1805.] 
fhould wait oh the king the following. 
day ; and Rama-Efa retired in appear- 
ance highly fatisfied. 
Although our converfation was wholly 
carried on through the medium of an in- 
terpreter, I foon perceived that’ Rama- 
Efa poffeffled much energy of character, 
and was a man of intelligence. His eye 
and countenance befpoke greatanimation ; 
he was of the middle fize, but rather cor- 
pulent ; and although he had loft a hand, 
he yet threw the javelin with furprifing 
dexterity ; he was black, and had crifp 
hair, like the majority of the natives. Jt 
was evident to me, that Rama-Efa pof- 
feffed much influence in the affairs of the 
ifland. 
Oppofite the port or anchorage of Foul- 
Point is fituated a village of confiderable 
magnitude, named Mahaveli by the inha- 
bitants. Here the French poffefs a piece 
of ground, furrounded with palifades, of 
about the extent of two hectares, where 
they have a principal houfe, intended as a 
habitation for the chief of the company 
eftablifhed by the Adminiftration of the 
Tfle of France, for the purpofe of purchaf- 
ing the neceflary fupply of cattle and rice 
for the ufe of that colony. 
‘Next day, 22d Auguft, as had been 
agreed on, I paid a vifit to Racavola, 
king or principal chief of this province, 
which is that of Bettfmeflar, I was at- 
tended by almoft all the French who were 
then in the place, tothe number of twenty, 
the captain and fome of the other officers 
of the frigate, and an interpreter. 
The king’s-houfe is fituated at the 
weftern extremity of the village of Maha- 
veli, and is compofed of one principal 
ftory, to which we afcend by means of 
a kind of ladder. The roof is covered 
with leaves, and has altogether a very 
mean appearance. It is furrounded by 
different huts, appropriated to the accom- 
modation of his attendants and his wo- 
men. 
On my arrival, the king ordered the 
national colours of France to be planted 
on the roof of his dwelling, and faluted 
us with a difeharge of thirteen guns. I 
was introduced to him by Rama-Efa, and 
found him feated on a raifed floor, be- 
neath an alcove, furrounded by his Mi- 
nifters and the principal chiefs. His 
Majefty was drefled in a fearlet habit, 
embroidered with filver, and ornamented 
with golden epaulettes. This garment 
had been prefented, feveral years before, 
to his father Hiavi, by the Adminiftra- 
tors of the Ffle of France, in the name of 
the French Monarelr. 
Defeription of the Tard of Madagafcar: 
233 
On my introduction, Zacavola arofe ; 
we faluied each othér, and fhook hands. 
The king caufed a chair to be placed for 
me near his own-; and I fat down, with- 
out uncovering my head, in order to fup- 
pert with dignity the character of the 
nation which I reprefented. 
I informed the king, by means of an 
interpreter, that I was charged, by the 
National Affembly of France, to vifit the 
different French poffeffions, and, in parti- 
cular, the ifland of Madagafcar, to affure 
the kings and chiefs of its different pro- 
vinces and diftriéts, of the pacific and 
friendly intentions of France, and of her 
anxious defire to augment and confolidate 
the relations of amity and commerce, for 
the mutual advantage of both countries. 
‘¢ By the flag which you difplay (added 
I), it cannet be doubted that you are 
friendly to the French nation, and regard 
yourfelf as being under its protection.” 
Zacavola replied, that the kings, his 
anceftors, had always been uniformly at- 
tached to the French nation, and gave 
me every aflurance of his ardent wifh to 
cultivate its friendhhip. : 
I fhall not here detail the conferencee 
which took place during this and another 
fubfequent interview, whereat were dif~ 
cuffed the refpective interetts of the tw@ 
nations, and of which the refult was, the 
adoption of a regulation that I propofeds 
for the future government and tranquile 
lity of the country. 
An oath was afterwards taken, on both 
fides, in order to ratify the compact that 
had been entered into. The ceremony 
employed on this occafion delerves to be 
related. q 
Having, on my part, taken to witnels 
the Supreme Being, who is alike worfhip~ 
ped by the Madaga{cans and by Europe- 
ans, of the fincerity and good intentions 
of the French nation towards them, I de. 
manded, in my turn, that they fhould 
bind themfelves by a fimilar oath, ftriéily 
to obferve all the articles of this conven- 
tion, and to maintain, ontheir fide, a juft 
amd impartial conduct towards the 
French, 
Then Rama Efa, who afted, on this 
occafion, as the organ of the king and 
principal chiefs, aiter renewing his af= 
furances of fatisfaction, faid, that he was 
ready to take the oath required ; but in 
order that it might be authentic, and 
perfeétly conformable to their cuftoms, it 
was neceflary to take it below, on the 
ground. We were, at this time, it is to 
be obferved; in the upper ftory of the ftate- 
houle. 
As 
F £2 < 
