viceable, while it has added to the attractions of his books; and he was generally in a position to satisfy the eager inquiries of the more educated with regard to the polity, modern discovery, and social progress of England, "the happy land" of the Malagasy noble. We should have liked, indeed, to have added more fully to our slender knowledge of Malagasy government and native form of heathenism, but we recognize the difficulties of his position with regard to both these subjects; even when changing events made him the confidential and affectionate adviser or the monarch, he informs us that he forbore all expression of opinion on political matters, save when expressly invited to do so. His first work, too-as the preceding narrative of Messrs. Freeman and Johns-was written under very considerable reserve. The publication of names of native converts, in connection with Christian progress-the least clue which might lead to the detection of those still practising Christian rites or holding Christian principles (indications are not wanting throughout the work that such had recourse to Mr. Ellis for communion and advice, and even engaged in divine worship with him under these truly dreadful risks), would have drawn destruction upon them from the merciless bigot who then held possession of the throne. But Mr. Ellis became the connecting link between the Christian world and that new and outlying portion of it whose origin we have endeavored to trace in the preceding pages.

In the summer of 1853, Mr. Ellis arrived at Mauritius; and, by help of a small sailing craft, completed his voyage to Madagascar. The village of Tamatave, overlooking the port, contains some 3,000 inhabitants; but, owing to the extreme fear of foreign invasion already alluded to, the harbor is left uninviting a condition in which the vil lage takes its share. The inhabitants, desirous of a renewal of trade, were friendly and hospitable, adding strong expressions of hope that Mr. Ellis would obtain permission to proceed to the cap

ital.

In about three weeks, his letter containing this request-forwarded in company with a memorial of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce for a resumption of trade-received its reply through

the hands of the native authorities at Tamatave. It was carefully-even courteously-worded, but urged great pressure of public business upon the Queen's hands at the time, and recommended Mr. Ellis to return across the water before sickness should overtake him. Deeming the country thus closed against him, Mr. Ellis reluctantly returned to Mauritius. The few weeks, however, spent in Tamatave were not without their interest and encouragement; nor, notwithstanding the perils of the subject, was information on the progress of Christianity entirely wanting. Indeed, the meeting between native and European Christian, after an estrangement of seventeen years which had left many deep and still bleeding wounds in their course, was at times strange and moving.

"Our frequent intercourse with them (writes Mr. Ellis, who, on this visit, was accompanied by Mr. Cameron, formerly instructor of mechanical and architectural arts under the first mission) was intensely interesting, and sometimes deeply affecting. Much important information was received from them; and our best advice and kindest Christian sympathy appeared to be both welcome and friendly natives whom we had expected to cheering. On one occasion, when one of the see entered the place where we were sitting, after looking earnestly at each of us for a few moments, and almost mechanically giving us his hand, there came over his whole countenance such an expression as I had never before witnessed in any human being. It was not ecstacy, it was not terror, and yet an apparsity of feeling but rarely seen. During the ent blending of both, marked by an intenwhole interview, which was long, there was a strong uneasiness mingled with evident satisfaction which it would be impossible to describe. It would be unsuitable to make any mention of his name or rank; or of the present circumstances of some, or the tragical end, on account of their faith, of others most closely connected with him.”—(Visits to Madagascar, p. 38.)`

This visit was also of service in procuring the native and very beautiful fresh-water plant, known as the Ouvirandra fenestralis, or lattice-leaf plant, specimens of which may now be seen at Kew, Chiswick, the Regent's Park, and the Crystal Palace, as well as some very attractive orchids.

For the attack made on the port of Tamatave in 1845, the Queen of Madagascar bad demanded an indemnity of

common with all the inland towns-doubtless for better defence-Antananarivo clothes the top and sides of an elevated ridge some two miles long; and, as the highest point of each village is allotted to its chief personage, so the royal palace, its largest and most lofty building, crowns this Acropolis. This structure is some sixty feet high, wellindeed, admirably-planned for a people so lately entitled to aspire to the rank of civilization. It is surrounded by a double balcony, and the golden eagle, the emblem of the Hovas, surmounts the whole. The residence of the Queen's son adjoins a smaller building, but in similar good taste, and also bearing the golden eagle. The house set apart for Mr. Ellis's accommodation was a neat, well-built, two-story house; the rooms large and lofty, measuring about fourteen feet from floor to ceiling, covered with excellent matting, and furnished with all suitable requisites. Presents of oxen, poultry, eggs, rice, and other articles followed each other in rapid succession-as, previously, had been the custom on the journey to the capital. In the evening, the courtyard was filled by persons desirous of paying visits of congratulation to the new missionary. "Friends seemed as if they could not keep away, but came with anxious and yet joyous look, just to offer a brief though fervent welcome, and then depart."

On the following day, took place Mr. Ellis's first and highly important interview with the Prince Royal, on whom so much of the future of Madagascar was now considered to depend. The Prince, at this period, was twenty-six years of age, and had been for some time married. Small, but well-proportioned, with expressive and highly intelligent features, quick sensibilities, and a manner marked by very considerable natural courtesy, he appears to have strongly prepossessed in his favor all Europeans with whom he came in contact. "He deports himself amazingly well, and on public occasions is dignified and self-possessed," says Lieutenant Oliver. He

*

*Lieutenant Oliver was attached to the Mission sent to convey presents from Her Majesty the Queen to Radama II. in 1862. His work is copiously illustrated with sketches, which give a very lively idea of the persons, scenery, and architecture of the island.

...

is not like a Malagasy at all, but much more like an English gentleman," is the character which M. de Lastelle gives of him-probably not without the delicate flattery of his countrymen-to Mr. Ellis. "Youthful, light-hearted, and fond of fun the benevolence and kindness of the Prince appeared innate, and was exercised irrespective of color, rank, or nation," is the affectionate verdict of Mr. Ellis himself on his future and favorite pupil. With an excellent ear the young Prince played and sang well; had a ready wit; and in his domestic relations exhibited much natural affection, gentleness, and consideration. But the most distinguishing trait in his character was his sense of the sacredness of human life, and his unconquerable aversion to its destruction:

"I have often thought that, if not originated, these were matured and confirmed by the shock and revulsion of feeling produced by the waste of life, and the spectacles of bloodshed which must have been made familiar to him during his mother's reign. I believe it was his firm purpose that no human life should be taken by his authority, and that his reign, whatever might be its duration, should be designated by succeeding generations as 'the bloodless reign.' At least, so he once said to me." (Madagascar Revisited.)

That a strong feeling of attachment to the heir to the throne should pervade all classes of the community was to be expected from the close connection between loyalty and religion existing in the native mind. Even toward the she-wolf who then held possession of it, sentiments of reverence and submission which a European would regard as due alone to the Supreme and Divine Ruler of all were to be heard from her subjects, whose flesh she tore and whose blood she was spilling like water. But the personal tie existing between his countrymen and the new Radama-for by such title was he already known-appears to have been of a far more close and cordial nature than this. In the cold gray of the morning and the driving mountain mist of the highly elevated Imerina, he was to be seen, cloaked and booted, among his men, superintending those great public works which were to advance his country in the scale of civilization. As he returned in the evening, the peasant hastened from his field, spade in hand, to lay before him his simple offering of

poultry, or the first fruits of his husbandry. Each chief triumph of the housewife's art, whether it might be a jar of honey, or a bale of native undyed silk, or some known favorite of the Prince's taste, was reserved for the Silver Palace; and as he handled or tasted, and pronounced it good, "they looked at each other with satisfaction and then sat for some time gazing at him without speaking, but with evident delight." National usage imperatively demands that the health of the Sovereign be drank last; after which the feast ends. But at the banquets of the native nobles his name was proposed next in order of honor, and with an enthusiasm which told of a glorious fut ure expected for their country when the course of nature should place him on the throne. To the native Christians he had at all times proved a ready friend in their great and sore need, manifesting, in addition to his instinctive hatred of cruelty and bloodshed, an abhorrence of all religious intolerance. When a boy, he is reported to have visited his near relative Prince Ramonja, and to have wept as he beheld his coarse fare, scanty clothing, and meanest drudgery of a private soldier; and when the tempest of religious persecution raged fiercest against lesser subjects, and they fled in crowds to his house, he encouraged them to hope, supplied them with food and money, and favored their escape from the capital. It is even added that he broke into a council of his mother and her advisers, and pleaded their cause:-"Why should they be put to death? They have done nothing but good in the country. If they are to suffer because they are Christians, I too am a Christian. If those are to die who read the sacred Book and pray, I have done this. I too must die." These acts had drawn upon him the attention of the idol-keepers, and more than once they had urged strong remonstrance upon the Queen. But maternal instinct appears to have been the one soft point in that cruel and unrelenting breast. "He is only a youth, and he is my son," was reported to have been her reply. We have already stated that, in earlier years, the Prince had permitted himself to be baptized by the native Christians; but his precise religious views at the period of Mr. Ellis's visit were the subject of con

siderable controversy. It appears beyond a doubt that he had entirely dis entangled himself from the superstitions of the native religion, and even that he spoke in open derision of the idols and their power; but evidence is wanting that he had replaced these by the adop tion of a purer faith. It was even insinuated that an earlier English instructor had suggested deistical views to him ; and it is certain that, at a subsequent period, unhappy differences in Christian forms of belief were pressed upon his notice. So far it may be desirable to speak in anticipation of the Prince's character.

On the present occasion, Mr. Ellis describes him as entering into conversation with him with natural ease and dignity. "What can we do to promote the prosperity and stability of the nation that Madagascar may become like other countries?"-appears to have been his leading thought on this, as on several subsequent interviews. "We conversed," continues Mr. Ellis, "a long time on a number of subjects not connected with religion, in some of which the Prince was deeply interested; and becoming greatly excited, spoke with a degree of earnestness and animation which, considering the quietness of his manner during the early part of our interview, I had scarcely expected." On a subsequent visit, he came accompanied by his wife, the Princess Rabodo, also of royal blood. In a few days Mr. Ellis received an intimation that the Queen would accord him a public interview; and, in the courtyard of the palace, the widow of the first Radama held her audience, and accepted from him—not without some appearance of relief and satisfaction

the assurance of friendly intentions toward the Malagasy with which he had been entrusted by the British Government. Ranavalo was, at this period, in her sixty-eighth year, apparently in good health, and not altogether unprepossessing in appearance, her countenance affording no indication of the cruelties which had marked her reign. The whole ceremony, we are assured, was characterized by a becoming dignity and propriety of demeanor in all present.

Attentions from the chief persons of the capital, indicating considerable kindness and delicacy, followed; and the subsequent period of Mr. Ellis's residence

at the seat of government appears to have been fully occupied by increasing demands on his photographic skill, by visits to various portions of the city and adjoining country in company with the Prince, and by a succession of pleasant, and, to all appearances, not inelegant hospitalities. Of the Prince himself, Mr. Ellis now writes in terms of unaffected love and friendship, and there is every reason to believe that the feeling was warmly and sincerely returned. We are left in no doubt that, during this period, the English missionary entered into close and confidential intercourse with the native Christians dwelling in and around the metropolis. Many of these had remained from the time of the former missionaries' sojourn, twenty years before; numbers had since joined their ranks, and not a few were near relatives of the martyrs of 1840 and 1849. The spirit of persecution, however, though it had now slumbered for some years, was by no means dead; and the task, we may well believe, needed the exercise of no small care and discretion. As the period specified for Mr. Ellis's residence in the country approached its termination, the Prince made efforts to procure its extension, but ineffectually. The Queen was not unmindful of courtesy, but firm; and Mr. Ellis took his reluctant departure, apparently to the great regret of all his friends:

"The Prince," he writes, was more than usually grave; and we were long engaged in earnest conversation. He spoke much of his anxiety for the people, and his distress at events that occurred. He said it was like tearing his heart out. About three o'clock we rose to depart, when the Prince, with a degree of feeling that almost overcame me, came, and taking my hand, led me out of the house through the crowd of officers and people, to my palanquin. As soon as I was seated, he entered his own, as did also the young noble his companion. Thus accompanied, I commenced my homeward journey."

In 1857 Mr. Ellis reached England, and made report of his mission.

Neither age, however, nor signs of approaching dissolution, appears to have exercised any softening influence on the merciless and inexorable heart of the Queen. The year following Mr. Ellis's departure from the country was marked by as extensive and unrelenting a persecution of the native Christians as any

which had gone before. On this occasion, death by stoning was chiefly inflicted; besides which, great numbers were loaded with heavy fetters, which they wore until death released them. During a subsequent visit to the country, Mr. Ellis obtained the chains which a distinguishedChristian had thus worn during life, and brought them to England; they were found to weigh over 50 lbs. All testimony concurs in attributing to the Prince great humanity, and numberless acts of direct interposition, during this terrible period. Evidence, when possible, was held back from the Queen, and many fugitives were provided with the means of escape. On this occasion, Ranavalo again recurred to her expedient of calling on the Christians to denounce themselves, but the people, warned by past experience, more sparingly obeyed the summons. Many of the native narratives of this and preceding scenes of Christian persecution-chiefly drawn up by actual sufferers in them-wear a singular charm of simple dignity, honesty, and intelligent unsuspecting faith. They are the accounts of persons who regard these persecutions as temporary and short-sighted impediments to a great and glorious future, and we look in vain in them for an expression of haste, of vindictiveness, or of doubt, that the purposes of God are triumphing over the obstructions of man. At the risk of exceeding our limits, we cannot refrain from extracting the concluding portion of one of these narratives, written by a Christian convert when in chains; but who, nevertheless, was unwearied in his exertions to benefit his countrymen both heathen and Christian:

"After this, false reports about the Christians were brought to the Queen again; and those who had been bound together with us in prison were loaded with additional chains, and four were sent to Isifalahy, among the Sacalavas. But we four brethren were kept in chains.

"On account of the numerous ways or kinds of occupation in the land of the Queen, I considered; and I asked God what I should do that I might learn to dispense medicine; and I translated a book about administering medicine, which Dr. Tavel [attached to the earlier missionary staff] left for those whom the Queen sent to learn at Ambodinandahalo. It was in 1852 that I was learning about medicine.