It seems that her son had
promised to keep this spot sacred from the intrusion of the
missionaries. Mr. Ellis most imprudently determined to preach there, and
though driven away once, obtained troops from the king, and succeeded in
a second attempt.
As the nobles and the population were almost unanimously in favor of
idolatry, this course gave cause for great dissatisfaction. The more
devout, assembling near the capital, held daily meetings, and a disease
called ramanenra--a sort of nervous affection, such as has too often
accompanied revivals in Christian countries--appeared among them. The
nobles confederated under the lead of the commander-in-chief,
Rainivoninahitriniony, and remained aloof from supporting the king.
Finally, the king published a mysterious law, allowing individuals or
tribes to fight in the presence of witnesses--a law supposed by the one
party to encourage assassination, and by the other to tend to the
extirpation of the Christians.
The prime minister, in a letter written in English, explains the last
scene thus: On the 8th May, the chief officers requested the repeal of
these laws; the king refused; and the tenth day, a public tumult
resulted in the slaughter of the Menamaso, or native favorites of the
king. On the 12th May, the leaders, afraid to pause, strangled the king,
and proclaimed Rabodo queen, under the name of Rahoserina.
It is believed that no foreigner was injured; but the nobles have taken
an important step in proclaiming the new queen as direct successor of
Ranavalo--thereby ignoring the reign of Radama II.
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