APPENDIX. 
457 
was so jealous of his absolute authority, as to render him sus¬ 
picious of his first and favourite generals, towards whom he was 
lavish of his kindness and his condescension, except when the 
strictness of his military laws required him to inflict punishment. 
He would never allow of any advice, or remarks made upon what 
he had said or done, unless he asked for it; and if any one had 
dared to counsel him, or made any observation unrequested, he 
would have driven him away with violence. He would never 
submit to a superior, nor argue with a rival: rather than this, he 
would have preferred fighting to death, sword in hand. He en¬ 
couraged spies and informers, of whom he employed many, and 
often went in disguise himself about the town, to listen to what 
his people were talking of in their own houses in the evening ; 
and, although a strict observer of his own word and signature, 
he would not unfrequently sacrifice justice to political interest. 
Towards the latter years of his life, he was addicted to feasting 
and drinking to excess; and he indulged himself in nocturnal 
amusements, by having a great number of men and women 
dancing and singing before him. Indeed, so regardless was he of 
all propriety and order in these respects, that the riotous pleasures 
in which he indulged tended greatly to injure his health and 
shorten his life. He was extremely fond of wearing gaudy and 
showy dress, but was always clean in his person. He was not 
parsimonious in the expenditure of money upon his own vanity 
and pomp, though naturally covetous, and sometimes mean. In 
journeying through the country, or in campaigns with his army, 
he was generous in the distribution of rice, oxen, and other 
provisions; and whenever any tribes arrived to pay him their 
homage, he acted kindly and generously towards them, receiving 
them in the most flattering manner, with all pomp and magni¬ 
ficence. His ruling desire being to be praised abroad in the 
world, many strangers who only paid a short visit to Radama 
received an impression somewhat too favourable of his general 
character. If, in the presence of a respectable European, he gave 
way to violent passion, and this individual seriously asked, 4 Sire, 
what are you going to do ? What will the public gazettes and 
historians relate concerning you, if you commit such acts of in- 
