HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
357 
to their work, and that he should be able to succeed in his 
wars without their songs. 
The revenues of the king of Madagascar are not 
great, when compared with the amount of property 
actually contained in the island. The property of the 
sovereign consists chiefly of slaves and cattle, both which 
are numerous. These are, however, considered as the pro¬ 
perty of the government, and belonging to the office, not 
the person, of the monarch; they consequently descend to 
his successor. His nominal property as sovereign includes 
the whole island, since all the land, with the services of the 
inhabitants, are at his command. The actual revenues 
arise from several sources, all of them extremely limited, 
and far below what would be absolutely requisite, if the 
government were required to pay for the services rendered 
to it. Instead of this, the government claims the services of 
the subjects for the army, and various other public duties, 
and accepts of service also in lieu of payments either in 
money or produce; by this commutation, rendering the 
direct taxes of money or produce less necessary than under 
a better system. 
Amongst the sources of the revenue may be enumerated 
booty, hasina, taxes, duties and customs, fines and con¬ 
fiscations. 
By booty, is, of course, understood a share of the spoil 
taken in war, slaves, cattle, &c. One-third of the whole 
amount of cattle is allotted to the sovereign, and four 
dollars on every slave taken captive. The rest is distri¬ 
buted among the officers of the army; and as the sovereign 
provides arms and ammunition for the troops, his claim to 
a larger share of the booty obtained is considered fair and 
equitable. Of the cattle, the sovereign is in the habit of 
distributing considerable numbers gratuitously at different 
