CHAP. III. 
LETTER FROM THE QUEEN’S SECRETARY. 
79 
drive him away beyond sea. We shall not kill him, but his 
property shall be taken as our spoil, for he has taken posses¬ 
sion of a port. But though we have said we shall not kill 
him, yet, if he kills any of the soldiers, the soldiers will kill 
him. And this is told to you lest you should say,—Why, 
after trade is opened, do you again destroy the property of 
Europeans ? 
“ And this also has to be told to you. If any European 
shall land at any place within the boundary of Madagascar, 
where there are not soldiers stationed, and take possession of 
that place as a port, such conduct will be an offence, and his 
property will be taken as our spoil, and he himself will be 
driven away beyond the sea. 
“ And this also has to be told to you, that, as each sove¬ 
reign has established the law of the land, whether it be our 
sovereign or your sovereign, so in our land the things we do 
not sell are not to be shipped upon the sea; and in regard to 
the things you do not sell, you of course need not bring them 
for sale. 
“ Farewell, health, &c. to you, 
“ Saith 
“ Rainikietaka, 
“13 Honour, Officer of the Palace.” 
The event so earnestly desired by many of the people of 
Madagascar was announced by the firing of cannons from the 
fort. A public dinner was given to Messrs. Cameron and 
Mangeot, and other Europeans in the island, and general 
rejoicing was manifested by the inhabitants. The “ Nimble ” 
had brought back to Mauritius a cargo of ninety-three oxen, 
in proof that the trade was really open; and three French 
vessels from Reunion, which had been waiting for the con¬ 
clusion of the negotiations between the merchants of Mauri¬ 
tius and the native government, immediately took on board 
cargoes of cattle for that island. 
