The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-11-12

we give pace u the following important
letter from Rev. William Ellis, long a devo.
ted and able missionary of the London Mis-
sionary Society TO Madagascar, addressed to
the Rev. DR.. Tidman, secretary of that soci-
ETY.. Ii can hardly fail to be read with in
terest as a remarkable chapter in the history
of that country
"ATANANARIvo, MAI tGAsCAR.I
Nav 10th. 1868.
My DEAR FRIEND :-SeldGm has the
instability of human affairs been more
strlkIngIy, and in some respects. traglcally
manifested, than in the events of the last
few DAYS in this city. Within that period
the reign of Radama IL. has closed with his
life a successor has been chosea by the no.
bles and accepted by the people; a new
form of government has been $laugurated.
and II is arranged that the legislative and
administrative functions of the sovereignty
shall hereafter be discharged By the sover-
eIgn, the MOBILES, and the heads * the people
jointly. 4 series of Notwithstanding
IN What may be regarded as the ges.1s of con-
stitutional government has be.I prepared
and presented by the mobiles and leads of the
people to the Queen. containing the condi-
lions on which they offered her the crown.
The acceptance of these conditions by Rabo-
do, and their due observance by the mobiles
and heads of the people, were attested by
49, Nk1SGh abo IN tbASA VI
the mobiles, before the former was announced
to the people as their future sovereign, and
proclaimed under tide title of RaSoaherena,
Queen of Madagascar. The death Of Ra-
DANA, the offer and acceptance OF the crown,
aud the proclamation of the present ruler as
Queen, all occurred on Tuesday, the 18th
instant.
"Amiable and enlightened as in several
respects Radama certainly was. his views of
the duties OF the ruler were exceedingly de-
f~ective, and almost all government for the
good OF the country may be said to have
been In allegiance ever since his accession.
The destruction of a large part of the reve-
nue. of government by the abolition of all
duties-the exclusion from his councils of
many of the mobiles and most experienced
men in the nation, while he SURROUNDED him.
self with a number of young. inexperienced,
and many of them most Objectionable men as
his confidential advisers-the reSaxation or
dIscontinuance of all efforts to retress crime,
or punish 1T when committed and the ne
glect of all measures for placing tie ~prosperi-
ty OF the country on any solid u. sis-have,
Notwithstanding the affection m,ny of the
people bore him, produced growing dissatis-
faction. Still, confiding in his good nature,
all were willing to wait in hope OF a change
for the better; while the Christians, grateful
" tuC tOClNy tJCy tDlONtu ~ NOISDlp, J
teach and extend their knowledge of Christ
ianIty, directed their chief attention to the
enlightenment of the masses of their heather
countrymeh.
wv thin the last two or three months en-
traordinary efforts have been made to bring
the Kings mind under the influence of the
old superstiuons of the country, and these
succeeded to an extent which has resulted
in his ruin. Within this period a sort of
mental epidemic mas appeared in the ad jacent
provinces and IN the capital. The subjects
of this disease pretended to be unconscious of
their actions, and to be unable to refrain
from leaping, running. dancing, &c. These
persons also saw visions, and heard voices
from the invisible world. One of these
visions. seen by many, was the ancestors of
the King, and the voices they heard an
nounced the coming of these ancestors to tell
the King what he was to do for .he good of
the country. Subsequently a message was
brought to him as from his anceStors to the
effect that, if he did not stop 'thje praying
some great calamity would sooni befall him.
To the surprise of his best friend : the King
was exceedingly interested in .,is strange
movement, seemed to believe ting pretended
message from the world of spirrss. and en-
couraged the frantic dancers, svho daily
thronged his house and DECLARED that the
disease would continue to increase tIl the
praying was stopped. 1t iss generally
reported that these movements WIRE prompt
ed by the guardians of the idols, and promo
ted by his own Mena naaso,t who 5ribed par
ties to come as sick persons in large numbers
from the country, in order TO continue the
delusion.
1t was then proposed to assassinate a
number OF Christians, as Il means OF stopping
the progress of Christianity, and also to kill
the chief mobiles who opposed the Kings pro-
ceedings. With Il view of increasing the
influence of this ~fanaticaI party. the King
issued an order that all persons meeting any
of the SO-called sick should take off their
hats, and thus show them the same mark of
respect as was formerly given to the national
idols when they were carried through the
city. With the view also of shielding the
perpetrators of the intended murders, the
King announced his intention 10 issue an
order or law, that any person or persons
wishing 10 fight with firearms, swords, or
spears. should not be prevented, and that if
any one was killed the murderer should not
be punished. This alarmed the whole com-
munitv. On the 7th instant Radama re-
peated before his ministers and others in the
palace. his determination to issue that ORDER;
and among all the Mena mdSo present only
three opposed the issuing OF the order many
were silent. the rest expressed their appro-
val. The mobiles and heads of the people
spent the day in celebrating on the course
they should pursue, and the next morning
the prime minister, with about one hundred