HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
87 
proclaimed, the chief, Rafangoro, delivered an address, con¬ 
taining not only an announcement of the rights and privi¬ 
leges upon which the new prince was about to enter, but a 
general welcome back to the bosom of his native country, 
and the hearts of his expectant people. 
Having finished this discourse, he put an assagaye into 
the hands of the Count, and prostrated himself at his feet. 
All the chiefs followed his example, and then the entire 
multitude: so that the new monarch saw, with feelings it 
would be difficult to define, fifty thousand people prostrate 
before him. 
The form of acknowledging this new honour was then 
dictated to him by Rafangoro, during which the people, 
who were still prostrate, gave a shout as each clan was 
named, and at last arose. The several clans then sepa¬ 
rated from each other, and, forming a circle, stood apart, 
when the Count was led forth to the Rhoandrians, near 
whom there stood an ox whose throat he cut; at the same 
time pronouncing the oath of sacrifice. Every Rhoandrian 
took a small portion of the blood, which he swallow r ed, 
repeating, with a loud voice, imprecations against himself 
and his children, in case he or they should break the 
oath. 
After passing through the same ceremony with the other 
tribes, he was again conducted to the circle of the Rhoan¬ 
drians, to perform the oath of blood. This was done by 
each person making an incision with a knife under the 
left breast; and the new prince having done the same, they 
sucked each other’s blood, at the same time pronouncing 
the most horrible maledictions against whoever should 
violate his oath, and blessings upon those who should con¬ 
tinue faithful to their engagements. 
In the evening of the same day, three hundred women 
