225 
chief’s blood, while maledictions and imprecations 
are pronounced against him who shall fail in his en¬ 
gagement. 
When the cabar broke up, the native troops, who 
had been prepared for the part they were to take in 
the ceremony, lowered their muskets and their colours, 
and laid their left hands upon their breasts in token 
of engagement to the new ampansacabe. The affair 
ended, as usual, with feasting; twenty bullocks were 
killed,, and, with twelve casks of brandy, distributed 
amongst the natives, of whom nearly eleven thousand 
were present. The colonists shared in the festival, 
having mounted blue ribbons over their white cockades. 
The chiefs now began to return home, having agreed 
to reassemble as soon as they perceived the beacon fired 
at Manghabei. Three thousand native troops were left 
at his command, with Sance at their head, and six of 
the chiefs were detained at the fort as counsellors. 
In the month of September, intelligence was 
received that the Consolante had touched at the 
Isle of France, having on board Messrs. Belcombe 
and Chevereaux, who were proceeding without delay 
to Madagascar, in quality of commissioners, to in¬ 
vestigate the affairs of the settlement; and a private 
letter from a friend assured him that these inspec¬ 
tors had orders to carry him to Europe, provided 
such a step would not endanger the colony. This 
information was verified on the 21st of the same 
month, when the Consolante made its appearance, 
and cast anchor off* the island of Aiguillon. A 
Q 
