250 
MADAGASCAR. 
completed. The place where the body was to be de¬ 
posited is a large square vault, with an uncovered 
wooden bed inside it, both open, and on this was placed 
the silver coffin, which took as many as 22,000 dollars 
(£4400). 
“ We were also taken into Be-sakana, in which 
house the corpse of a sovereign must rest during one 
night previous to burial. The^building was then being 
prepared for the reception of the corpse. Not only was 
the roof completely covered with scarlet cloth, but the 
inside walls up to the roof were hung with expensive 
silk lamias, some of them most brilliant in colour. 
“ On Tuesday afternoon the funeral took place. We 
were nearly all present, as were also the French, about 
forty Europeans altogether, and an excellent position 
had been provided for us by the officers. No descrip¬ 
tion could convey a just idea of the whole scene. We 
reached the palace at about three o’clock. The whole 
court looked black with the cropped heads and bare 
shoulders of the people, who to the number of several 
thousands crowded the area. Soldiers were placed 
round the yard, and also to keep paths open where re¬ 
quired. From the door of the large palace to the bottom 
of the incline which had been made in front of the tomb 
was a line of women about three deep, with their heads 
bent quite down, and only their bare backs showing. 
They were to all appearance weeping—at least many 
that were near me seemed to be. 
“ At half-past three the body was brought out. It 
was inside the scarlet bedstead I have already described, 
and was carried by officers in uniform. On the bier was 
placed a crown, and round it were hung some of the late 
Queen’s state robes. The prime minister, in a gold- 
