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CHAPTER VII. 
VISIT TO THE COURT AND CAPITAL OF THE HOVAS. 
Interesting as the provinces and outlying dis¬ 
tricts of the island are to the traveller, it is im¬ 
possible to get any adequate and correct ideas of 
the capacities of the Malagasy, of their real con¬ 
dition, powers, and resources, until he visits 
Imerina and its hill city of Antananarivo, the 
capital of the island. Here only, at the centre 
of social life and of judicial power and authority, 
a careful observer can perceive the real measure 
of progress which this obscure nation has made 
in the past, and of the future greatness and 
honour which is in store for it, if this progress 
continues. It is to the capital that the face of 
every native turns, no matter how far distant he 
may be at the time, whenever the name of the 
reigning sovereign is formally mentioned in pub¬ 
lic kahdry (meeting); and Antananarivo is very 
much to these people what Jerusalem was to the 
Jew, and Mecca is to the followers of Mohammed. 
