HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
117 
illustrate the history and manners of this part of the island 
at the period referred to. 
Andriamanelo obtained considerable celebrity as having 
introduced the ceremony of circumcision, but it is more 
probable that he only enlarged and improved some particular 
parts of the ceremony. It is said that he was a Vazimba, 
and that by means of fire-arms, which he had obtained from 
traders on the coast, he had subdued all the other Vazimba, 
and rendered himself the most powerful chieftain in that 
part of the island. 
His son Rabiby, or Ralambo, became more illustrious 
than the father ; and hence is usually mentioned in kabarys 
as the origin of the present race of princes in Imerina; and, 
whatever may be the collateral branch of his descent, the 
princes of Madagascar must be able to trace their pedigree 
from the renowned Ralambo. 
It is said of Rabiby, that he went a short distance from 
the seat of his father’s government to the north, and be¬ 
came chief of a village now called by his name, Ambohidra- 
biby. It is reported, also, that while he and his people were 
busy planting rice, one of them killed an animal called the 
jamdka (bullock), and ate a part of it. Pleased with his 
discovery, he continued to kill and eat frequently; and in 
consequence of this, became so much stouter than the 
rest of his companions, that he was questioned, by the in¬ 
quisitive chieftain, as to the cause of his newly-acquired 
corpulency, and after some hesitation confessed the facts of 
the case. Rabiby, like a wise man, preferring experiment 
to mere information, very naturally wished to make trial 
for himself. Finding the beef as good as had been described 
to him, the chief, far from indulging any jealous wish to 
keep so important a secret to himself, ordered another bul¬ 
lock to be taken and killed, in order that he might feast his 
