The visit of Mr. Ellis, an English missionary, in 1856, was the signal
for the intrigues which were about to commence between the French and
English. The prince was warmly attached to M. Lambert, but the English
hoped to claim him as a Protestant. Finally, as Madame Pfeiffer says, M.
Lambert attempted to create a revolution, seeking to depose the queen,
but he was discovered and banished.
In 1861, the queen died, and her son succeeded as Radama II, after a
short contest with his cousin. Having been on the island at the time,
and leaving it in the vessel which carried the new king's letters to the
colonial governments, the writer can testify to the intense interest
evinced by the French and English. It was confidently asserted at
Bourbon that Radama had placed the island under the protection of
France, and that French influence was to predominate. This proved
unfounded, but the court was the centre for incessant intrigues.
The new king commenced his reign under the happiest auspices. He was
very popular, and his reputation for kindness had soon caused many of
the surrounding tribes to acknowledge his supremacy. The Hovas had
spread from the centre toward the coast in all directions--to the
eastward they had subdued the Betsimarakas; to the westward, the
Saccalaves. Yet numerous tribes had remained independent, and held large
portions of the coast and the interior. The cruelty of the queen had
kept alive their animosity, but now they voluntarily came forward to
acknowledge her son and to be received into the Hova nation.
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