THE CORONATION OF RANAYALONA III. 251 
embroidered velvet tunic, went before the bier, carrying 
a reversed rifle. Several other high officers were with 
him, and as they came to the front of the tomb they 
discharged their rifles. The corpse was raised and 
placed on a stage covered with carpets, that had been 
prepared for it immediately in front of the wooden build¬ 
ing over the tomb. The officers again discharged their 
rifles, and then retired to the Silver Palace. The prime 
minister was apparently weeping bitterly as he retired. 
Some said he was really touched with sorrow, and others 
that his excessive grief was only got up for the occasion. 
“ The body remained in front of the tomb until sun¬ 
set, the splendid cloths and gold ornaments glittering 
in the sunbeams which fell full upon them. The band 
was playing old English tunes nearly all the time, and 
now and then in the intervals a native drum was beaten, 
accompanied by the blowing of large hollow shells. 
During this time a company of fifty young men, chiefly 
nobles, were busy carrying articles of dress, &c., to be 
buried with the body of their late owner. They made 
six separate journeys. More than two hundred dresses 
of silk, satin, and velvet were placed in the tomb, and 
amongst other things I noticed a lady’s saddle, two 
chests of drawers, some water-coolers, decanters, a large 
glass and silver epergne, a small dressing-table, a papier- 
mache work-table, several lamps, a large arm-chair, 
some gilt chains, and lastly a chest of money (11,000 
dollars), which took twenty men to carry. 
“ When the sun had set, the prime minister came 
back, no longer in his state robe, but in a simple 
larnba, and after staying a short time, he and the other 
officers went away, and left the placing of the body in 
the tomb to a class of nobles who consider it their 
