116 
MADAGASCAR. 
Banavalona, Queen of Madagascar, emblazoned 
across it in scarlet letters upon a white ground. 
On the arrival of the guest, the head-man, at¬ 
tended by his lieutenant, and often half the 
village, pays a formal visit and asks after the 
welfare of the traveller, at the same time pre¬ 
senting fowls, rice, and fruit in the name of the 
Queen. The visitor responds, after a becoming 
interval, with an inquiry as to the welfare and 
prosperity of the kingdom, and the personal 
health of the Queen and her chief Ministers of 
State. It is considered a mark of great courtesy 
and politeness amongst the Malagasy to ask such 
questions over and over again ; and we were very 
much amused as well as flattered by the per¬ 
sistency with which the Governor of Tanimandry, 
a genial old Hova, repeated these inquiries as to 
our comfort, the conduct of our bearers, and the 
attention we had received in our journey down, 
on the occasion of our first visit to him. 
At Andevoranto, the chief town of the Betsi- 
misaraka tribe, we observed three flagstafls, and 
also a special residence for the Hova governor. 
This town, standing at the mouth of the Iharoka, 
is a place of considerable antiquity, and, as its 
name implies, was formerly the great slave-mart 
of the east coast; and it is regaining its former 
importance, not only on account of its present 
position with relation to the capital, but also 
