126 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. v. 



was generally a tap in the end of the barrel, and one or 

 two men were constantly inviting customers. No law of 

 Eadama's was more salutary than that which prohibited the 

 making or selling of ardent spirits. Many of the people 

 whom I saw appeared to be under the influence of this 

 liquor. 



On my way home I called on Filiberg, the son of the late 

 chief judge of the district. The house in which he lives is 

 quite a mansion. It seems as if it might belong to the 

 native aristocracy, and speaks well for the rank maintained 

 by the former chiefs of the place. This house, which has two 

 stories and a number of rooms tolerably well furnished, 

 stands in a compound or enclosure fifty or a hundred yards 

 square, formed with posts from six to nine inches in diameter, 

 and about fifteen feet high, planted in the ground close 

 together. A lodge stands at the gate of the enclosure, and a 

 broad path, bordered with tall mango-trees, leads to the 

 house. Around the house, and within the enclosure, are a 

 number of small huts or houses well and neatly built, which 

 are the dwellings of the chief's attendants and servants, 

 forming a sort of embryo village round his mansion. The 

 servant or porter whom we saw at the lodge, a smart young 

 man, with an enormous pair of gold earrings, having informed 

 the chief that I was waiting, came back to lead us to the 

 house. On entering I was cordially welcomed by the young 

 chief and his half brother, who were surrounded by their 

 attendants ; while on the opposite side of the large room 

 about twenty females were sitting on mats spread upon the 

 boarded floor, as if expecting company. After a short con- 

 versation respecting England and Mauritius, I took my leave, 

 as other guests had arrived. 



The 24th June was the last day of the Malagasy year 

 and on that day the observances connected with the great 

 annual festival in commemoration of the New Year com- 



