duced to perpetual slavery: I would advise the persecutors to think a little of what they are doing, lest they bring on themselves the wrath of God. When the Tsitialaingia came to my house," she added, with extraordinary warmth of feeling, "I was not afraid, but rather rejoiced that I was counted worthy to suffer affliction for believing in Jesus; I had hope of the life in heaven." The wife of Ramiandravola, her master, heard the remarks and told her husband, who immediately communicated it to Rainiharo. The latter praised him for his fidelity and diligence, and ordered him to put heavy irons on Rasalama. A messenger was also sent to acquaint the judges with what she had said.

On the return of the messenger, she inquired of him what message he had taken. "Only your words," said he, "that you rejoiced when you saw the Tsitialaingia come to you." "Why," rejoined Rasalama, "when I said much did you report little? The net is spread, but the bird may escape. It was I," added she, "that gave the names of Raintsiheva and others as our associates, that it might be for their honour and happiness. No one else raised them to honour, and I did." She was now put in heavy irons and beaten, but continued singing hymns. "My life," said she, "shall go for my companions. You say Rafaravavy will be put to death; but no, she will not die, I shall be killed instead of her!" Such a spirit and such remarks in Madagascar were sufficient to lead to her condemnation and death.

Such was her excitement of mind amidst an enfeebled state of body produced by severe beating and excruciating pain, that she perhaps said some few things unad

visedly, and led some of her friends to think that for a day or two there was a slight degree of incoherence about her. But she was perfectly calm and tranquil before death.

Ramiandravola had said to her, when the heavy irons were ordered to be placed on her, "I know you are a relative of mine, and that we share the same family grave, still, if you are found doing what the Queen condemns, I renounce all acquaintance with you. I have nothing whatever to dread but Ranavalona the Queen, and Rainiharo; what they love I love, what is sweet to them is sweet to me, and although a dog should be cut to pieces over my head,* if that would please them, it would please me." "That is a strong expression to use," said Rasalama, "and ought to awaken some reflection; you say you would delight to submit to the greatest possible indignity, even that a dog should be cut to pieces over you, if the Queen desired it and all this out of love to the sovereign. That devotion to the Queen ought to make you reflect a little”-meaning, if so much is due to an earthly sovereign, is no obedience to be paid to the authority of the Supreme Lord of all?-should not his servants be willing to suffer in his cause and cheerfully endure all that he may impose on them?

Many of the people attributed her firmness, and the remarks she continued to make, to the influence of some secret witchcraft which they believed had been employed over her by means of the missionaries. "Dreadfully

* A common practice in cases of persons put to death on any charge of sorcery, and a mark of extreme contempt and abhor

rence.

powerful indeed," said they, "must those ('ody') charms be, which can induce her to keep on talking in this way even to the very last!"

She was now taken from the house of Ramiandravola, and ordered for execution the next morning. She was put that afternoon into irons of a peculiar construction, not intended so much for the security of the prisoner as for cruel punishment. The irons consist of rings and bars, and are so fastened around the feet, hands, knees, and neck, as to confine the whole body in an excruciatingly painful position, forcing the extremities together, as if the sufferer were packed into a small case. These irons are called "omby fohy," "the shortened bullock," from the mode in which the natives are accustomed to tie the animal by drawing the fore and hind feet together in one knot.

Being led to the place of execution next morning, she expressed her joy that she had received the knowledge of the truth, and continued singing hymns on the way. Passing by Mr. Griffiths' chapel, where she had been baptized, she exclaimed, "There I heard the words of the Saviour!" On reaching the fatal spot, she requested permission to kneel down and pray; her request was granted; she calmly knelt down, committed her spirit into the hands of the Redeemer, and in that attitude was speared to death, the executioners, three or four in number, standing behind and by the side of her, and striking her through the ribs and the heart.* The pain would be momentary, the release triumphant, and the bliss that followed immortal. Her body was left to be devoured by the wild dogs that frequent all places in Madagascar

* See the vignette, title-page.

where criminals suffer. When Rafaravavy and a friend went some time afterwards to the exact spot where she was killed, they could find only a few bones lying about, where they had been scattered by the dogs..

دو

The name "Rasalama is formed of the well-known oriental word "Salama," peace," "health," "happiness," and the usual Malagasy affix to proper names, "Ra." Though a sufferer and a martyr, she realized all that the name imported. She found "peace in believing." She was sustained by the smiles of the Saviour, and enjoyed the fulfilment of his promise, "In me ye shall have peace."

Some said, when she was led forth to death, "Where is the God she prays to, that he does not save her now?" Others were touched with pity, and could not see for what crime these Christians were put to death.

He who enrolled with honour the name of Antipas as his "faithful martyr" at Pergamos, has, in his providence, now enrolled the name of "Rasalama" as the proto-martyr of Madagascar; and long will that name continue embalmed with fragrancy in the memory of those who love the Saviour's cause.

Few of the Christians, if any, except one young man named Rafaralahy, ventured to the spot while she was put to death. He did, and was deeply affected with the scene. He saw her calmness, and returned from the spectacle a martyr in spirit. "If," said he, "I might die so tranquil and happy a death, I would not be unwilling to die for the Saviour too." The event will show that he was ere long put to the awful test.

From the Martyrdom of Rasalama, 1837, to that of Rafaralahy,

in 1838.

ABOUT a week after Rasalama's death, the rest of the accused party were divided as slaves among the first officers; Rainiharo took Andrianantoandro and his wife and child, Ramanana, Ratiasoa, Ranomé, Ratsarahomba (David), Andrianimanana, and Simeon; Rainingitabé took Raminahy; Andriantsalama had Raivo and Rafara; Ratsimanisa had Razafy and Razafitsara. Paul remained still in irons, and two soldiers were guarding him, and although Razafy, Paul's wife, had not been accused, but was reduced to slavery because she was the wife of one deemed guilty, she was treated by Ratsimanisa as one of the party. When her master was asked why she was put in irons, since her husband only had been found guilty, "Oh," said he, with a sneer, "her very appearance tells us she is one of them." That she really was there can be no question, but she had escaped the notice of the accuser in the first instance, and the evidence appealed to, that her dejected looks were against her, would not quite have satisfied a lover of impartial justice.

Rasoamaka (Joseph) and Ramanisa reached the capital on their return home from Tamatave in a few days after the above mentioned division of the Christians among the officers had taken place. They heard of this fresh burst of persecution while on their way up from the coast, when about forty miles from home. They heard also that