A certain amount of commerce was allowed with Europeans, but
under severe restrictions. So necessary to the existence of the
neighboring colonists was the supply of food, that when in 1844 the
trade was forbidden, the English Government was obliged to yield. The
difficulty arose from the fact that an English vessel, the 'Marie
Laure,' kidnapped some of the Malagash. The Hovas seized one of the
crew, and then declared non-intercourse. In 1845, one English and two
French men-of-war attacked Tamatave, but were repulsed with considerable
losses.
Finally the matter was settled by the payment of $15,000 to the queen as
an indemnity, and this sum, raised by the contributions of the merchants
of Port Louis, was paid with the consent of the English Government.
Until 1861, there was no change in the position of affairs, except one
incident, which Madame Pfeiffer records. In 1831, a certain M. Laborde,
shipwrecked on the coast, was carried as a prisoner to the capital,
where he was kept in an honorable captivity. He taught the natives the
art of casting cannon and manufacturing gunpowder, and acquired a
considerable property. In 1855, he was joined by M. Lambert, a
Frenchman of wealth, and they became the favorites of the Prince Rakoto.
This son of the queen was at the head of the liberal party, as his
cousin, Ramboasalama, was of the conservative. The latter, nephew of the
queen, and brother-in-law of the prince, had been designated as heir
presumptive before the birth of Rakoto; and he had always the credit of
a design to contest the succession.
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