l86 A THIRD OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 



given by the persons to be sworn striking the water witli 

 boughs, a spear being also struck into the pool, and a musket 

 fired over it. The writer has also seen this form of oath taken 

 over water in a canoe, which is then violently shaken by the 

 people who stand around it. At the accession of Eanavalona 

 I., another form of oath was devised, called misdtro vblzalat. 

 In this ceremony a quantity of red earth having been taken 

 from the tomb of one of the kings was mixed with water, 

 and drunk by the common people, it being supposed that this 

 would operate as a curse in those who violate the oath. 



The third form of allegiance is by presenting the hdsina or 

 silver dollar. While the other two customs are only observed 

 at the accession of a new sovereign, this is repeated on every 

 occasion when the Queen grants an audience either to a 

 foreigner or to one of her subjects ; it is also given at many 

 other times, not to the Queen personally, but to governors or 

 other officials who represent the sovereign. The piece of money 

 presented is the dollar or dridry, formerly the Spanish " jiillar 

 dollar," but in later years the French five-franc-piece ; this is 

 called vdla tsi-vahy (" unbroken money "), as distinct from the 

 cut money used in trading. On presenting it, a wish or prayer 

 is expressed that blessings on the sovereign may accompany 

 the money off'ered. This offering of money seems analogous 

 to that widely-spread custom which is alluded to in Ps. Ixviii. 

 30, "Rebuke the company of the spearmen, . . . until every 

 one submit himself with, pieces of silver." 



A IMalagasy sovereign never moves out of the palace with- 

 out great state and ceremony, all the chief people of the 

 kingdom residing in the capital accompanying her, and hun- 

 dreds of soldiers and other attendants. Her presence is always 

 known by a large scarlet umbrella being carried over her, 

 and when taking the air in the verandah of the palace or in 

 the gardens this sign of royalty is also seen above her head. 

 In this scarlet umbrella there seems a link of connection with 

 some of the African customs, many of the negro kings being 

 distinguished by an immense ornamented umbrella being borne 

 over them ; and it Mali be remembered that the state um- 

 brella of the King of Ashantee formed one of the trophies of 

 the recent war in that country. The Nineveh sculptures also 



