224 
during the arts of civilization and a system of just 
laws; while the advantages of commerce, and an 
effectual cultivation of the lands, would occupy his 
first attention, and would abundantly flourish under 
their united endeavours. 
At the close of this speech, the whole of the 
troops began firing a feu-de-joie : after which, Sanc6, 
chief of the Sambarives, rose, and declared that his 
nation required the governor to quit the service of 
France, and to cause all those of his troops to do 
the same, who were desirous of residing in Mada¬ 
gascar. He then called upon him to point out the 
province in which he would choose to reside, that 
they might build him a town. 
Benyowsky replied, that it was his intention to 
quit the service of France, but that it was neces¬ 
sary for him to wait the arrival of the commis¬ 
sioners from his Majesty, whom he shortly expected; 
for w 7 hich reason he begged that the oath might be 
deferred, he not being master of his own actions 
while bound by his former engagements. 
Raffangour ended the cabar by proposing that 
an oath should be mutually entered into by Ben¬ 
yowsky and the chiefs alone, with the understanding, 
that it should be publicly repeated, as soon as he 
had quitted the service of France. This was im¬ 
mediately done, and, to render it more sacred, con¬ 
firmed by the oath of blood, which is performed by 
opening the skin of the left breast with a razor, when 
each of those present sucks a drop of the new' 
