98 
MADAGASCAR 
though the conception of their condition is somewhat in¬ 
distinct. The place where the spirits of the departed 
are assembled is called Abondrombe, the Malagasy Hades; 
it is a lofty inaccessible mountain between Betsileo-land 
and the Tanala district, and the natives are unwilling to 
intrude upon it. 
Christianity was introduced into Madagascar in the 
present century, and, after external difficulties in the begin¬ 
ning, began to spread with unusual rapidity. The Protest¬ 
ant missionaries of the London Missionary Society dis¬ 
played remarkable energy, having begun their activity in 
the year i8i8. They founded schools in which the 
natives were able to enjoy regular instruction. After 
sixteen years of activity there were many congregations 
of Christians in existence, but under the reign of Queen 
Ranavalona I., who was hostile to the English mission, 
the persecution of the Christians began, and many of the 
converts lost their lives or suffered severe persecution in 
other ways. When she died in i86i Radama II. came 
to the throne. He was of a sympathetic nature and well 
disposed towards European reforms. His rule, however, 
suited neither the conservative Hova nobles nor the 
political aims of England. He was murdered soon after 
his accession, and it was openly asserted at the time that 
the conspirators were frequent visitors at the house of 
a prominent English missionary. Queen Rosaoherina was 
more shrewd; she threw no obstacles in the way of the 
EnMish missionaries, but at the same time she did 
not favour them, for she understood well that the 
spying eyes of the British in Mauritius were following 
the affairs of Madagascar with increasing interest, or 
at any rate that they were kept well informed by the 
mission. 
A decided change to the advantage of English influence 
took place in April 1868, when this Queen died and 
Ranavalona 11 . succeeded to the throne. She and her 
