354 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
In the low countries the people have generally sought 
safety in time of war by flight into their woods, and hence 
scarcely any hady or moat is found, except in the interior 
of the island, where there are no forests sufficiently near to 
be places of refuge in times of war. 
Drury gives an account of the residence of a prince, or 
chieftain of a district, as defended by a sort of natural 
fortification, which rendered it inaccessible, except to the 
approach of a very limited number at once. It was situated 
in a wood, with trees all around it, which seemed to have 
been planted there when very young, for their growth 
was regular and tall, and so close together that a small 
dog could not pass between them. They were likewise 
armed with large strong thorns, so as to render it impossible 
to break through or climb over them. There were but two 
passages, or gates, so narrow as to admit only two men 
abreast. One of these was to the northward, the other to 
the south, and the whole was about a mile in circum¬ 
ference. 
In going out to war, the people were accustomed to go 
en masse , appointing a place of general rendezvous. No¬ 
thing like regular order prevailed in the attack. Every one 
carried the best weapon with which he could furnish him¬ 
self ; took his slave or slaves to carry his provisions; did 
the best he could during the conflict; secured as much 
booty as fell within his grasp, or escaped as fast as he could 
if his party seemed likely to be defeated. 
In the year 1816 , during the time Sir Robert Farquhar 
was governor of Mauritius, a few disciplined troops 
were sent up to Tananarivo, with a view of exhibiting to 
Radama a specimen of European discipline, and recom¬ 
mending it to his adoption as one of the best means of 
giving him a decided superiority over all the other chieftains 
