vi 
PREFACE. 
while its results, it is hoped, will prove satisfactory to 
their friends in this country. The visit proposed by 
Mr. Cameron and myself was one of friendship to the 
queen and people, not an official religious mission; 
though no objects were so deeply interesting to us 
as the religious state of the people. For observing 
this, ample opportunities were afforded; and on this 
subject I received much valuable information from 
the people themselves; part of it exceedingly painful 
on account of the sufferings it made known, the rest 
though highly satisfactory, and full of hope, I have 
not, for obvious reasons, included in the narrative of 
my visits. The profession of Christianity is not per¬ 
mitted by the present Government of Madagascar, 
and statements acceptable and interesting to our¬ 
selves might affect injuriously good men in a country 
where civil and religious liberty does not exist, where 
it is contrary to law for a man even to leave his 
country without permission from the government, 
and where the most cruel death I heard of on the 
coast, had been inflicted on men who had attempted 
to quit the country without leave from their superiors. 
As a friendly visitor from England, I was kindly 
received by the queen and all classes of the people; 
and nothing could exceed the hospitality and atten¬ 
tion shown me on the coast, during my journeys, and 
at the capital. I have described the novel and often 
