262 
MADAGASCAK. 
inner one, and then the Queen, alighting from her royal 
palanquin, was led by the hand by Ravoninahitrin- 
iarivo (fifteen honours), head of the late embassy to 
Europe and America, into the centre; and by special 
command at once given, the few foreigners present were 
admitted, and took their stand immediately at her 
majesty’s left hand. 
“ Her Majesty is quite young, of a most pleasing 
expression of countenance, singularly dignified and 
lady-like. The command of her features was perfect— 
they might have been of marble: not so her hands, 
which trembled like an aspen leaf, and it was easy to 
see the strain she was imposing upon herself. She 
wore a dress of ivory satin with much gold embroidery. 
She had a train two or three yards in length of hand¬ 
some dark crimson velvet, spangled with gold, borne by 
six officers of state. The gold crown was already on 
her head, and thus she stood upon the stone. The 
prime minister, who is an excellent rider, accompanied 
the royal palanquin on a splendid Arab horse. As 
the Queen took her stand on the stone, her hand still 
held by Ravoninahitriniarivo, the prime minister, in a 
clear resounding voice, called for a royal salute, he 
himself kneeling before her with a manner perfect in 
gallantry: he is her wedded husband, and old enough 
to be her grandfather. Then came a curious ceremony. 
A young prince, certainly not more than seven years 
of age, made a speech to the Queen, welcoming her to 
her kingdom, &c. The speech was given with as much 
sang froid as if by a man of age and experience; he 
then presented the usual hasina money as a token of 
allegiance. This over, the foreigners were informed 
that the Queen was going to Imahamasina, where they 
