496 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
(say you) are nothing. By them it is that the twelve kings have been 
established ; and now are they changed, to become ‘ nothing?’ The 
divination also you treat in the same manner; and the tombs of the 
Vazimba, indeed, are their evidence. Even the sovereign counts 
them sacred ; and are the people to esteem them as 1 nothing V This 
is my affair, saith Ranavalomanjaka, and I hold him guilty , who¬ 
ever in my country destroys them, (the tombs.) 
“ As to baptism, societies, places of worship, distinct from the 
schools, and the observances of the Sabbath, how many rulers are 
there in this land ? Is it not I alone that rule ? These things are 
not to be done, they are unlawful in my country, saith Ranavalo¬ 
manjaka ; for they are not the customs of our ancestors, and I do 
not change their customs, excepting as to things alone which 
improve my country. 
“ Now then, those who have observed baptism, entered into society, 
and formed separate houses for prayer (or worship,) I grant you 
one month, saith Ranavalomanjaka to confess, (to make self-accu¬ 
sation,) and if you come not within that period, but wait to be first 
found out, accused by others, I denounce death against such, for 
I am not a sovereign that deceives, and servants are not to be 
deceived. Mark then the time, it is one month from yonder sun 
of this Sabbath, that I gave you to confess, and this is the method 
you are to adopt: The scholars at Ambodinandohalo, and those at 
Ambatonakanga, and not those only, for there are scholars in all 
these twelve principal towns, and the scholars that have not open 
separate houses, but at the appointed schools alone have worshipped 
and learned,—these are not condemned, and those are not to con¬ 
fess ; but those who have opened other houses—these are to accuse 
themselves. 
“ And those who have been baptized, whether they have wor¬ 
shipped in other houses or not, these must also accuse themselves, 
and those also who have entered into society. 
u And you, the bourgeois and soldiers, that have been attending 
the schools for worship, and especially such as have opened other 
houses for worship, and been baptized, and entered into society, 
and kept the Sabbath. Come, and accuse yourselves on these 
accounts, for I, the sovereign, do not deceive, but if any come first, 
and accuse you, I denounce death against you, and I do not deceive, 
saith Ranavalomanjaka. 
