38 
ment, but they long failed to produce any effect; 
the Madegasses always shrunk back with horror at 
the idea of expatriating even those who w^ere taken in 
war, and who, of course, for the time being at 
least, were considered as their worst enemies. And 
whenever forcible attempts were made upon their 
liberty, (of which they are not a little tenacious,) 
they shewed such a disposition to resist them, as 
convinced the French the time was not come that 
they might enslave them as they pleased. What 
force and argument failed to effect, stratagem accom¬ 
plished; and in the sequel, the wily French suc¬ 
ceeded in rendering the Madegasses subservient to 
their own degradation. 
During one of their provincial wars, the combatants 
on one side had expended their ammunition; and 
(not reflecting on the consequences of so fatal 
a precedent) were prevailed on to exchange the 
prisoners they had taken,, with an European captain, 
whose ship happened to lie at anchor on the coast, for 
fire-arms and gunpowder. The immediate effects 
of this step was, that all parties resorted to the same 
expedient, through the secret instigation of the French, 
who generally contrived to act as panders to both 
sides. From that unfortunate period, their domestic 
dissentions have been more frequent than ever, and 
tainment. A large tent was prepared for the occasion, which 
was no sooner tilled, than the floor sunk under them, and they 
were ironed and carried off in triumph. Need we ask which 
were the savages? 
