CHAP. XIII. HOMAGE WITH THE PRODUCE OF THE SOH;. 367 



not unpleasing native tune. The queen had come out upon 

 the terrace, to see the prince and princess pass. In a few 

 minutes the scarlet umbrella disappeared, and the procession as 

 represented in the frontispiece moved on. The arrangement 

 which placed me during the day next to the queen's secretary, 

 who, having been educated in England, speaks English well, 

 was to me peculiarly gi'atifying, as he kindly pointed out 

 and explained several places and objects of interest observed 

 on our way. 



As we passed the south end of the capital, a number of 

 soldiers appeared on a rising ground. I was told they were 

 the artillery. We also saw over a hollow between two moun- 

 tains, and at a considerable distance, the wide ground at 

 Isoaierana, where a large body of men, apparently several 

 thousands, was assembled. I was told they were the troops 

 in the neighbourhood of the capital, who are exercised toge- 

 ther once a fortnight. On reaching the village of Androndra, 

 the prince and princess, accompanied by their followers, 

 looked over a tract of rice-ground which the queen had 

 recently given to them. This had been one of the objects of 

 the excursion, and as soon as it was accomplished, we turned 

 to the eastward, passing along a road between low flat rice- 

 fields. As we approached the villages, I frequently saw a 

 number of the inhabitants coming out of their gardens with a 

 bundle of sugar-canes freshly broken off, or a small basket of 

 manioc roots or sweet potatoes just dug up, and running in 

 eager haste to the side of the road, waiting there, often spade 

 in hand, until the prince and princess came up, when they 

 presented to them the produce of the ground, and offered 

 their salutations, — an interesting and primitive species of 

 homage. The prince acknowledged their gifts, which were 

 delivered to his followers as the party moved along. 



At length we reached Mahazoarivo, the country residence 

 of the late king. While passing under the gateway leading 



