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itis as well to die as to be accused, The recent unsparing 
use of Tanghin by the government is contrasted with the con- 
duct of King Radama, whose mode of administration is pro- 
fessedly followed, but who was wont to excuse the young on 
the ground that *though they might be a little polluted, 
years would teach them better." Many privately affirm that 
* the lust of money” is at the root of this custom, and cer- 
tainly so much wealth accrues at those periods to the persons 
concerned in laying accusations and administering the poison, 
that this idea does not appear destitute of foundation. A 
dollar and 63 cents is the fee given by every individual who 
recovers, besides many perquisites and private presents. One 
individual can administer the Tanghin to eight persons in one 
day, and when the accused dies, the officiating Skid receives 
zath part of the whole property not bequeathed before the 
accusation. One of the administrators came to Mr. Griffiths 
to request that his son, a scholar, might be allowed to accom- 
pany him, and assist in performing the ordeal, assigning as a 
reason that he might thus get a little money. 
The Diviners also reap a large harvest from these iniqui- 
tous practices; they attend daily for eight or ten days before 
and after the drinking takes place, and receive one dollar or 
many, according to the wealth of the accused, so that with all 
these concomitant expences, the people may well say, “let us 
` rather die? — : lli 
Ruthlessness is the characterizing feature of the whole 
transaction, One of the officers, accused in 1831, was ac- 
tually watching the corpse of his father when the appointed 
Person knocked at his door. He begged to be excused till 
after the funeral, declaring that he only asked a few days’ 
delay, and not exemption; none, however, could be granted, 
and he was dragged from performing the last offices of filial 
affection, to the scene of ignominious and protracted trial. 
In another instance, a man was ill of fever and unable to 
walk, yet no delay was permitted. He drank, and some 
credit accrued to the Tanghin in consequence, for the violent 
vomiting and purging cured him completely of the fever, and 
he made no little boasting of the affair. 
