niharo, we may explain that the Malagasy define an
ungrateful man as the "son of a thunderbolt," and sometimes as the
"offspring of a wild-boar," because--so they say--the young of the
wild-boar, when running by the side of its dam, continually gets in
advance and turns round to bite her. The ingratitude of which our
friend Ravonino was supposed to be guilty, consisted in his having
forsaken the idols of the country and renounced the favour of the Queen
by becoming a Christian, preferring, like Moses, to suffer affliction
with the banished people of God.

"No doubt," continued the premier, "they will be praying and
psalm-singing. Now, knowing your detestation of these Christians, I
have resolved to send you to their meeting _as a Christian_. You are
wise enough to know how to act when among them. Take note of the men
and women you see there, whether high or low; make out a list of them,
and bring it to me. Death and chains shall be their portion, for I am
fully more determined than the Queen is to stamp out this religion. Go,
and do as I bid ye as quickly as you can."

For a few seconds the youth stood perplexed and irresolute. Then he
said, suddenly, "Yes, uncle, I will go, according to your bidding, _as a
Christian_!" and hastily left the room.

Meanwhile Mark Breezy and his companions, led by Laihova, followed the
throng of country-folk to the market-place. They had passed the guard
at the gate by means of that potent talisman, silver, before which few
gates are permanently closed. If the party had sought to pass with any
pomp or circumstance, or if they had carried merchandise along with
them, they could not have passed so easily; but Laihova had only to
bestow some bits of silver on the guard and the way was at once clear.
They might have passed without it, however, had they known of Rakota's
interference in their favour.

We speak of "bits" of silver advisedly, for the Malagasy take the
simplest and most literal way of making small change; they clip their
dollars into little pieces of various sizes, and therewith transact the
business that in other lands is settled with pence. As these clippings
are not very accurate, however, they weigh the pieces, and for this
purpose every one carries about with him a tiny pair of scales in his
waist-cloth. These dollars were all foreign coins, for the Malagasy at
that time had, (and we believe still have), no native coinage. All
silver that comes to their net i