6 
VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 
CHAP. I. 
Amongst others over whose minds the pretended power of 
the idols had ceased to operate was the queen’s son, then in 
his seventeenth year. In 1846, after much conference with 
some of the Christians, this youthful prince was induced to 
renounce the superstitions of his country. He soon afterwards 
declared himself a Christian, and was baptized; and, whatever 
may be the extent to which he is himself the subject of reli¬ 
gious influence, he has ever since proved a generous, kind, 
and faithful friend to the Christians. Through his influence, 
and that of others, Eamonja, a prince of the highest rank, 
being the son of the queen’s sister, was induced to study the 
Bible, and ultimately to declare his conviction of its truth. 
This prince publicly identified himself with the Christians, 
and has ever since, through all their fearful vicissitudes of 
peril and sorrow, proved himself one of their most efficient 
and faithful friends, as well as the honourable and consistent 
exemplar of their principles; sometimes pleading with the 
queen on their behalf, and setting forth—not always without 
something like success—the excellency and the value of the 
Holy Scriptures. 
The sympathy of her son with the Christians, and his adop¬ 
tion of their faith, is said to have been exceedingly offensive 
to the queen, who has regarded him as being the victim of 
the incantations or witchcraft of the Christians. This feeling, 
heightened perhaps by unfavourable representations from the 
political rivals of the prince, her son, may have hastened the 
violent persecution which occurred in the year 1849. In this 
fearful season of extreme trial, more than 2000 persons were 
implicated, many were subjected to heavy punishments, and 
eighteen individuals, including some of high rank and station, 
were put to death. It was indeed a time of severe sifting 
for the persecuted Church in Madagascar; and many, as 
might be expected during such a season, deserted from her 
ranks. On the other hand, scarcely had the fierceness of the 
persecutors begun to subside, before a number who had wit- 
