by Radama to keep them in repair, partly on account 
of the tranquillity of Imerina during his reign, and partly 
on account of the new modes of warfare rendering them ot 
less use as a means of defence. They might keep at 
some distance thos assailants, who were only armed with 
sticks and spears, but they afford no defence against the 
ball from the cannon or the musket. 
i. 2 a 
