HISTORY OF EUROPEAN COLONIZATION 103 
Christianity in the most intemperate way. This fanatical 
Lazarist, a certain Pere Etienne, betook himself to Dian- 
Manong, the most influential chief in Southern Madagascar, 
made his way into his house, collected all the amulets 
and idols and threw them into the fire. The chief, enraged 
at this unheard-of outrage upon the peace of his house, 
strangled the over-zealous Father without more ado. 
The French in P'ort Dauphin wished to take vengeance; 
they set out against the chief with a considerable force, 
but were unsuccessful and had to retreat, even running 
great danger of starvation. 
Great ideas were prevalent in France at that time. 
The minister Colbert, who clearly perceived that the new 
company also was about to make a fiasco, abolished its 
rights as early as 1664. He thought to make a France 
of the East, “Gallia Orientalis,” out of Madagascar and 
the surrounding islands. An East India Company was 
formed with a capital of fifteen million francs, to which 
the Court alone contributed five millions, while numerous 
cities, Fyons, Rouen, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Dijon, 
Metz, Marseilles etc. took shares for considerable sums. 
The East India Company with its headquarters at Fort 
Dauphin received the monopoly of trade with Mada¬ 
gascar and the Mascarenes in perpetuity. The first ships 
of the new company sailed on the 5th of March, 1665. 
On arriving at Fort Dauphin the new company perceived 
at once that the natives must be approached in a friendly 
way. They bestowed marks of distinction on the former 
assistant, Facaze, who had made himself much beloved 
by the natives, and his diplomatic skill soon brought 
about a reconciliation with the powerful chief Dian-Manong. 
In a few years the necessary buildings were con¬ 
structed and extensive plantations were laid out. All 
went well till 1670, when Admiral Fa Haye succeeded 
to the management of the concern, which was now to 
be conducted on behalf of the King of France. The 
