271 
which is used instead of a trumpet, and makes a most hideous 
noise: all apparelled in their best garments. As soon as the 
King is observed coming, the people set up shouts of joy, 
which do not cease till he takes his place on a large table, 
and sits down on a chair, mounted upon it. Then perfect 
silence is preserved for a moment, after which all the assem- 
blage, with one voice, call out Trarantitra (good day!). After 
the King. has replied to this, silence again prevails, which 
is then broken by his Majesty, who, if he be for war, brings 
with him an assaguay, a buckler, or a small gun, and after 
having performed some evolutions with these arms, proclaims 
. his intention, and regulates the whole affair. When he ceases 
speaking, the people cry out Trarantitra as before, after 
which the chiefs rise, in reply,.and often pronounce their 
harangues with great fluency and astonishing natural elo- 
quence. ! 
I shall leave to philologists the language of Madagascar, 
which differs in the different provinces, and offers great diffi- 
culties to a foreigner; it has some affinity with Arabic and 
Malay, and many words are purely of the latter tongue, as 
the numbers, the days of the week and the months, the mem- 
bers of the human body, &c. | 
A peculiarity in the conversation of the people of Emerina 
lies in the numerous oaths, w Gosse, which find a place in it; 
they are intended as attestations of veracity, and may be com- 
pared to the word of honour among the French. 'The smallest 
thing requires asseveration, and is accompanied by a Gosse, 
which is generally by one's father, mother, &c. though long 
dead, or by the reigning King and his mother; slaves gener- 
ally invoke their masters, but the Gosse maffi, or solemn oath, 
is, by the sorcerer of the king, and in this case they may be 
severely punished if they do not tell the trath. - cpi haste 
In their salutations they are polite, even to annoyance 
After having said good day, and informed themselves of the 
health of the individual addressed, this person thanks them 
and repeats the same inquiries. "Then the first. speaker re- 
sumes with questions of the well-being of his friend's family, 
wife, children, brothers, sisters, all of which is returned, and 
