HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
495 
1st of March, a vast assembly, including all ranks, civil and 
military, old and young, were gathered at Ampahamasina. 
It is estimated by some members of the Mission, that 
scarcely fewer than 150,000 persons were present on the 
occasion. 
Indefinite reports of the nature of the communication to 
be made to the people, were in general circulation, and 
great consternation prevailed among the inhabitants of the 
capital, and the strangers from a distance. The morning 
of the day on which the people were to assemble, was 
ushered in by the firing of cannon, for the purpose of 
exciting fear in the minds of the people, and impressing 
them with a sense of the importance attached by the 
government to the transactions of the day. 
When the people assembled, about 15,000 troops under 
arms were marched to the place, with a view of showing the 
ability and determination of the government to enforce its 
wishes. At the appointed time the chief military officers 
and the judges appeared, and delivered the queen’s edict, 
which was announced by the judges, and enforced by the 
military officers. 
The following is a copy of the edict delivered to the 
people: 
“ I announce to you, O ye Ambaniandro, I am not a sovereign 
that deceives, nor are the servants deceived. I, therefore, announce 
to you what I purpose to do, and how I shall govern you. Who 
then is that man, a servant too, that would change the customs 
of our ancestors, and the twelve sovereigns in this country ? To 
■whom has the kingdom been left by inheritance, by Impoinimerina 
and Radama, except to me ? If then any would change the customs 
of our ancestors, and of the twelve sovereigns, I abhor that, saith 
Rabodo-nandrian-impoinimerina. 
“Now, on the subject of reviling the idols, treating the divination 
as a trifle, and throwing down the tombs of the Yazimba ; I abhor 
that, saith Ranavalomanjaka. Do it not in my country. The idols 
