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and that he himself was at war both in the north and 
south. The commissioner also learned that both the 
natives and Europeans at Tamatave, who were inter¬ 
ested in the slave-trade, were resolved to do all in their 
power to prevent his proceeding to the interior, and 
thus, if possible, to frustrate the design of his embassy. 
The scene which presented itself at Tamatave, and 
the neighbourhood, was of the most heart-rending de¬ 
scription. Tw o slave vessels had just made up their 
cargoes, and sailed a few days after the arrival of the 
British ; but there were a great number of slave- 
dealers waiting the arrival of more victims, who were 
expected from the interior, the fruits of the wars 
which then prevailed. Mr. Hastie despatched a mes¬ 
senger to the king of Ova, informing him of his arrival, 
having previously learned that his Majesty had re¬ 
turned victorious to his capital. 
After having refreshed and rested themselves, they 
set off on their journey, on the 16th of September, 
towards Tananarive, the capital of Ova. The me¬ 
thod of travelling is in palanquins, made like a chair, 
fixed in the centre of two poles, which are carried on 
the shoulders of four bearers (Marmites); upwards of 
sixty of these bearers were employed to carry Mr. 
Hastie’s party, with their luggage. On their route 
thither, the calculations of the slave dealers at Tama¬ 
tave, were too fully realized; for they met upwards 
of thirteen hundred slaves, fettered and chained toge¬ 
ther, who were proceeding from Ova to the former 
place for sale! 
