426 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
queen arose, the bands at the same time playing the na¬ 
tional air. Her majesty leaned on her eldest sister, whom 
she requested to receive the hasina, or money presented 
from the officers, from heads of provinces, and of districts, 
from foreigners, &c., in token of acknowledging her supre¬ 
macy. The queen then addressed the immense assembly 
to the following effect:— 
“Veloma Zanadralambo, veloma Zanakandriandroraka, 
veloma Zanakandriamasinavalona,” &e. i. e. “ I salute you,” 
(different clans as named,) and continued, “If you have 
never known me before, it is I, Ranavalona, who now 
appear before you.” The people then shouted, “ Hoo, 
hoo.” Then she said, “God gave the kingdom to my 
ancestors, they transferred it Andriampoinimerina, and he 
again to Radama, on condition that I should be his suc¬ 
cessor. Is it not so, Ambaninandro ?”■—(my subjects.) All 
replied, “ It is so.” Again she added, “ I will not change 
what Radama and my ancestors have done; but I will add 
to what they did. Do not think that because I am a 
woman, I cannot govern the kingdom : never say, she is 
a woman weak and ignorant, she is unable to rule over us. 
My greatest solicitude and study will always be to pro¬ 
mote your welfare, and to make you happy. Do you hear 
that, Ambaniandro?” Ail replied, “Yes.” 
Rainimahay, her prime minister, stood at a little distance 
west of the platform, and addressed the queen, saying, 
“ Veloma hianao Ramavalomanjaka, veloma hianareo Ram- 
irahavavy, veloma Ramboasalamarazaka.” He then turned 
to the people, and addressed them, saying, that they could 
put every confidence in the queen, and repeated to them 
the speech she had just delivered, with some appropriate 
observations on it. Then the first class or clan, called 
Zanadralambo, rose up, and one of their chiefs or heads 
