On  the  11th,  I  requested  all  the  chiefs  to  assemble,
to  hold  their  first  cabar.  At  eight,  the  assembly  being
full,  I  required  the  execution  of  an  act  of  engagement,
under  oath,  to  be  made  with  the  insertion  of  all  the
names  of  the  chiefs  and  people  present.  This  act  was
written  in  the  language  of  the  country,  with  Roman
letters,  and  was  as  follows :

"  This  act  of  oath  of  the  Kings  Rohandrian,  of  the
"  Princes  Voadziri,  of  the  chiefs  Lohavohites,  and  the
"  people  of  Madagascar,  made  the  10th  of  October,
"  1776,  appointing  and  confirming  the  election  of
"  Maurice  Augustus  Count  of  Benyowsky,  to  the  rank

608


«(


"OUR  SUPREME  CHIEF"

"  of  Ampansacabe,  or  supreme  chief  of  the  nation,  the
"  Kings,  Princes,  chiefs,  and  people  undersigned,  being
"  assembled  in  cabar  :

"  In  presence  of  our  people,  having  consumed  the
"  sacrifice,  and  made  the   oath  of  blood,  we  proclaim,

declare,  and  acknowledge  Mauritius  Augustus  for
"  our  supreme  chief  Ampansacabe,  titles  extinct  since
"  the  decease  of  our  holy  family  of  Ramini,  which  we
"  revive  in  him  and  his  family.  It  is  for  this  reason
"  that,  having  consumed  the  sacrifice,  we  submit
'*  inviolably  to  his  authority ;  in  consequence  of  which
"  we  determine  to  erect,  in  our  province  of  Mohavelou,
"  a  monument  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  our  union,
"  and  to  immortalize  our  holy  oath :  In  order  that  our
*'  infants,  and  their  children,  unto  the  most  remote
"  posterity,  may  be  obedient  to  the  sacred  family
"  Ombiasse  of  the  Ampansacabe,  whom  we  all  sanctify
*'  by  ovu"  submissions. — Cursed  be  our  children  who
"  shall  not  obey  our  present  will ;  cursed  be  their
*'  inheritances,  and  the  fruits  of  the  earth  on  which
"  they  shall  subsist :— may  the  most  horrid  slavery
"  confound  them.""

HiAvi,  King  of  the  East.
