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such articles of merchandize as they wanted, which 
would be furnished to them at a low price, in ex¬ 
change for the produce of the country, particularly 
rice, which he recommended them to cultivate largely. 
He then invited them to enter into a treaty of alliance 
and friendship, and to grant him sufficient land to fix 
his establishment, and also some spots of ground in 
the interior for a similar purpose. 
These proposals met the approbation of the chiefs, 
as far as related to trade, and the grant of the land at 
the Bay of Antongil, provided no fortresses were to 
be erected. But as to a settlement in the interior, 
they requested time to consider of it. They then 
required an oath, by which he should acknowledge 
that he had no other power over them, or claim on 
them, than those of friendship. 
The oaths being celebrated and ratified by an 
entertainment, they drank the king and the governor’s 
health in a cask of brandy, and returned to their 
villages in high spirits and well satisfied. 
Notwithstanding the apparent satisfaction of these 
chiefs, combinations were forming against the esta¬ 
blishment by some of them, which made it necessary 
for the governor to act with decision and firmness. 
The most forward in the opposition were Siloulout, 
and Raoul, the chiefs of a people called the Saphi- 
robac. An attempt was made a short time after the 
signing of the treaty, to draw the governor and his 
officers into an ambush; but he was apprised of it, 
and instead of going to hold a conference, sent a 
