THE CORONATION OP RANAVALONA III. 245 
utterances of gossip or news in the soft modulated 
tones of the native tongue, all combine to form a 
very pleasing picture of Eastern life, which is 
rendered more striking by the feeling that it is 
neither quite Indian or African or Polynesian, 
but a remarkable combination of the character- 
istics of dress, demeanour, and physical peculi¬ 
arities of all these three great nationalities, blend¬ 
ed into one perfect and harmonious whole. 
On all state occasions the capital is the centre 
towards which the nation turns, and representa¬ 
tives from the tributary clans are met weeks before 
the appointed time for any particular demonstra¬ 
tion, wending their way across the vast plains 
or through the dense forests, with their faces set 
towards Imerina, where a part is assigned them 
in all the festivities or business of importance 
that may be the object of their being called 
together. The last day of the journey is spent 
at some village in the neighbourhood of Antanan¬ 
arivo, where the stains of travel are carefully 
removed, new and brilliant garments are produced 
from the carefully packed entana , or baggage, 
which has probably formed the burden of the 
little band of slaves who usually accompany their 
masters on these visits to the capita], and every 
effort is made to present an appearance worthy 
of the occasion and the place. 
In the centre of the city lies the triangular 
