120 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
pompous title of Zanakambony, i.e. “sons of the above,” 
or “ sons of high rank,” and their descendants occupy a 
district which bears their name, as the name of a clan, 
Zanakambony, the principal village in which district is 
Ambohipihainana, about eight miles distant from the 
capital. 
The descendants and followers of the eldest son of Ra- 
lambo are called Zanatompo, or Zanatompo-indrindra— 
“ descendants of the master,” or “ descendants of the sove¬ 
reign;” and their district, to the present time, is called 
Ambohimalaza, i.e. “ the illustrious village.” 
Both these clans or castes have certain privileges, which 
they maintain with extreme tenacity. Thej^, only, are 
allowed to perform the ceremony of burying kings and 
nobles. They claim the right of carrying the corpse, and 
of erecting the Tranomasina, or Tranomanora, i.e. “the 
houses built over the tombs of chieftains;” and to them 
also belongs the right of repairing the tombs of kings and 
nobles. They are allowed to build houses, but would look 
upon it as a great degradation to erect the fences around 
them. They are exempted from working for the king, 
except in building houses; yet, by a strange inconsistency, 
are employed by him in smith’s work. Thus they may 
manufacture the spades, which they may not on any account 
make use of in digging. The consequence of these strange 
regulations is, that they are generally poor, and present a 
striking picture of destitution, accompanied by an astonish¬ 
ing degree of pride; for so high are some of their notions 
of their own importance, that they will not deign to asso¬ 
ciate with the common people, nor lend them either a mat, 
or a vessel for drinking water, nor will they even eat out of 
the same dish with them. The Zanakambony are also said 
to be the most strict of all the clans in their adherence to 
