366 VISITS TO MADAGASCAE cuap. xhi. 



or ribbon of red and green across his breast beneath his vest, 

 "with the gold-fringed ends hanging down by his side. The 

 princess wore a bkie dress made in the European style, 

 trimmed with scarlet velvet, and ornamented with rows 

 of small gilt buttons, a pink satin bonnet with artificial 

 flowers, a veil, and lace tippet. One of the ladies wore a cu- 

 rious native or Arabic head-dress ; the others were in Euro- 

 pean costume : all were decorated with a profusion of gold 

 chains and jewellery ; and all rode in open palanquins. A 

 few of the officers were in blue uniform ; a number wore 

 scarlet trowsers, with the white flowing lamba bordered 

 with the akotso or five broad stripes, while the attendants, 

 and the crowds who followed or scattered themselves by 

 the side of the procession, seemed all to wear their holiday 

 dress. 



The day was fine, the scene bright, with a light cool breeze. 

 The union of the different modes of travel characteristic of 

 different countries, the officers on horseback as in Europe, the 

 princes in palanquins as in Asia ; the light, loose, flowing, and 

 gaily coloured drapery of the East, intermingled with the stiff 

 quiet-toned apparel of the West ; the music of Europe, and 

 the language of Madagascar, with the lively and jocund air 

 of the throng : and then the moving along amidst objects 

 new and attractive ; the massive rocky base of the capital, the 

 houses and their inhabitants, on one side ; and the wide culti- 

 vated plain, diversified by hills surmounted with villages, on 

 the other : all these combined to afford new sources of pleasure 

 and excitement. 



Having proceeded by a somewhat circuitous route from the 

 north to the east side of the capital, the road led to within a 

 few hundred yards of the palace, where a large scarlet umbrella 

 and a number of figures were seen on the terrace in front of 

 the palace. The procession halted, all hats were taken off, 

 and the band played the Malagasy " God save the queen," a 



